The 25 People’s Choice Finalists of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2022

The Natural History Museum has selected the top 25 photos that will be voted on by the public to win the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award 2022.

The winners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition were announced in October where Karine Aigner took top honors for her photo titled “The big buzz.” She is just the fifth woman in the competition’s 58-year history to earn the Grand Title Award.

But now the public’s favorite photo will be awarded and the winner will be announced in February. The public is being invited to have their say and vote for their favorite image, the selection of which has been narrowed to 25 photos from a staggering 38,575 entries from 93 different countries. The shortlisted photos include an intimate nuzzle, a polar bear cub basking in a sea of flowers, a portrait of a characterful pregnant pygmy seahorse, a capture that reveals the impact of domesticated cats on local wildlife, and many more.

“Voters will have a challenge to choose from this stunning range of photographs which tell vital stories and connect people to issues across the planet. We are looking forward to finding out which of these images emerges as the favorite,” Dr. Douglas Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum says.

The Natural History Museum says that for the first time, the public can vote for their favorite using interactive screens located inside the newly designed Wildlife Photographer of the Year flagship exhibition at the Natural History Museum.

Voting ends on February 2, and the top five images will be displayed online and join the winners of the competition that were announced earlier this year.

Below are the 25 shortlisted finalists:

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum. The organization says that it offers a truly global platform for amateur and professional photographers alike.

“Using photography’s unique emotive power to engage and inspire audiences, the exhibition shines a light on stories and species around the world and supports the Museum in its mission of creating advocates for the planet,” the Natural History Museum says.

The public can vote for their favorite on the organization’s website until February 2, 2023.

Image credits: All photos are individually credited and provided courtesy of the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year.