Amos Nachoum/World Nature Photography Awards

Photography award competitions have been an annual source of relief in our pages each year over the last decade, providing needed distraction from other pressing matters. There was one more competition from 2021 that just came to our attention, and it is worth a look; then, below, find a link to the 2022 entry form if you have been snapping some nature pics that might rival the one above:

AMOS NACHOUM, USA – GOLD WINNER AND GRAND PRIZE OF WORLD NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

For hours, I waited for the low tide to arrive along a shallow lagoon on a remote island off the Antarctic Peninsula. Like clockwork, the leopard seal arrived in the lagoon just before low tide. It put its head in the water and looked just like a rock sitting in the receding water. The young Gentoo penguins only dare to enter the water when it is shallow and when they got close enough to the seal, it turned its head at lightning speed, catching one of the penguins by its feet and taking it to deep water. Once the seal reached open water, I followed it and swam parallel to it, observing its actions. To my surprise, it let go of the penguin twice. Each time, the seal chased after the penguin again, as if it was enjoying the game. The terrified penguin tried to escape as the game continued. But soon, the end came.