Igor Mikula, “Caring Parent,” Czech Republic

Chosen from more than 8,000 submissions, the winners of this year’s Nature TTL Photographer of the Year competition capture both the immense beauty of our planet and the threats we face with a changing climate. Thomas Vijayan took home the top prize for his heartbreaking panoramic of the Austofonna Ice Cap cracking and emitting gushing waterfalls into the sea. Covering more than 8,000 square kilometers, Austoffana is rapidly melting in a region experiencing the disastrous effects of warming temperatures and rising sea levels. Also recognized were a spectacular image of the Northern Lights streaming through an Icelandic cave, a jaguar wandering through a cinder block wall, and a ball of honeybees clamoring for a new home.

Find some of our favorite photos below, and view the complete gallery at Nature TTL.

Lucy Monckton, “House Hunting,” Staffordshire, United Kingdom

Thomas Vijayan, “Austfonna Ice Cap,” Svalbard, Norway

Fernando Constantino Martínez Belmar, “Crossing Barriers,” Solidaridad, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Andy Schmid, “Crowd Control,” Skjervøy, Norway

Jane Hope, “Fighting Robins,” Scotland, United Kingdom

Josselin Cornou, “Strong Solar Storm Through an Icelandic Cave,” Iceland

Rowan Dear, “Depth Perception,” Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In the Nature TTL Photographer of the Year Contest, Breathtaking Wonder and Imminent Loss Are On Full Display appeared first on Colossal.

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