The Natural History Museum (NHM) in London holds a prestigious annual wildlife photography contest aptly named the ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition’. It is currently in its 62nd year. You can enter a maximum of 25 photos in one of 13 different categories. Across all categories, 100 photos are selected as finalists. I entered last year (the 61st year of the competition) and they said that a record breaking 60,363 photos were entered, 6,215 were chosen for the final round, and 100 were selected as finalists. 1 of my 25 photos made it to the final round, but was not selected as one of the 100 finalists (these can be viewed here). This year I decided to enter again. 11 (of the 25) photos I entered have been included in two prior blog posts: the Smithsonian Photo Contest and the National Wildlife Federation Photo Contest (so I won’t repeat them again in this post). However, I have not previously posted 14 (of the 25) photos I entered (most were taken within the past year). Below are these 14 photos and the required information for each.
Cannibal
Description and Background: One spring evening in Florida’s Paynes Prairie Preserve, I spotted a large alligator attempting to swallow a small alligator. The commotion attracted other alligators and, perturbed, the predatory alligator turned and swam toward me with the smaller alligator clutched in its jaws. It settled at the water’s edge below the steep embankment I was standing on, allowing me to get this head-on shot. Swallowing a prey item of this size takes a long time and it got dark before I was able to see the conclusion of this interaction. I initially thought these cannibalistic interactions must be rare, but I have now witnessed similar scenes several times.
Location: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Florida, USA
Year: 2025
Species: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Early Riser
Description and Background: In late summer of 2024, I went on a multi-day hike through California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. After a restless night of sleep (due to the high-elevation) I emerged from my tent to see the sun rising over the mountains. An American Pika emerged from its den in the rocks at the same time and I captured its silhouette against the mountainous backdrop.
Location: Lamarck Col, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA
Year: 2024
Species: American Pika (Ochotona princeps)
In the Green Water
Description and Background: The aptly named ‘Green Springs’ in Enterprise, Florida smells of rotten eggs as you approach. The combination of sulfur oxidizing bacteria, suspended algae, and sunlight give the waters of this sulfidic spring their green color. To capture this photo, I waited patiently for a small alligator to emerge from the thick shoreline vegetation and swim toward the center of the spring. Here, it paused and remained suspended for several moments allowing me to frame the dark green alligator against the emerald green water, surrounded by dark green vegetation.
Location: Green Springs Park, Florida, USA
Year: 2025
Species: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Lazy Afternoon
Description and Background: At certain times of the year the alligators in Florida’s Paynes Prairie Preserve congregate in large numbers, while at other times they spread out across the landscape. I frequent this park throughout the year and spring is a time of peak congregation, so I visit often. On this particular spring afternoon, many alligators rested lazily on the far bank in front of a classic north Florida backdrop of trees covered in Spanish Moss.
Location: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Florida, USA
Year: 2025
Species: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Majestic Oak
Description and Background: Live Oaks get their name from the fact that they retain leaves year-round. These majestic trees are ecosystems unto themselves. The branches of live oaks support other plants including Resurrection Fern and Spanish Moss, and provide a home for animals such as Eastern Gray Squirrels. In this photo, I stood near the base of a particularly large tree, and looking upward, tried to capture the umbrella-like canopy and tangled mass of branches through dappled sunlight.
Location: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Florida, USA
Year: 2025
Species: Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
Pool Rules
Description and Background: I found this abandoned outdoor swimming pool, partially filled with rain water, on the grounds of a shuttered Florida hotel. The pool sits less than 50 meters from a lake that has abundant wildlife. I visited the pool dozens of times over the course of this year and there was frequently a small alligator present. This alligator is not trapped – it can, and does, freely exit the pool via the sloping concrete stairs in the corner. I think it chooses to spend so much time in this pool as here it is safe from predation by large alligators that reside in the nearby lake. To capture this photo, I climbed into the pool and slowly approached from the side without disturbing the basking alligator.
Location: Alachua County, Florida, USA
Year: 2025
Species: American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Precarious Perch
Description and Background: A Great Blue Dasher dragonfly perches precariously on the flower of a Purple Thistle plant. I took this photo just before sunset while walking along the water’s edge in Payne’s Prairie Preserve State Park.
Year: 2025
Location: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Alachua County, Florida, USA
Species: Great Blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis) and Purple Thistle plant (Cirsium horridulum)
Proud Pose
Description and Background: Basilisks are very skittish lizards that flee at the first hint of danger, often standing on two legs and running across the water surface. This magnificent crested male was perched on a rock in the center of a Costa Rican stream. It watched vigilantly as I very slowly and carefully made my way down the bank, in order to capture an eye-level portrait.
Location: Corredor, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Year: 2025
Species: Common Basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus)
Rusty Hideaway
Description and Background: Early 20th century cattle ranchers created a water control structure at the edge of a seasonally flooded Florida prairie. Today, all that remains of this structure are two large pieces of concrete and some massive rusty pipes. I frequently visit this site and find wildlife often congregate around this decaying structure as it is here that water is funneled through a narrow choke-point, concentrating fish into a narrow corridor. On this particular day, I observed a bright white Snowy Egret capturing and swallowing minnows that it picked out of the shallow waters of the rusted-out pipe.
Location: Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, Alachua County, Florida, USA
Year: 2025
Species: Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
Shadow Vultures
Description and Background: Palm Point Park sits on the edge of a lake. For whatever reason, Turkey Vultures congregate in this park in the hundreds and line the trees. In this photo, I captured two Vultures sitting in the shadows.
Location: Palm Point Park, Alachua County, Florida, USA
Year: 2024
Species: Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Standing Squirrel
Description and Background: A squirrel stands on two legs and grabs his chest while balancing on a branch. I took this photo of a personable squirrel at Green Springs Park in Florida. The squirrels here were not shy, which made it possible to photograph them in a number of interesting poses.
Location: Green Springs Park, Florida, USA
Year: 2025
Species: Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Toad Pipe
Description and Background: While visiting Costa Rica, I often went searching for reptiles and amphibians around the hotel in which I was staying. In this instance, I came upon a Cane Toad sitting next to a pipe which emerged from the hotel. The toad retreated into the pipe as I approached. I returned more cautiously later in the night and was able to photograph the toad in front of his urban home.
Location: Corredor, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica
Year: 2025
Species: Cane toad (Rhinella marina)
Visitor on the Snout
Description and Background: A Scarlet Skimmer dragonfly perches atop the snout of a Green Iguana.
I took this unique photo while going for a walk in a Miami park. Both species (dragonfly and iguana) were introduced to South Florida several decades ago and are thriving.
Location: Fruit & Spice Park, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA
Year: 2021
Species: Scarlet Skimmer dragonfly (Crocothemis servilia) and Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
Wetland Wonder
Description and Background: The sun sets at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida, illuminating the brackish wetlands in golden hues. Two shorebirds forage in the shallow water. To capture this photo, I set out at sunset and drove a route that winds through this wetland, stopping to photograph various species of birds.
Location: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, USA
Year: 2025
Species: Shorebird
Reason and Nature 
Andrew, “In The Green Water” is my favorite, but they are all fantastic! Good luck in the contest! Karen (and Steve) Kinziger
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