15 wonderful images from the Nature Photographer of the Year 2024

Photographer Paolo Della Rocca waited six hours in freezing temperatures to capture a fascinating moment between two snow leopards. The resulting image (see below) won top honors at Nature Photographer of the Year 2024 Awards.

two snow leopards jumping on each other in a snowy landscape — **“Games between brothers and sisters” by Paolo Della Rocca**
Winner, Mammals
“In northern India is a region called Spiti Valley, home to one of the most elusive wildlife on the planet: the snow leopard. Since my childhood, this trip has been a dream of mine and the snow leopard has always been my favorite wild animal. This year, during my search for this mysterious feline, I was lucky enough to meet two sub-adult siblings and capture them at different points in their lives. The most incredible day of this experience was February 1st. This image was anything but easy to obtain. I waited for over six hours at the edge of a canyon while the two siblings rested in a cave. The cold – reaching -25 degrees and intensified by a snowstorm – seeped into my bones. When calm finally returned, the snow leopards began to move, chasing each other on the snowy slopes, playing before my astonished eyes. I remember thinking, “This isn’t happening; This can’t be real!’ And then I captured this image. Even in my wildest dreams, I never imagined photographing such a moment. I am so happy and grateful that the NPOTY 2024 jury appreciated this photograph!
*Credit: Paolo Della Rocca / NPOTY 2024*

“In this extraordinary photograph, the photographer has captured what many consider to be the holy grail of wildlife photography: not just one, but two snow leopards in a dramatic confrontation,” says Tin Man Lee, president of NPOTY. “The image freezes a breathtaking moment as these elusive cats rear up on their hind legs, their powerful forms perfectly separated from the snowy landscape, creating a scene of raw power and natural drama. What elevates this image beyond a simple observation is the technical excellence in capturing such explosive behavior in harsh mountain conditions, combined with the artistic merit of a composition that places these cats mysterious in their ethereal high altitude habitat.

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