Nature Photographer of the Year’s 2024 winner captures the Holy Grail of wildlife photography

The results are in for the Nature Photographer of the Year 2024, and the winning image is nothing short of magical. Paolo Della Rocca from Italy has claimed the top prize with a breathtaking photo of wildlife photographer’s Holy Grail: two snow leopards in a playful, brotherly fight.

The overall winner

Paolo’s award-winning shot, taken in the rugged Spiti Valley of northern India, showcases a moment many wildlife photographers can only dream of: two snow leopards, standing tall on their hind legs, locked in an intense and graceful duel. “This image freezes a breathtaking moment,” said Tin Man Lee, Chairman of the Judging Panel. The photographer captured what many consider the holy grail of wildlife photography—not just one, but two snow leopards in a dramatic confrontation.

Reflecting on the experience, Paolo shared,

“In northern India lies a region called Spiti Valley, home to one of the most elusive wild animals on Earth—the snow leopard. Since childhood, this journey 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 encounter a pair of sub-adult siblings and to capture them at different moments in their lives. The most incredible day of this experience was February 1st. This image was anything but easy to obtain. I waited over six hours at the edge of a canyon as 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 up the snowy slopes, playing in front of my astonished eyes. I remember thinking, ‘This isn’t happening; it can’t be real!’ And then, I captured this frame. Not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine photographing such a moment. I’m so glad and grateful that the jury of NPOTY 2024 appreciated this photograph!”

Category winners

This year’s competition drew 22,851 submissions from 96 countries, setting a new record. Beyond Paolo’s stunning work, the judges celebrated outstanding achievements across twelve categories and one special category:

1. Birds
2. Mammals
3. Other Animals
4. Plants and Fungi
5. Landscape
6. Underwater
7. Nature Art
8. Human and Nature
9. Black and White
10. Animal Portraits
11. Nature of “De Lage Landen”
12. Youth (10–17 years old)

The special category, The Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award, honors a compelling body of work that tells a cohesive story or explores a theme in depth.

Conservation through photography

Organized by Nature Talks, this beloved competition not only celebrates the artistry of nature photography but also reminds us of the incredible beauty and fragility of the natural world.

The competition continues to highlight the importance of conservation, partnering with organizations like Photographers Against Wildlife Crime. This year’s Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award winner, Hector Cordero, brought attention to the devastating impact of urban lighting and glass on migratory birds with his poignant series.

Nature Talks will celebrate these extraordinary images at the Nature Talks Photo Festival in the Netherlands, where attendees can marvel at the works and engage with the wider world of nature photography. Also, photographers can mark their calendars—the 2025 edition of the competition opens for entries on December 20, 2024.

Take a moment to enjoy category winners below, and make sure to explore more on the Nature Photographer of the Year website.

More From the Nature Photographer of the Year

If you’d like to see more contest photos from other years, click on the links below and enjoy!

• This mystical giraffe photo wins Nature Photographer of the Year 2020
• Fascinating photo of geese migration wins 2021 Nature Photographer of the Year
• Polar bears took over an abandoned house and won Nature Photographer of the Year 2022
• Dreamy photo of a spectacled bear wins Nature Photographer of the Year 2023
• Nature Photographer of the Year’s 2024 winner captures the Holy Grail of wildlife photography

Fred Hazelhoff Portfolio Award: The impact of light
and glass on migratory birds by Hector Cordero

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