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From the jaw - dropping thought from dizzy mountaintops to the unavoidable darkness of the deep ocean , thousands of other - worldly images of nature impressed us in 2023 .
Here , we highlight 10 of the most stunning nature photos of the year .
A brown booby plunges into open water at high speed to find fish and shrimp to feed on.
He looks to the heavens
South America ’s only living bear species was captured climb a century - erstwhile Libyan Fighting Group tree wall by Spanish moss in an award - winning picture from theNature lensman of the class competitor .
Spectacled bears ( Tremarctos ornatus ) are known for their spry climbing and unequalled plot of yellow fur . After a treacherous 11 - day hike in the Ecuadorian Andes , nature photographerJacquie Matechukcaptured the bear at around 8,000 foot ( 2,400 m ) above sea level .
The image , titled " He looks to the heavens , " was the overall winner and also won first plaza in theMammals category .
A rare spectacled bear seeks refuge in a century-old fig tree Ecuadorian Andes.
The things you do for love
In the high altitude of the Zin Desert , a photographer enamor two virile Nubian ibex ( Capra nubiana ) rifle oral sex - to - head in a battle .
Wildlife photographerAmit Eshelcaptured this image during the breeding season , or estrus . During the rut , the males take turns prove off their telling horns before butting their head together to compete for female .
style " The Things You Do For Love , " this photograph was awarded first place in theWildscape & Animals in Their Habitat categoryof theNature inFocusawards .
Two male Nubian ibexes (Capra nubiana) go head-to-head in a battle.
The golden horseshoe
An image of agolden triple - spined horseshoe crab(Tachypleus tridentatus ) took the Grand Title swag in the 2023Wildlife Photographer of the Yearcompetition , hosted by theNatural History Museumin London .
Shuffling along the ocean - flooring , three juvenile gilded trevallies accompanied the golden horseshoe Cancer in an eery image that the evaluator discover as " ' hauntingly beautiful . "
Underwater lensman and marine biologistLaurent Ballestais the 2nd mortal to be awarded the Grand Title prize doubly . In 2021 , his photo of camouflaged grouper spawning stole the show .
A golden triple-spined horseshoe crab shuffles on the sea-floor alongside three golden trevallies.
Alpine newt’s underwater feast
The orchis - hungry alpine triton ( Ichthyosaura alpestris ) lives in the timberland and fresh water ponds of Germany . In the wild , these newts provender on all sorts of jejune aquatic animate being , include the jelly eggs of Gaul .
" As soon as the Gaul lay their testicle , a few days later , at crepuscle , the newts seem and feast on them throughout the night , " photographerTibor Litauszkisaid in a statement . " Sometimes multiple newts compete for the same quarry . “Litauszkicaptured the Grand Title award for theNature Conservancy Photo Competition 2023 .
Inspector booby
The brown dummy ( Sula leucogaster ) plunge into open water at high speed , feeding on krill , shrimp and small Pisces . These Bronx cheer are unbelievable plunger , but they ’re incompetent during take - off and landing . This uncoordinated behavior has earned them a name derived from theSpanish word " bobo , " meaning unintelligent or daft .
While check the brown booby feeding in myopic intervals , professional scuba frogman and wildlife photographerSuliman Alatiquigot into position to capture this close - up portrait in the waters near Mexico ’s Revillagigedo islands . This photo come in first station in thePortraits categoryin theNature inFocus 2023contest .
connect : A creepy crocodile and glacial ' guts ' among stunning winner from nature picture taking competition
In this underwater photo, an alpine newt feasts on frogs eggs.
Wolf spider mama
Thiswolf wanderer mamawears a crown of spiderlings in an award - winning photograph for the2023 Nature Conservancy Photo rivalry .
Female wolf spiders carry their spiderlings and unhatched egg theca for around20 to 30 daysin the summer , extend the spiderlings nutrient and protection as they hang to the " tomentum , " or setae , on her back .
early on one morning , photographerBenjamin Salbencountered the wanderer in the heart of an asphalt path . Each baby wanderer was spookily still . This elaborated photo was awarded first place in theInsects and Arachnids category .
A magical scene of spores releasing from a mushroom on the forest floor.
Last breath of autumn
Down on the forest floor , mushroom spores seem to glitter in what is described as a " fairy - tale conniption " called"Last Breath of Autumn . " The witching color are create from the deflexion of light through the malarkey and rain .
Unlike plants , mushrooms develop spore to turn . During windy and showery weather , billions of these spore are eject from the gills underneath the pad , using the component as transport . The spores eventually down in damp and humid areas , where there is food that allows them to get .
Despite the rain , photographerAgorastos Papatsaniscarefully positioned his eloquent photographic umbrella and shoot to capture the unobserved . This photo was awarded first place in thePlants and Fungi categoryin the 2023Wildlife lensman of the Year Competition .
A tiny paper nautilus sits perched on the pad of a jellyfish.
Paper Nautilus Rider
In " Paper Nautilus Rider , " a tiny paper pearly nautilus wear down a skirt of tentacles in deep , coloured waters in the Philippines .
Also known as argonauts , these modest critters are bonk to hitch ride on jellyfish — or so it seems . In fact , thesecephalopods bore muddle into the jellyfish , to inject a tube call a siphon into their intestine . From this siphon , the paper nautilus suck up the nutrient of their hosts .
Underwater loon and photographerRenee Capozzolacaptured the image during a blackwater dive . The photo won theUnderwater categoryin theNature lensman of the Year Competition . Blackwater divesinvolve night diving to uttermost depths with hefty lights that emulate the moon to attract all kinds of metal money .
Colorful image shows the complex webbed structure within the eye of a rat.
Rodent optic-nerve head
The colorful and spiderlike webbing of nervous cellphone within theeye of a rattook first swag in the 2023Nikon Small World Photography Competition .
Hassanain QambariandJayden Dicksonare researchers at theLions Eye Institutewho canvass diabetic retinopathy , a complication of diabetes that can have irreversible centre damage .
Their trope aims to show the complexness of the inquiry and the importance of former detection .
The peregrine falcon ferociously protects its nest as it launches down to grab the head of a brown pelican mid-flight.
Grab the bull by the horns
— Stunning footage captures tiny bird ’s battle for survival of the fittest in massive Saharan sandstorm
— Eerie blackwater diving image shows newspaper publisher chambered nautilus floating on stick after volcanic eructation
— Gum foliage skeletonizer : The virulent ' Mad Hatterpillar ' that wears its quondam heads like a jacket crown
At gamey speed , afemale peregrine falcon falcon fiercely grabbed the header of a stunned brown pelicanwith its tart talon in this trance image , titled , " Grab the strapper by the horns . "
distaff peregrine falcon falcons ( Falco peregrinus ) become highly protective of their nest during fosterage seasons . " For four age , I undertake to entrance these rare moments of her attacking prominent brown pelicans with incredible speed and agility , " photographerJack Zhisaid in astatement .
The image , caught at a high pep pill , was award the Grand Prize Title and Gold achiever for theBird Photograph of the Year 2023 .
