The Road to Saint Ana Lake Transylvania, Romania. © Calin-Andrei Stan/TNC Photo Contest 2018

Photo Contest

2019 Winners

Announcing our 2019 winners

We’re excited to announce the winners of the 2019 Photo Contest. This year’s photo contest received a record number of submissions from more than 150 countries. We thank everyone who entered or voted, and we look forward to your participation again next year.

Grand Prize Winner

Tyler Schiffman - United States

California sea lion framed by kelp beds in Monterey Bay, California. Grand Prize Winner for 2019 TNC Global Photo Contest.
Burst California sea lion framed by kelp beds in Monterey Bay, California. Grand Prize Winner for 2019 TNC Global Photo Contest. © Tyler Schiffman/TNC Photo Contest 2019

"I was diving the break wall in Monterey Bay and this week in particular had over 40 foot vis for 3 days straight. I had been shooting kelp bursts all day as the light was exploding amongst the canopy above. I had framed this shot waiting for a sea lion to swim by. After 5 minutes, one swam up and paused for a few seconds, I took 3 photos and as rare as it was the moment left in a blink of an eye."

People's Choice Winner

Diyanto Sarira - Indonesia

A small waterfall and stream in Wasior, West Papua.
Wanayo Waterfall A small waterfall and stream in Wasior, West Papua. © Diyanto Sarira/TNC Photo Contest 2019

First Place, Wildlife

Fernando O’Farrill - Mexico

Polar Bear in Svalbard, Norway June 2019.
Hope Polar Bear in Svalbard, Norway June 2019. © Fernando O’Farrill/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Second Place, Wildlife

Raymond Hennessy - United States

A Chestnut-sided Warbler sings out.
Singing Silhouette A Chestnut-sided Warbler sings out. © Raymond Hennessy/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Third Place, Wildlife

Yaron Schmid - United States

A Grevy's zebra staring at the camera in Lewa, Kenya.
The Grevy's Illusion A Grevy's zebra staring at the camera in Lewa, Kenya. © YARON SCHMID/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Honorable Mention, Wildlife

José David Altamirano González - Costa Rica

Two monkeys wrestle in the dirt
Africa Salvaje Botswana, July 2019 © Jose David Altamirano González/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Honorable Mention, Wildlife

Giuseppe Bonali - Italy

Three damselflies after a storm in Italy.
The Trio Three damselflies after a storm in Italy. © Giuseppe Bonali/TNC Photo Contest 2019

"Three bridesmaids, so we call them, in Italy shooting after a storm. I found them very close, with patience I managed to put them on the same level of fire."

Honorable Mention, Wildlife

Sebastian Di Domenico - Colombia

A White-Tipped Sicklebill stand completely still as hummingbirds lower their metabolism during night time to avoid starvation.
Bizarre Looks A White-Tipped Sicklebill stand completely still as hummingbirds lower their metabolism during night time to avoid starvation. © Sebastian Di Domenico/TNC Photo Contest 2019

"Picture taken in a small waterfall in Sumaco National Park in Ecuador where several hummingbirds where sleeping together."

First Place, People in Nature

Le Van Vinh - Vietnam

Fisherman in Hon Yen, Phu Yen, Vietnam.
Dance in the Sea Fisherman in Hon Yen, Phu Yen, Vietnam. © Vinh Le van/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Second Place, People in Nature

Fabio Teixeira - Brazil

A young African refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo floating in the waters of Guanabara Bay, Ramos Beach.
Portrait in Guanabara Bay A young African refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo floating in the waters of Guanabara Bay, Ramos Beach. © Fabio Teixeira/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Third Place, People in Nature

Apratim Pal - India

Two swimmers enjoy the water. West Bengal, India.
Bathing Time Two swimmers enjoy the water. West Bengal, India. © Apratim Pal/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Honorable Mention, People in Nature

Giovani Cordioli - Brazil

A storm comes over Varadero, Cuba, 2019.
Cuban Storm A storm comes over Varadero, Cuba, 2019. © Giovani Cordioli/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Honorable Mention, People in Nature

Anskar Lenzen - Germany

A jump into the iconic lake Eibsee in southern Germany on a hot summer day.
Refreshment A jump into the iconic lake Eibsee in southern Germany on a hot summer day. © Anskar Lenzen/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Honorable Mention, People in Nature

