The year 2024 has been a remarkable showcase for the world of photography, with prestigious contests unveiling breathtaking, award-winning photographs that push the boundaries of creativity and storytelling. These 30 standout images, chosen from thousands of submissions worldwide, represent the pinnacle of artistic and technical excellence. Each photograph tells a unique story, capturing fleeting moments, cultural nuances, and the raw beauty of our planet.
From heart-stirring portraits to dramatic landscapes, these images reflect diverse themes such as climate change, human resilience, wildlife conservation, and the intimacy of everyday life. Highlighting innovation and perspective, these award-winning shots emerged from competitions like the Sony World Photography Awards, National Geographic Photo Contest, and World Press Photo Awards.
They feature stunning visuals that range from a mesmerizing aurora illuminating icy landscapes to a candid street scene teeming with life and emotion. These photographs not only celebrate the skill and vision of the artists behind the lens but also serve as a reminder of the profound impact photography has in connecting people to the world around them. Together, these 31 images stand as a testament to the power of photography to inspire, inform, and move us.v
#1. OurNature Environmental Photography Awards 2024: Image of the Year: "The bitter death of birds" by Mehdi Mohebi Pour, Iran
"In the years 2021 and 2022, tens of thousands of migratory birds died in the Miankala wetland located in the north of Iran, which was caused by the dumping of sewage into the wetland and disease."
#2. Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2024 – Overall Winner: "Stuck squirrel" by Milko Marchetti
"The photo was taken on April 23, 2022, in the “Podere Pantaleone” park in Bagnacavallo – Ravenna – Italy.
It is a park open to the public and schools, but from October to March, it is closed to visitors, and I am allowed (in exchange for photographs for educational and promotional purposes) to use a fixed photographic hide to photograph passerines, woodpeckers, hawks, and even 3-4 squirrels that come to visit the photographic set consisting of a small lake, and the surrounding vegetation."
#3. HIPA Awards 2024 – Grand Prize Winner: “Quiet Power” by Liping Cao, China
"Amidst the vast Australian landscape, a serene black-and-white scene unfolds where nature meets technology. Towering wind turbines rise prominently against the horizon, their blades slowly turning in the breeze, embodying the quiet power of renewable energy. Behind them, a dramatic sky features billowing clouds that shift and change, creating a dynamic backdrop. The dry riverbed below the turbines adds depth while serving as a reminder of the importance of sustainable practices in a world facing environmental challenges."
#4. NBP International Awards 2024 – Grand Prize: "Bengal Tigers" by Mangesh Ratnakar Desai, India
“Over the years, I have witnessed this young tiger on his path toward independence, starting with lessons from his mother teaching him to defend his territory.”
#5. Weather Photographer of the Year Awards 2024 – Winner: "Sprites Dancing in the Dark Night" by Wang Xin
"Photographer Wang Xin had to be extremely patient to capture this magnificent example of red sprite lightning in the Chongming District of Shanghai. Much like the ethereal, fairy-like sprites of folklore, red sprites are particularly difficult to see or photograph. Our judging panel commented that it is rare to see an image with this extent and number of sprites."
#6. ViewSonic ColorPro Awards 2024 – Winner: "Wormhole" by Benjamin Yavar, Chile
"This photo beautifully captures the essence of "momentum" through the dynamic interaction between the diver and the school of fish. The swirling motion of the fish creates a powerful visual of collective movement and energy. The diver, gracefully gliding into the scene, adds to the sense of forward motion and progress. The composition highlights the seamless flow and continuous movement, making the viewer feel the unstoppable force and energy within the underwater world."
#7. Architecture Master Prize Photography Awards 2024 – Photographer of the Year: "Cabane du Glacier de Tortin" by Albrecht Voss
"The pictures of th2024 built accommodation designed by architect Snorre Stinessen, is the result of meticulous planning and an extraordinary stroke of luck. Known internationally for my night photography of buildings, I was flown in by helicopter at the request of the property owner to capture these images. I stood on a glacier, waiting until 3 a.m. for the moon to set, ensuring we could photograph the night sky at its best. As we took shot after shot, we noticed a faint glow emerging in the sky. To our amazement, it was the first appearance of the Northern Lights over Switzerland in 25 years!"
