Andy Rouse / Maasai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) silhouetted by beams of light from setting sun, Maasai Mara, Kenya, Africa. Winner of the African section of the Nature? Best Windland Smith Rice...

Oscar Dewhurst / Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) drake swimming on pond, backlit by rising sun and bokeh effect, Richmond Park, London, UK. February.

David Pattyn / Juvenile Mute swan (Cygnus olor) in early morning light, Valkenhorst Nature Reserve, The Netherlands, Europe. August.

Eduardo Blanco / Volcanic eruption with silhouette of tree, Cumbre Vieja Volcano, La Palma, Canary Islands. September 2021

Milan Radisics / Female Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) walking along tree trunk in heavy fog at night. Light source behind the subject creates dramatic volumetric lighting. Vertes Mountains, Hungary.

Erlend Haarberg / Mountain hares (Lepus timidus) fighting in snow at night, Vauldalen, Norway, April.

Theo Bosboom / Group of tourists silhouetted against volcanic eruption, gathered at one of the viewing points close to the craters of the Fagradalsfjall volcano on Iceland. The best viewing points differ from day to...

Guy Edwardes / Bonnet mycena fungus (Mycena galericulata) on deadwood in ancient broadleaved woodland, sun shining through trees. New Forest National Park, England, UK. October.

Guy Edwardes / Oak-stump bonnet cap fungus (Mycena inclinata). New Forest National Park, England, UK. November

Klaus Echle / Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) silhouetted in mixed beech-Douglas fir forest. Freiburg, Black Forest National Park, Germany, October.

Ben Hall / Red deer (Cervus elaphus) backlit at dawn with visible breath. UK. October.

David Allemand / Snow-covered taiga forest in Finland. Honoured in the MontPhoto awards 2020.

Bence Mate / Wild dog (Lycaon pictus) two pups playing in dust, Mkuze, South Africa. August. Highly commended in the Mammals category of the GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition 2020.

Andres M. Dominguez / Crested tit (Lophophanes cristatus) about to land on Elmleaf blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius) plant, Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, Southern Spain, January.

Pal Hermansen / Brown bear (Ursus arctos) silhouetted in forest at night. Finland. August.

Lucas Bustamante / Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) flying during a warm morning. When the overwintering period draws to an end large numbers become active. Michoacan, Mexico, February.

Pal Hermansen / Wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) male silhouetted at dawn. Forollhogna National Park, Innlandet, Norway.

Juergen Freund / Firefly (Lampyridae) trails on beach at night, Palm tree silhouetted against milky way. Oak Beach, Port Douglas, Far North Queensland, Australia. 2016.

Markus Varesvuo / White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) with backlit wings, and water spray, Norway, October

Ross Hoddinott / Four-spotted chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) dragonflies resting on backlit reeds close to the water's edge, Broxwater, Cornwall, UK. May.

David Hall / Split-level of Cormorants (Phalacrocorax sp.) standing on rocks with Sea lettuce (Ulva sp.) seen underwater, Hussar Bay, Nigei Island, Queen Charlotte Strait, British Columbia, Canada. September.

David Hall / Split level of Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) during migration; Adams River, British Columbia, Canada. October.

Nick Garbutt / RF - Ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) back lit and sun bathing at first light. Berenty Private Reserve, southern Madagascar. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Laurent Geslin / Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) silhouetted, running along horizon, Switzerland

Klein & Hubert / Long eared jerboa (Euchoreutes naso) digging a burrow with teeth, Gobi desert, Mongolia

Klein & Hubert / Long eared jerboa (Euchoreutes naso) jumping, Gobi desert at dusk, Mongolia

Erlend Haarberg / Black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), male calling early in the morning, Norway. May.

Luis Quinta / Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) dead in water due to fatigue from migration. Portugal

Guy Edwardes / Dawn over Mogshade Hill, New Forest National Park, Hampshire, England, UK

Guy Edwardes / Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) flying near Teasel plants (Dipsacus fullonum) Captive.

Danny Green / Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) two walking in snowy landscape with glacier behind. Svalbard, Norway, April 2018.

Guy Edwardes / Glastonbury Tor at sunrise surrounded by early morning mist. View from Walton Hill, Somerset, England, UK. June 2019.

Ann & Steve Toon / Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) walking, silhouetted at dusk. Zimanga private game reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Ann & Steve Toon / African elephants (Loxodonta africana) herd silhouetted at sunset. Chobe National Park, Botswana.

Ann & Steve Toon / Ostrich (Struthio camelus) silhouetted in dust storm. Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Jack Dykinga / Saguaro cacti (Carnegia gigantea) at sunset, during a summer rain storm. Saguaro National Park, Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA, August. Digital composite.

Espen Bergersen / Killer whales / orcas (Orcinus orca) feeding on a bait ball of Herring. Extremely cold conditions (- 15 C) with backlit ice fog. Kvanangen, Troms, Norway. January

Espen Bergersen / Killer whales / orcas (Orcinus orca). Spyhopping. Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October

Espen Bergersen / Killer whales / orcas (Orcinus orca). Spyhopping. Kvaloya, Troms, Norway October

Heather Angel / Man using pole to propel bamboo raft on Lijang / Li River, Karst peaks beyond. At dawn, Lijiang River Scenic Zone, Yangshuo county, Guangxi, China.

Nigel Cattlin / Leaf tipping on Rice (Oryza sativa) caused by Leaf scald (Microdochium oryzae) disease, Thailand

Doug Gimesy / Little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor), two standing on rocks at night, silhouetted against Melbourne city lights. St Kilda breakwater, Victoria, Australia. December 2016. COP26 Countdown Photo Competi...

David Woodfall / Sunrise over offshore wind turbine farm, Essex, England, UK, December.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / RF - Red deer, (Cervus elaphus), stags silhouetted at sunset in winter, Scotland, UK.February (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)