Beautiful Award-Winning Photos Of The HIPA Contest That Will Make You Appreciate The Natural World

Jasmine Carey’s “Essence of Life” took home the grand prize.

“Essence of Life.” Jasmine Carey/HIPA

Water — this was the theme of this year’s HIPA photography contest. The awards were announced on June 7, 2020 and the Grand Prize of 120k dollars went to Jasmine Carey from Australia for her stunning and ethereal photo of a mother Humpback whale sleeping beside her 2-week-old baby. Carey took the photo while underwater in the Kingdom of Tonga, in the South Pacific.

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François Bogaerts won first place in the water category for “The Downpour.”

“The Downpour.” François Bogaerts/HIPA

“What a problem!” took home second place in the water category.

“What a problem!” Shanth Kumar Samba Shivam Laila/HIPA

The close-up view of life below and above water in Buchari Muslim Diken’s “Octopus Hunter” is stunning.

“Octopus Hunter.” Buchari Muslim Diken/HIPA

Fourth place in the water category went to “Save Me,” which was taken by Sourav Das.

“Save Me.” Sourav Das/HIPA

The final award winner in the water category went to Yousef Shakar Al Zaabi for “Water — The Secret of Life.”

“Water — The Secret of Life.” Yousef Shakar Al Zaabi/HIPA

“King of the North,” a photo captured by Talal Al Rabah, won first place in the black-and-white category.

“King of the North.” Talal Al Rabah/HIPA

Anna Niemiec was awarded second place in the black-and-white category for “The Silent Witness.”

“The Silent Witness.” Anna Niemiec/HIPA

Sujan Sarkar’s “The Young Dreamers” took home third place in the black-and-white category.

“The Young Dreamers.” Sujan Sarkar/HIPA

The shocking white of “Snow Monalisa” earned Fahad Al Enezi first place in the color category.

“Snow Monalisa.” Fahad Al Enezi/HIPA

Second place in the color category went to “The Portrait of Sapa,” a photo captured by Yose Mirza.

“The Portrait of Sapa.” Yose Mirza/HIPA

Rashed Al Sumaiti created an optical illusion with “One Soul Opposite Direction,” which earned third place in the color category.

“One Soul Opposite Direction.” Rashed Al Sumaiti/HIPA

Apratim Pal’s “A Journey Outside Our World” won first place in the mobile photography category.

“A Journey Outside Our World.” Apratim Pal/HIPA

“Reflection,” taken by Budi Gunawan, earned second place in the mobile photography category.

“Reflection.” Budi Gunawan/HIPA

Mobile photography’s third prize went to “Spirituality of Colors” by Abdullah Alshathri.

“Spirituality of Colors.” Abdullah Alshathri/HIPA

“Under the Rain,” Fahad Faraj Abdulhameid’s self-portrait with his wife, earned fourth place in the mobile photography category.

“Under the Rain.” Fahad Faraj Abdulhameid/HIPA

The fifth prize for mobile photography went to Navin Kumar for “Sunset Transparency.”

“Sunset Transparency.” Navin Kumar/HIPA

“Kingdom of Beauty and Danger,” a set of photos taken by Christian Vizl Mac Gregor, won first place in the portfolio category.

“Kingdom of Beauty and Danger.” Christian Vizl Mac Gregor/HIPA

Zhoufan Cui’s “Rafting People on Yalu River” won second place in the portfolio category.

“Rafting People on Yalu River.” Zhoufan Cui/HIPA

“The Predator’s Fins,” taken by AthoUllah, aims to educate the viewer on Blacktip sharks.

“The Predator’s Fins.” AthoUllah/HIPA

Karrar Hussen captured her series, “October Anger,” in Iraq, winning the fourth-place prize in the portfolio category.

“October Anger.” Karrar Hussen/HIPA

The final prize in the portfolio competition went to Fausto Podavini for “Ethiopian Rituals.”

“Ethiopian Rituals.” Fausto Podavini/HIPA