#8. Epson International Panorama Photo Awards 2024 – Open Photographer of the Year: Kelvin Yuen, Hong Kong
#9. Siena Drone Photography Awards 2024 – Photo Of The Year: "Drifting in space" by Gilad Topaz
"Embarking on a thrilling boat journey aboard an icebreaker in the chilly waters of the Baltic Sea, Sweden, Gilad and other fellow adventurers were in for an unforgettable adventure. When the icebreaker stopped, they seized the opportunity to plunge into the icy sea, carving out a ‘pool’ amid the frozen water. Clad in specialized rubber suits to ward off the cold, they floated in this surreal environment, feeling like astronauts drifting in the boundless expanse of space."
#10. Monovisions Black And White Photography Awards 2024 – Grand Prize, Series: "Hymns to the night" by Lucas Garcete
"The hymns to the night are a set of photographs whose theme is the night, love beyond death, the return to oneself to that eternal abstract entity that man wants to obtain, and that is only possible through the night . Each photograph in this series aspires to create a space in which to feel safe from the evolution of time. The nocturnal retraction takes us from the unfathomable immensity of the world to the most intimate depths of our being. In this world, where there is a constant mythological collapse, the imaginary construction is decisive to guarantee the capacity of artistic communication that legitimizes us as human beings. In short, we sing to give ourselves courage in the dark, participating in the timeless nocturnal dimension, allowing the annulment of time by stopping in the present and the eternal fullness of joy."
#11. reFocus Black And White Photography Awards 2024 – Winner: "The Right To Know" by Roberta Vagliani
#12. Minimalist Photography Awards 2024 – Photographer Of The Year: "Anna" by Eva Chupikova, Czech Republic
"Anna draws inspiration from the Renaissance, a period that celebrated the revival of classical artistic values and principles like harmony and proportion. Garments of that era were designed with intricate patterns, rich fabrics, and luxurious embellishments to symbolize wealth and social status."
#13. Black And White Photo Awards 2024 – Absolute Winner: "Destroy together" by Haikun Liang
#14. Mangrove Photography Awards 2024 – Overall Winner: "Sinking Sundarbans" by Supratim Bhattacharjee, India
“Nestled in the Bay of Bengal, the Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world – and one of the most vulnerable. Once lauded as nature’s custodians, these mangroves now endure relentless threats driven by human development and the climate crisis.Rampant deforestation has compromised its role in climate regulation, exacerbating soil erosion and leaving vast stretches vulnerable to encroaching waters, particularly during cyclonic disturbances.”
#15. World Nature Photography Awards 2024 – Gold Winner And Grand Prize Of World Nature Photographer Of The Year: Tracey Lund
"Taken whilst on holiday in Shetland, sat on the side of a RIB. The hired DSLR camera in the waterproof housing was attached to polecam system and lowered into the water. Thousands of gannets were in the sky above us and then started to dive into the sea after locally-caught fish. An unbelievable spectacle to witness, let alone photograph. I took 1800 images on that day but only had 2 that I could use."
#16. Big Picture Natural World Photography Awards 2024 – Grand Prize: "The Forest of the Monarchs" by Jaime Rojo, Spain
“An awe-inspiring look into a fragile phenomenon: Immense swaths of Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) sleeping, clinging in clusters, no doubt weary after having made the 3,000 mile migration from Canada and United States to Mexico. These monarchs make the reserve their home until Spring, and during their stay, they rest, reproduce, and prepare for the long journey back. During this eight-month cycle, it is estimated that five generations of these beautiful butterflies are born and die.”
#17. Audubon Bird Photography Awards 2024 – Grand Prize: Mathew Malwitz
"While out for a walk, I had been following the song of a Magnolia Warbler along a trail when two quarreling Blackburnian Warblers dropped from the trees above. They landed a few feet in front of me, prompting me to carefully step back. They remained motionless, and I worried that the fall had injured them, but a moment later they began battling again. Once I realized the pair were too busy to notice me, I slowly dropped to the ground at their level to get a better look into their world. I adjusted my settings for action and snapped as they fought. The scene lasted a few minutes before they let each other go and returned to the canopy."
