2020 will go down as one of the most challenging of our time. This year has been filled with tragedy and anxiety. We were happy to hear that NPN was a place of respite for many, somewhere to escape the never-ending barrage of bad news and focus only on nature photography.

Even though nearly everyone was stuck at home, you all managed to flex your creative muscles and have shown what is possible even without travel. Thank you all for the inspiration and positivity in the face of a global pandemic.

This year I couldn’t help myself to add a new category: NPN Nature Photographer of the Year! Scroll to the bottom to see who was awarded this year…

Thank you to all the moderators for their tireless work picking the Editors Pick each week and helping me make the final selections for the Yearly Editors Picks; without further ado, here are the 2020 awards!

Avian

First Place

Bald Eagle Lift Off by Allen Sparks
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Second Place

Close Moorhen of the 3rd Kind by Hans Overduin
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Third Place

Contact! by Mark Muller
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Flora

First Place

Purple Iris by Kathy Snead
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Second Place

Spray by Ian Wolfenden
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Third Place

Fuji Hybrid Tea by Larry Lynch
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Human & Fauna

First Place

Southern Bald Ibis by Marc Brawer
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Second Place

Left Behind by Jenaya Launstein
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Third Place

Guard Cat by David Schoen
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Landscape

First Place

Startle by Eugene Theron
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Second Place

Ghosts of Forests Past by Bonnie Lampley
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Third Place

Snow and Fog Arches NP by Ed McGuirk
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Macro

First Place

Zoanthids by Jim Zablotny
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Second Place

Carolina Mantis with prey by Mark Seaver
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Third Place

Butterfly Canvas by Balan Vinod
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Wildlife

First Place

Tayra by Max Waugh
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Second Place

Head Shake by Cheryl Kuhl
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Third Place

Yellowstone Coyote by Jenaya Launstein
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Weekly Challenge

First Place

The Lone Cirro by Igor Doncov
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Second Place

Hope Rising by Mark Muller
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Third Place

Captured by the Wind by Patricia Brundage
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Nature Photographer of the Year

Bonnie Lampley

Bonnie’s incredible body of work this year is nothing short of astounding. She embodies the essence of creative nature photography that we encourage here at NPN.

View Bonnie’s Portfolio