Ted Somerville - United States

A surfer enjoying a good wave in Copacabana.
Copacabana Surfer A surfer enjoying a good wave in Copacabana. © Ted Somerville/TNC Photo Contest 2019

First Place, Cities and Nature

Jay Huang - United States

Golden Gate Bridge during a low fog event.
Golden Gate Bridge Alignment Golden Gate Bridge during a low fog event. © Jay Huang/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Second Place, Cities and Nature

Yevhen Samuchenko - Ukraine

Mestia, a small city in Georgia, at night.
Gold of Svaneti Mestia, a small city in Georgia, at night. © Yevhen Samuchenko/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Third Place, Cities and Nature

Robert Potts - United States

Docks in Astoria taken over by California Sea Lions.
California Sea Lions Docks in Astoria taken over by California Sea Lions. © Robert Potts/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Honorable Mention, Cities and Nature

Tsz Ho Tse - Hong Kong

The view of the world famous Victoria Harbour under the clouds in the early morning.
Morning Hong Kong The view of the world famous Victoria Harbour under the clouds in the early morning. © Tsz Ho Tse/TNC Photo Contest 2019

First Place, Water

Alex Kydd - Australia

A whale shark swimming in the depths off of Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.
Big Fish in a Big Ocean A whale shark swimming in the depths off of Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. © Alex Kydd/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Second Place, Water

Hao Jiang - United States

A flock of flamingos fly over the colorful salt lake, the floating foam pattern looks like lightning on the lake.
To the Lightning A flock of flamingos fly over the colorful salt lake, the floating foam pattern looks like lightning on the lake. © Hao Jiang/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Third Place, Water

Alex Kydd, Australia

A large grouping of Cownose Rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) taken on Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia.
A Rare Encounter With Cownose Rays A large grouping of Cownose Rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) taken on Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. © Alex Kydd/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Honorable Mention, Water

Barbara Rot - Slovenia

Adelie penguin on an iceberg.
Iceberg Adelie penguin on an iceberg. © Barbara Rot/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Honorable Mention, Water

Michael Gallagher - United Kingdom

An anemonefish shelters in the tentacles of a closed up reef anemone.
Gimme Shelter An anemonefish shelters in the tentacles of a closed up reef anemone. © Michael Gallagher/TNC Photo Contest 2019

First Place, Landscape

Colin Ronald - Austria

Skier heading down a mountain slope in Slovenia.
Taking The Plunge Skier heading down a mountain slope in Slovenia. © Colin Ronald/TNC Photo Contest 2019

"On the last day of a 5-day ski tour in Slovenia, we finally found ourselves above the clouds, able to see something other than fog for the first time in the entire trip.  Sam takes first tracks as he skis back towards the fog with which we had become all to familiar."

Second Place, Landscape

Leigh Miller - Australia

Drone photo showing the pink hues of a pink lake called Hutt Lagoon, Western Australia.
Pink Lake Drone photo showing the pink hues of a pink lake called Hutt Lagoon, Western Australia. © Leigh Miller/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Third Place, Landscape

Guilherme Gomes de Mesquita - Brazil

Trolltunga, Norway.
On the Brink Trolltunga, Norway. © Guilherme Gomes de Mesquita/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Honorable Mention, Landscape

Carlos Eduardo Goulart

Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile. January, 2019.
Paine Grande in the Storm Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile. January, 2019. © Carlos Eduardo Coulart/TNC Photo Contest 2019

"It was a very, very stormy night. When at dawn I decided to face the wind and the cold and look at what’s out there, I saw it from the door of my tent."

Honorable Mention, Landscape

Victor Grilo Lima - Brazil

Sunset at Piedras Rojas in the Atacama Desert in Chile.
Piedras Rojas Sunset at Piedras Rojas in the Atacama Desert in Chile. © Victor Grilo Lima/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Honorable Mention, Landscape

Florian LeDoux - France

Water in quicksand, Iceland.
Tree of Life Water in quicksand, Iceland. © Florian LeDoux/TNC Photo Contest 2019

Honorable Mention, Landscape

José David Altamirano González - Costa Rica

Volcán De Fuego
Furia Volcán De Fuego © José David Altamirano González/TNC Photo Contest 2019