From December 5, 2024 to March 30, 2025, the Hessian State Museum in Darmstadt will present a selection of the best animal and nature photographs of the year from the world-renowned exhibition „Wildlife Photographer of the Year“.
The extraordinary images showcase the fascinating behavior of animals, spectacular species, and the breathtaking diversity of natural worlds.
The basis of the exhibition is the eponymous competition by the Natural History
Museum in London, an award that annually recognizes the best nature photography since 1965. To mark the 60th anniversary of the competition, the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt is among the selected museums that are allowed to present this exceptional exhibition.
The competition is considered the most prestigious award for nature photography in the world. This year, 59,228 entries from 117 countries were submitted, both from professional photographers and talented amateur photographers of all levels.
Age groups. The 100 best submissions, which can now be seen in Darmstadt, were selected anonymously by an international jury of industry experts at the Natural History Museum in London based on their creativity, originality, and technical quality.
The winning photo of this year was taken by Shane Gross and is a spectacular shot of tadpoles under a lily pad in a Canadian mountain lake.
The "Wildlife Photographer of the Year" competition keeps the name of the water body secret for conservation reasons, in order to protect the habitat of the endangered frog species. The images use the unique emotional power of photography to evoke excitement, inspiration, and connection in the audience. However, they also aim to encourage reflection and encourage viewers to get involved in protecting nature.
