It hasn’t been a bumper year for photography.
With restrictions on movement both nationally and internationally, most cameras have been limited to selfies and the living room window, but a few brave souls still managed to get out enough to snap some stunning shots.
The Nature TTL Photographer Of The Year Awards celebrate the very best in nature photography, and this year more than 8000 images competed for the $3000 grand prize, in categories ranging from animal portraits to underwater and landscape. These are our favourite shots.
Overall winner: The World Is Going Upside Down, Thomas Vijayan
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/1_730-11.jpg)
Animal Behaviour, Highly Commended: Dust Bath, Bence Mate
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/2_730-8.jpg)
Animal Behaviour, Highly Commended: Fun For All The Ages, Thomas Vijayan
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/3_730-7.jpg)
Read more: Stunning entries for world photo awards
Animal Behaviour, Highly Commended: Floral Bath Tub, Mousam Ray
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/4_730-7.jpg)
Underwater, Runner-up: Round, Zhi’yue Shi
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/5_730-6.jpg)
Underwater, Highly Commended: My New Toy, Celia Kujala
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/6_730-6.jpg)
Underwater, Highly Commended: Bluebottle Sunrise, Grant Thomas
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/7_730-6.jpg)
Underwater, Highly Commended: European Whale Sharks, Nuno Vasco Rodrigues
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/8_730-5.jpg)
Small World, Runner-up: Nature’s Pitfall, Samantha Stephens
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/9_730-3.jpg)
Small World, Highly Commended: 3… 2… 1… Takeoff!, Christian Brockes
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/10_730-3.jpg)
Small World, Highly Commended: Bee Wolf with Honeybee Prey, Simon Jenkins
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/11_730-2.jpg)
Wild Portraits, Highly Commended: Snow Monster, Amit Eshel
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/12_730-2.jpg)
Read more: Drew’s travel photography tips
Wild Portraits, Highly Commended: A Predator’s Playground, Charl Stols
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/13_730-2.jpg)
Wild Portraits, Highly Commended: Kangu, Tomasz Szpila
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/14_730-2.jpg)
The Night Sky, Category Winner: The Eye, Ivan Pedretti
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/15_730.jpg)
The Night Sky, Highly Commended: Purple Skies, Bence Mate
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/16_730.jpg)
Under 16, Runner-up: Fight In The Mountains, Raphael Schenker
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/17_730.jpg)
Urban Wildlife, Highly Commended: The Door, Jose Luis Ruiz Jiminez
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/18_730.jpg)
Read more: National Geographic photography
Landscapes, Highly Commended: Bled, Tomasz Rojek
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/19_730.jpg)
Camera Traps, Highly Commended: Moonwalker, Vladimir Cech Jr
![](https://assets.yourlifechoices.com.au/2021/06/20_730.jpg)
Which image is your favourite? Have you ever taken a nature shot you’re extremely proud of? Why not share it in the comments section below?
– With PA
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