These are the breathtaking winning photos of 2018 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest

Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest always brings us some stunning photos, and the 2018 contest was no exception. The winners from 19 categories were selected and their photos show the beauty, versatility and sometimes harsh reality of the world around us.

Dutch photographer Marsel van Oosten won the overall Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018 title. The winning photo titled “The Golden Couple” frames a pair of golden snub-nosed monkeys. It was taken in the temperate forest of China’s Qinling Mountains, the only habitat for these endangered primates.

*The golden coupl*e by Marsel van Oosten, The Netherlands
Grand Title Winner 2018, Animal Portraits
© Marsel van Oosten – Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018 title was awarded to sixteen-year-old Skye Meaker from South Africa. His winning photo depicts a leopard waking from sleep in Mashatu Game Reserve, Botswana.

*Lounging leopard* by Skye Meaker, South Africa
Grand Title Winner 2018, 15-17 Years Old
© Skye Meaker – Wildlife Photographer of the Year

There were in total 19 category winners, along with van Oosten and Meaker. These are the categories of the contest:

Animal Portraits
Animals in their environment
Amphibians and Reptiles
Behaviour: Birds
Behaviour: Invertebrates
Behaviour: Mammals
Black and White
Creative Visions
Earth’s Environments
Plants and Fungi
Rising Star Portfolio Award
Under Water
Urban Wildlife
Wildlife Photojournalism
Wildlife Photojournalist Award: Story
Wildlife Photographer Portfolio Award
15-17 Years Old
11-14 Years Old
10 Years and Under

They were selected among more than 45,000 entries from 95 countries, and you can currently see them exhibited. Along with 98 other photos from 2018 competition, the two overall winning images are on display at the Natural History Museum in London. It will travel across the UK and to locations such as Canada, Spain, the USA, Australia, and Germany.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition opens for entry every October. So, if you want to give it a shot yourself, you can do so in fall 2019. You can see some more category winners below, and check out the last year’s winning photos here.