Contemplez les plus belles photographies sur la nature réunies par le concours BigPicture

Ouvert à tous les photographes professionnels ou amateurs du monde entier, le concours photographique BigPicture sélectionne les meilleurs clichés qui illustrent la riche diversité de notre planète et inspirent à la conserver. Nous vous présentons les gagnants des grands prix de cette année.

Avec pas moins de 6 000 images soumises à la quatrième édition du BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition, la concurrence était rude. Des photographes originaires de 63 pays du monde entier ont participé à cette compétition d’envergure internationale et présentent des clichés tous plus impressionnants les uns que les autres. Les gagnants vont voir leurs clichés exposés pendant trois mois à l’académie des sciences de Californie à partir du 28 juillet.

We’re very proud to announce 2017’s Grand Prize winner, Britta Jaschinski’s « Confiscated. » The London-based Jaschinski traveled to a warehouse near Denver, Colorado to photograph this set of elephant foot stools, two of 1.3 million items seized and held at a U.S. Fish and Wildlife repository. @biographic_magazine has the rest of the winners & finalists featured in a photo gallery—more at biographic.com.

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 21 Juin 2017 à 19h59 PDT

À travers leurs photos percutantes, les artistes souhaitent également soulever les consciences sur le monde qui nous entoure, sur l’environnement et la souffrance animale dans le monde. À l’image de Britta Jaschinski, gagnante du Grand Prix avec son cliché « Confiscated », chacun des participants utilise leur objectif pour nous rappeler les problèmes encore présents dans la société d’aujourd’hui.

« Confiscated » dévoile deux tabourets faits à partir de pattes d’éléphants, stockés dans un dépôt américain près de Denver au Colorado. Cette photo nous rappelle qu’il existe encore du braconnage et que malgré le danger d’extinction qui pèse sur certaines espèces, de nombreux produits faits à partir d’animaux sont encore sur le marché.

A unique rewilding project requires a unique uniform: Photographer @amivitale traveled to China’s Wolong Reserve for a look at the preservation techniques used in giant panda conservation. To blend in and keep pandas from imprinting on the humans at the reserve, caregivers wear panda costumes scented with panda urine. Vitale’s photo is the winner in our 2017 Human/Nature category. // #conservationphotography #naturephotography #giantpanda #panda

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 23 Juin 2017 à 14h25 PDT

At the end of winter, farmers in West Bengal, India set fire to their fields in order to prepare for new crops. While most creatures flew, the black deontology sticks around to feast on the insects that take the sky amidst the flames. A 2017 Winged Life finalist by Kallol Mukherjee. // #naturephotography #conservationphotography #wildlifephotography #India

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 29 Juin 2017 à 10h37 PDT

Ever wonder how a whale sleeps? Photographer @francobanfi and his fellow divers were following this pod of sperm whales when the giants suddenly seemed to fall into a vertical slumber. “It was just magic,” he says. « Synchronized Sleepers » is a finalist in this year’s Human/Nature category—more via @biographic_magazine at biographic.com.

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 10 Juil. 2017 à 10h47 PDT

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 23 Mai 2017 à 10h48 PDT

Journeying upriver in the Pantanal wetland, award-winning photographer @marcelo_krause reached a clear, gasified spring with an astonishing growth of underwater vegetation and this armored catfish. | 2016 Finalist, Aquatic Life | #armoredcatfish #pantanal #uwphotography #underwater #underwaterphotography

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 5 Nov. 2016 à 10h38 PDT

A plume of stars seems to stream from the #Matterhorn. Photographer @roman_burri_fotografie stayed up into the early morning hours to capture the brief period when the #MilkyWay appeared directly above the famed Swiss peak. | 2016 Finalist, Landscapes, Waterscapes, & Flora | #naturephotography #nightsky #stars #nightphotography #photocontest #photocompetition

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 9 Août 2016 à 17h45 PDT

Our « Art of Nature » category is for Earth’s most beautiful abstractions: unusual close-ups, patterns, & perspectives, plus images created via scientific imaging tools. « Sulfur City »—by ’16 winner Peter Juzak—is a microscopic view of sulfur crystals in polarized light. // #sciart #microscope #microscopy #microscopic #scientificimaging #photography #naturephotography

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 16 Janv. 2017 à 17h01 PST

Rare sighting! Fewer than five photos of the small Pampas cat are known to exist, says photographer Sebastian Kennerknecht (@pumapix). His customized camera trap snapped this image—one of only two pictures he got of the wild cat during nine weeks in the Bolivian Andes. | 2016 Finalist, Terrestrial Life| #WorldPhotographyDay #PampasCat #naturephotography #conservationphotography #nature #wildlife #cameratrap #photocontest #photocompetition

