Across a wide, rocky gap at the Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve in Madagascar, a lemur is illuminated by the sun as it leaps with its baby. Captured by Donglin Zhou, the photograph took the $5,000 Grand Prize in this year’s Big Picture Competition, highlighting a rare, daring moment as the troop emerged in search of food.
BigPicture aims to highlight the earth’s phenomenal biodiversity and encourage important conservation efforts. Jurors reviewed thousands of entries submitted to the 12th annual contest, highlighting photographers’ unique global takes on aquatic, winged, and terrestrial life, along with landscapes, the human-nature relationship, and a creative category called “Art of Nature.”
Jonas Beyer, “The Pathfinders”
Cast your vote by July 31 for your favorite photo as part of the 2nd annual People’s Choice Award. The BigPicture exhibition opens on October 5 at California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, and entries for the 2026 contest will be accepted starting December 1. Follow updates on Instagram.
Anton Sorokin, “California Newt Ball”
Clay Bolt, “The Smell of Success,” Tatama National Park, Colombia
Melanie Müller, “Yin Yang,” Guraidhoo, Maldives
Mohammad Murad, “No Eyes,” Mongolia
Pål Hermansen, “Apollo,” Gotland, Sweden
Stelios Misinas, “Desert Flood,” Merzouga, Morocco
Dvir Barkay, “Leaving The Roost,” Near La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica
Dewold Tromp, “Pure Bliss,” Chobe River, Botswana
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