It’s that time of year again for the yearly Editors Picks at NPN! It was incredibly challenging to make selections from the enormous amount of amazing images posted this year!

Thank you to all the moderators for their tireless work picking the Editors Pick each week and helping us make the final selections for the Yearly Editors Picks; without further ado, here are the 2021 awards! 

Click here to leave comments on all images or follow the link for the individual images.

Thank you to all the members who have made this an incredible year at NPN. It’s because of you that NPN is still one of the best communities out there!

– David and Jennifer

Avian

First Place

Youngsters by Hans Overduin
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Second Place

Focused by Johan Lennartsson
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Third Place

Simplicity by Mark Muller
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Flora

First Place

Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot) by Paul Wiegman
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Second Place

Unknown Succulent by Jim Zablotny
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Third Place

Bougainvillea and window by Diane Miller
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Human & Fauna

First Place

On the rocks by David Schoen
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Second Place

Rattlesnake by Tony Kuyper
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Third Place

Dune Dog by Harley Goldman
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Landscape

First Place

Blueberry Meringue by John Williams
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Second Place

Submerged Fire by Bonnie Lampley
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Third Place

What’s it all about, Alvord? by Igor Doncov
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Macro

First Place

Long Legged Fly by Balan Vinod
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Second Place

At the Hub of Diffraction by Mike Friel
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Third Place

Whitetail metamorphosis by Mark Seaver
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Wildlife

First Place

Best Friends by Ingrid Vekemans
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Second Place

Poke! by Max Waugh
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Third Place

Violence at the Hatchery by Gary Minish
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Weekly Challenge

First Place

The Kiss of Death by Kristen Smith
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Second Place

Driftwood Abstract by Dick Knudson
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Third Place

Eternal Embrace by David Haynes
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Nature Photographer of the Year

Ed McGuirk

This year’s pick for Nature Photographer of the Year is one of our very own moderators, Ed McGuirk. Ed is incredibly talented with a knack for intimate landscapes. Ed’s consistent quality and creativity earned him the top spot this year. Ed has proven that despite limits on travel this year, you can create incredible imagery no matter where you are.

View Ed’s Portfolio