{"id":2112937,"date":"2026-08-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2112937"},"modified":"2026-08-26T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T21:00:00","slug":"wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-whittles-more-than-65000-entries-to-the-top-100","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2112937","title":{"rendered":"Wildlife Photographer of the Year Whittles More than 65,000 Entries to the Top 100"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a photograph of a polar bear looking down into a hole, as if viewed from a seal&apos;s point of view\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Audun Rikardsen (Norway), \u201cIcy Window,\u201d Arctic sea ice north of Svalbard, Norway. Highly Commended, Animal Portraits. A polar bear is seen from a seal\u2019s perspective as it gazes down a breathing hole in Arctic sea ice. All images \u00a9 the photographers, courtesy of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Wildlife Photographer of the Year Whittles More than 65,000 Entries to the Top 100<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-26T09:23:05-05:00\">August 26, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-nature\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/nature\/\" rel=\"tag\">Nature<\/a><a class=\"category-photography\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/photography\/\" rel=\"tag\">Photography<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"colossal-share-buttons\">\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--facebook\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F08%2Fwildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2026-finalists%2F&amp;title=Wildlife%20Photographer%20of%20the%20Year%20Whittles%20More%20than%2065%2C000%20Entries%20to%20the%20Top%20100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--pinterest\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F08%2Fwildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2026-finalists%2F&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Fwpoty-1-960x640.jpg&amp;description=Wildlife%20Photographer%20of%20the%20Year%20Whittles%20More%20than%2065%2C000%20Entries%20to%20the%20Top%20100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share to Pinterest\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Pin<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--email\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email this article\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Email<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--copy\">\n\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Copy article link\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link colossal-share-button__copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/08\/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-2026-finalists\/\" data-label-default=\"Copy\" data-label-copied=\"Copied!\" data-aria-default=\"Copy article link\" data-aria-copied=\"Link copied to clipboard\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-live=\"polite\">Copy<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--bookmark\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"477152\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>More than 65,000 images by photographers in 121 countries presented a staggering challenge for the jurors of this year\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhm.ac.uk\/visit\/exhibitions\/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wildlife Photographer of the Year<\/a> competition. Of these entries, 100 were selected for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year\">prestigious contest<\/a>\u2019s shortlist, showcasing the world\u2019s diverse creatures and their habitats.<\/p>\n<p>The top images also demonstrate an array of realities across a number of categories, from animal behavior to portraits to photojournalism. Viewers are treated to the beauty and tenderness of inter-species cooperation and also confronted with the poignancy of family and the sometimes troubling impacts of human intervention.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-3-960x574.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477152\" title=\"Ernest Porter (South Africa), \u201cMutual Friends,\u201d Manyeleti Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Birds. An oxpecker cleans its bill against a rhino\u2019s skin.\" data-rl_title=\"Ernest Porter (South Africa), \u201cMutual Friends,\u201d Manyeleti Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Birds. An oxpecker cleans its bill against a rhino\u2019s skin.\" data-rl_caption=\"Ernest Porter (South Africa), \u201cMutual Friends,\u201d Manyeleti Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Birds. An oxpecker cleans its bill against a rhino\u2019s skin.\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-3-960x574.jpg\" alt=\"a bird rubs its beak on the snout of a rhino and looks like it&apos;s relaxing there\" class=\"wp-image-477160\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ernest Porter (South Africa), \u201cMutual Friends,\u201d Manyeleti Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Birds. An oxpecker cleans its bill against a rhino\u2019s skin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen\u2019s capture of orcas off the coast of Norway, we witness a grieving parent supporting the body of a calf as they swim. And Pietro Rojas\u2019 documentation of a brown bear in a circus, muzzled and strapped to a bicycle cart for a performance, acknowledges the toll of human interference on wild animals. \u201cMany countries have banned the use of wild animals in circuses,\u201d says a statement. \u201cWhere brown bears are used, they often are trained to perform in unnatural postures like standing upright for long periods of time, contributing to health and behavioural problems.