#18. Sony World Photography Awards 2024 – Photographer of the Year: Spiralkampagnen by Juliette Pavy
“Between 1966 and 1975, Greenlandic Inuit women were the victims of an involuntary birth control program known as the Spiralkampagnen (spiral campaign). Led by the Danish authorities, nearly 4,500 intrauterine devices (‘coils’) were implanted into Inuit women and girls, some as young as 12, many of whom say that the procedure was performed without their consent. This campaign was first revealed by a Danish podcast in spring 2022, and documents now prove that the authorities implemented the policy to reduce Inuit population growth. An official investigation has now been opened, which is set to conclude at the end of 2024.”
#19. Mobile Photography Awards 2024 – Winner: "Playground" by Chang Nianzu
#20. Scottish Nature Photography Awards 2024 – Photographer of the Year: "Lily of the Valley" by Charles Everitt
“This is a beautifully made image where the framing of the flower has been carefully considered. The blurred-out foreground leads the eye directly to the drooping flower, which is also carefully placed in front of the slightly brighter green background. The brightness of the background and the hint of texture of life in the undergrowth also helped draw me right into this image.”
#21. British Wildlife Photography Awards 2024 – Overall Winner: “Ocean Drifter” by Ryan Stalker
"Goose barnacles. Dorset, England – “Ocean Drifter is a photo of a football that is covered in goose barnacles below the waterline. Above the water is just a football. But below the waterline is a colony of creatures. The football was washed up in Dorset after making a huge ocean journey across the Atlantic and then returned to the sea for the photo to be taken.”
#22. Garden Photographer Of The Year Awards 2024 – 1st Place – ‘Dandelion and Pink Spider’ by Peter Plottel
#23. 13th Annual Mobile Photography Awards 2024 – Grand Prize Winner: Yajun Hu
"Yajun Hu’s mobile photography reveals an artist with a clear and consistent vision. Yajun’s mastery lies in an ability to harness the interplay of shadows, silhouettes, color, and shapes, infusing the compositions with depth and emotion. Fleeting instances of human interaction, ironic juxtapositions and subtle gestures are captured, revealing an intricate perspective on our relationship with our daily surroundings. Each photograph serves as a piece of a larger narrative, contributing to a rich tapestry of urban storytelling."
#24. One Shot Black And White Photography Awards 2024 – 1st Place Professional: “Feathered Warriors: A Moment of Suspense” by Paul Lukin
#25. LensCulture Black And White Photography Awards 2024 – 1st Place Series: "Puppet Archive" by Wei Zhang, United States
#26. Royal Photographic Society Awards 2024 – The RPS award for photojournalism: Samar Abu Elouf
"The Light from Hell. Playing with fire at sunset. The sea is the only outlet here, 9 November 2022. Samar Abu Elouf is an award-winning Palestinian freelance photojournalist, covering events where she lives. Abu Elouf documented the 2018–19 Gaza border protests, also known as the Great March of Return. In May 2021, on assignment for the New York Times, she covered 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas that destroyed essential infrastructure and killed more than 230 people, including several of her own relatives."
#27. Refocus International Photographer of the Year Awards 2024 – "Bath Time" By Pepe Manzanilla
#28. The Artist Gallery Awards 2024 – Wildlife 1st Place: "I Spy" by Turgay Uzer, USA
"A young leopard had stashed a kill on a tree branch and was hiding in the bushes underneath. Occasionally it would check on its kill, and that’s when I spotted its eye through a keyhole in the thicket."
#29. Smithsonian Magazine’s Awards 2024 – Nature World, Winner: "Baby Alligator Floating in a Pond" by Kent Stuart
"This baby alligator was with a few others and a small adult in a roadside pond in the Everglades."
#30. AAP Magazine Street Photography Awards 2024 – Winner: "Hunting Shadows" by Tommi Viitala (Finland)
"This photo was taken from my work place window in October 2024. I happened to look out the window and noticed this beautiful sunset light and ran to get my camera right away from my desk. I Love deep contrasts and storytelling so I think this perfectly defines my style of photography."
#31. 35 Photography Awards 2024: Wildlife 1st Place: “A Mottled Wood Owl harassed by a Black Drongo” by Hari K Patibanda, India
Related Articles:
- 40 Amazing Abstract Photos That Won Awards in 2024
- 40 Best Award-Winning Nature Photos of 2024
- Best of 2024: 30 Award-Winning Bird Photos That Will Leave You in Awe
- Best of 2024: 30 Award-Winning Drone Photos That Will Take Your Breath Away
- Best of 2024: 30 Award-Winning Wildlife Photos That Will Leave You in Awe
English (US) ·