The finalists for Wildlife Photographer of the Year are amazing

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has been going since 1965. That’s more than half a century of celebrating astonishing images by both amateur and professional snappers from all over the world, which star all the flora and fauna of land and sea.  

The exhibition at the Natural History Museum opens on October 20, after the votes have been cast by a panel of experts, but you can still wander around and give your own imaginary prizes to this year’s winning entries. There will be rare glimpses of species you’ve never even heard of, with incredible compositions that will make you wonder: Just how did they manage to take that?  

Get ready to be amazed, or something. Here are the finalists:

'Sewage Surfer' © Justin Hofman

  

'Saguaro twist' © Jack Dykinga

'Swim gym' © Laurent Ballesta

'The insiders' © Qing Lin

  

'The power of the matriarch' © David Lloyd

'Bear hug' © Ashleigh Scully

'Saved but caged' © Steve Winter

'Glimpse of a lynx' © Laura Albiac Vilas

'Arctic treasure' © Sergey Gorshkov

'Bold eagle' © Klaus Nigge

'Resplendent delivery' © Tyohar Kastiel

'Romance among the angels' © Andrey Narchuk

  

Find out more about the exhibition right here, you animal.