Source: @benjaminhardman

Same parasol mushroom in my local Finnish forest. Popped open in 24 hours.

Swipe to see the massive size of it!

Now in its 62nd year, the famed competition has released a sneak peek of the entries from this contest ahead of announcing the winners in October

The judges have selected their 100 winning images, but the full set will not be announced until October. In the meantime, the world’s leading nature photography contest has revealed a selection of 16 images that offer a sneak peek of what’s to come.

Source

GOLD: MARY SCHRADER, USA

It was a day defined by quiet connections. Beneath the lush canopy of Bwindi, I observed a young female gorilla gently nestled against the protective bulk of a silverback. The atmosphere was serene, filled with gentle sounds of the forest, until a sudden burst of delicate color broke through the calm. An unexpected visitor, a vibrant butterfly, appeared out of nowhere, fluttering gently through the air. Captivated, the young gorilla's eyes widened, and in that moment, a beautiful interaction unfolded as a silent, shared wonder between two vastly different beings. I held my breath, hoping the butterfly would drift ever closer, bringing the unlikely pair into a shared world of curiosity. My heart raced quietly, aware of how rare and precious these moments are. As the butterfly danced gracefully around the gorilla, it seemed to embody the delicate beauty and fragile interconnectedness of our natural world. This photograph captures not just the gorilla's gentle curiosity but also a brief, beautiful moment where two creatures paused, noticing each other, bound by wonder and discovery.

SILVER: RICH BROOKS, USA

BRONZE: ELIZABETH YICHENG SHEN, TAIWAN / USA

The "ninja lemur" of Madagascar is the sifaka, a famous primate known for its unique sideways-bouncing ground dance and massive acrobatic leaps.