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 19 Août 2016 à 16h03 PDT

The category that soars! From birds to bats to insects, « Winged Life » is for creatures that leave terra firma behind. Enter by March 15 for a chance to exhibit @calacademy & win your share of $12,000 in cash prizes! (« Leap to Safety » by 2014 finalist Ben Cranke.) // #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #conservationphotography #photocontest #photographycompetition

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 27 Janv. 2017 à 22h42 PST

« The Water Bear »—an up close and (very personal) shot captured by @paulsouders | 2015 Finalist in our Aquatic Life category #wildlifephotography #polarbear

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 23 Févr. 2016 à 18h26 PST

« Nature’s Canvas »—by @markseabury (Sydney, Australia), our 2015 First Place winner in the Landscapes, Waterscapes and Flora category. At sunrise, from a hot air balloon, the undulating dunes of Dubai desert almost come alive with motion—reminding Seabury of ocean waves. “In each case the waves are created through the effects of the wind, and the patterns and textures are highlighted through the play of light.” In this vast sand sea, a single athel tree appears “as a steadfast symbol of life in impossible conditions.”

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 9 Févr. 2016 à 18h52 PST

New for 2017: the #AerialPhotography category! Whether by aircraft, drone, or other method, we’re looking for breathtaking views of Earth’s surface. See profile link for details. (“Pink Flamingos at Red River » by Francisco Mingorance, 2016 Winged Life runner-up.) // #photographycompetition #photocompetition #photocontest #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #conservationphotography #aerialphoto #dronephotography #dronephoto

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 11 Janv. 2017 à 18h04 PST

On #WorldOceansDay, we’re announcing the 2017 finalists in our Aquatic category, including this incredible shot by Dutch photographer @eugenekitsios Visit our Facebook page to see the rest of our category finalists and get a glimpse of underwater life that only these talented photographers could give us. // #naturephotography #underwaterphotography #dolphins #

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 8 Juin 2017 à 16h47 PDT

This sophisticated image was created with a surprisingly simple technique, using a cell phone’s flashlight for back lighting. | Photo by @9focuspoints | 2016 Finalist, #ArtOfNature | #photography #lighting #plants #naturephotography #green

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 18 Juil. 2016 à 17h09 PDT

A white-fronted bee-eater watched it’s flying kin in front of their best. It took photographer Bence Mate 16 attempts in a camera hide to capture this striking scene. | 2016 Finalist, #ArtOfNature category | #birds #birdsinflight #naturephotography #nature #wildlifephotography #wildlife #beeeater

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 17 Août 2016 à 18h40 PDT

Every year, hordes of tourists eagerly flock to #JigokudaniMonkeyPark to snap shots of Japanese macaques soaking in hot springs. But these charismatic animals actually do have a life outside nature’s jacuzzi. Wanting to portray a fuller picture, @jasperdoest photographed the red-faced monkeys in their wintery mountain habitat. #snowmonkey | 2015 First Place winner in the Terrestrial Wildlife category

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 17 Févr. 2016 à 13h35 PST

Cheers to @nationalparkservice for 100 years of preserving our natural wonders! | Photo by @mmamtani | 2015 BigPicture Finalist throwback | #naturephotography #landscape #nightsky #joshuatree #joshuatreenationalpark #nationalpark #findyourpark #stargazing #nps100 #tbt

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 25 Août 2016 à 17h48 PDT

This dramatic shot of a Calbuco volcano eruption in April 2015 (more than 40 years after the volcano’s last eruption) is our First Place winner for the Landscapes, Waterscapes & Flora category. Congratulations to @francisco_negroni_chile! See all winners at bigpicturecompetition.org | #landscapes #lightning #chile #calbuco #volcano #photocontest #nature #naturephotography #scapes

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 5 Juin 2016 à 20h02 PDT

Happy International Day of Forests! This miniature forest— »Cloud Island, » shot on British Columbia’s Tumuch Lake—brought to you by 2015 finalist Shane Kalyn. // #internationaldayofforests #intlforestday #naturephotography #landscapephotography #photocontest

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 21 Mars 2017 à 12h47 PDT

Sunrise on New Year’s Day yielded one David Gallardo’s (@worldofoceansphotography) first images of 2016. Snorkeling over a shallow reef, he came upon a young green sea turtle waking up in its “bed”—a soft coral. Spanish-born Gallardo began scuba and free diving at age 8. Now he is a professional underwater photographer whose subjects range from humpback whales to silky sharks. | 2016 Finalist, Aquatic Life | #aquatic #aquaticlife #greenseaturtle #seaturtle #turtle #underwaterphotography #oceanphotography #marinelife

Une publication partagée par BigPicture (@bigpicturecomp) le 15 Juil. 2016 à 16h18 PDT

Vous pouvez retrouver plus de photos sublimes sur la nature sur le site ou sur le compte Instagram du BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition.