These Are the Most Inspiring Nature Photographs of 2016

Today is the eleventh anniversary of Nature Photography Day. The North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) designated the day as a time to “promote the enjoyment of nature photography, and to explain how images have been used to advance the cause of conservation and protect plants, wildlife, and landscapes locally and worldwide.”

Here, we present a selection of the best nature photographs from NANPA members submitted in 2016.

Every year, NANPA members submit images to be considered for the NANPA Showcase. Out of the approximately 2,600 images submitted for 2016, judges selected 250 to be published in the Showcase gallery in five categories: Mammals, Birds, Scapes, Altered Reality, and Macro, Micro and All Other Wildlife.

If you’re feeling inspired, NANPA encourages you to explore the natural world with your camera today, read about the work of naturalists and pioneers in nature photography, and ask yourself how your images can bring positive change to the world. Enter their photo contest and you could even win a prize yourself!