The winners and runners-up of the GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024 members' competition have been announced.
The overall winner is Dieter Damschen from Lüchow-Dannenberg in Germany with the photograph 'Winter flood in a riparian forest'.
"Winter is my favourite time of year and one of my favoured motifs is the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Elbe River Landscape," says Damschen.
"I often visit this hardwood riparian forest in the foreland of the dyke to take photographs at fixed points with lines of sight that reveal carefully selected compositions. Although I claim to know this location very well and sometimes get the feeling that I have seen and photographed everything here many times, I am regularly surprised by how different a supposedly familiar place can appear.
"After several years with extremely low water levels, a long awaited winter flood inundated the old oak trees in January 2024. On this particular morning, the trunks and branches of the trees were plastered with snow on one side, thanks to snowfall in combination with strong winds during the previous night. The resulting contrasting lines emphasise the time-worn structures of the mighty trees, creating the special graphic effect of this fleeting moment.“
There was no shortage of enchantment in this year's photo competition. Here, we take a look at 20 of the best winners and runners-up.
Spellbinding photo of baby octopus celebrated in LCE Photographer of the Year 2024Barnacle-covered football takes top prize in British Wildlife Photography Awards 2024Environmental Photographer of the Year 2023 winner: Insect food experiment takes first prizesDieter Damschen is this year's overall winner with his photograph 'Winter flood in a riparian forest'. Credit: Dieter Damschen, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024 winners and runners-upSurfing on the other sideLevi Fitze
Levi Fitze, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Night crawlerNiklas Banowski
Niklas Banowski, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Birches in autumnFelix Wesch
Felix Wesch, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Mudflats at sunsetJan Piecha
Jan Piecha, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Eyes shut and waiting for springFlurin Leugger
Flurin Leugger, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Bonnet mouldMatthias Hüther
Matthias Hüther, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Parental responsibilityNiklas Banowski
Niklas Banowski, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Digging for the next generationThomas Kirchen
Thomas Kirchen, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Tasting the airKai Kolodziej
Kai Kolodziej, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024In the eye of the cheetahMonika Morlak
Monika Morlak, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024PandemoniumManfred Föger
Manfred Föger, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024BubblenetScott Portelli
Scott Portelli, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Greedy kestrelsPeter Lindel
Peter Lindel, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024LapportenKlaus Bombach
Klaus Bombach, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Reflection of a kingfisherLuca Lorenz
Luca Lorenz, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Morning roll callJens Kählert
Jens Kählert, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024SunriseChristoph Kaula
Christoph Kaula, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Foggy morning in BavariaUlrike Eisenmann
Ulrike Eisenmann, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Winter in the floodplain forestDieter Damschen (overall winner)
Dieter Damschen, GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024Find out more about the GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2024.
More stunning nature photography galleries:
Nature Photographer of the Year 2023 winners: Heavenly image of spectacled bear in Andean Mountains takes top spotOcean Art Underwater Photo Contest 2023 winners: diving macaque, adorable pygmy seahorse and nesting octopus take prizes