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Most of the images snap animals in their native habitats, such as a polar bear peeking furtively through a hole in the ice, which Audun Rikardsen captures from a seal\u2019s-eye view. Ernest Porter times an oxpecker\u2019s beak-cleaning ritual on the snout of a rhinoceros so well that it lends an air of affection, as if the bird is giving the mammal a hug. And Jens Cullmann chronicles a humorously candid \u201cfail\u201d when an African bullfrog dramatically misses its meal.<\/p>\n<p>Winners are slated to be announced on October 13. Explore hundreds of photos from past years in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhm.ac.uk\/wpy\/gallery?tags=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online gallery<\/a>, and visit this year\u2019s exhibition, which runs from October 16 to July 11, 2027, at London\u2019s Natural History Museum. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-5-960x640.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477152\" title=\"Jens Cullmann (Germany), \u201cSplit-Second Escape,\u201d Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles. An African bullfrog lunges for an African babul butterfly\u2014and misses.\" data-rl_title=\"Jens Cullmann (Germany), \u201cSplit-Second Escape,\u201d Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles. An African bullfrog lunges for an African babul butterfly\u2014and misses.\" data-rl_caption=\"Jens Cullmann (Germany), \u201cSplit-Second Escape,\u201d Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles. An African bullfrog lunges for an African babul butterfly\u2014and misses.\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-5-960x640.jpg\" alt=\"a humorous photo of a frog missing its chance to catch a butterfly, which flies away in the foreground\" class=\"wp-image-477153\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jens Cullmann (Germany), \u201cSplit-Second Escape,\u201d Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles. An African bullfrog lunges for an African babul butterfly\u2014and misses.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-8-960x616.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477152\" title=\"Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen (Norway), \u201cLifted to the Surface,\u201d Kv\u00e6nangen, Troms County, Norway. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Mammals. An adult orca supports the body of a calf in the freezing waters of a Norwegian fjord.\" data-rl_title=\"Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen (Norway), \u201cLifted to the Surface,\u201d Kv\u00e6nangen, Troms County, Norway. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Mammals. An adult orca supports the body of a calf in the freezing waters of a Norwegian fjord.\" data-rl_caption=\"Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen (Norway), \u201cLifted to the Surface,\u201d Kv\u00e6nangen, Troms County, Norway. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Mammals. An adult orca supports the body of a calf in the freezing waters of a Norwegian fjord.\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"616\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-8-960x616.jpg\" alt=\"two orcas swim, one carrying the body of a calf on its snout\" class=\"wp-image-477156\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vegard Byrkjeland Aasen (Norway), \u201cLifted to the Surface,\u201d Kv\u00e6nangen, Troms County, Norway. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Mammals. An adult orca supports the body of a calf in the freezing waters of a Norwegian fjord.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-6-960x639.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477152\" title=\"Pietro Rojas (Guatemala), \u201cThe Show Goes On,\u201d Doha, Qatar. Highly Commended, Photojournalism. A brown bear rides a small motorcycle, muzzled and secured to the apparatus as it circles a circus ring.\" data-rl_title=\"Pietro Rojas (Guatemala), \u201cThe Show Goes On,\u201d Doha, Qatar. Highly Commended, Photojournalism. A brown bear rides a small motorcycle, muzzled and secured to the apparatus as it circles a circus ring.\" data-rl_caption=\"Pietro Rojas (Guatemala), \u201cThe Show Goes On,\u201d Doha, Qatar. Highly Commended, Photojournalism. A brown bear rides a small motorcycle, muzzled and secured to the apparatus as it circles a circus ring.\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"639\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-6-960x639.jpg\" alt=\"a circus act with a Russian theme, showing a dancer around which a brown bear is muzzled and strapped to a cart and pedals around\" class=\"wp-image-477154\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pietro Rojas (Guatemala), \u201cThe Show Goes On,\u201d Doha, Qatar. Highly Commended, Photojournalism. A brown bear rides a small motorcycle, muzzled and secured to the apparatus as it circles a circus ring.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-9-960x540.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477152\" title=\"Bence M\u00e1t\u00e9 (Hungary), \u201cFlock of Gold,\u201d Ashnil Aruba Lodge, Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Birds. A flock of birds descends to quench their thirst at a small pond.\" data-rl_title=\"Bence M\u00e1t\u00e9 (Hungary), \u201cFlock of Gold,\u201d Ashnil Aruba Lodge, Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Birds. A flock of birds descends to quench their thirst at a small pond.\" data-rl_caption=\"Bence M\u00e1t\u00e9 (Hungary), \u201cFlock of Gold,\u201d Ashnil Aruba Lodge, Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Birds. A flock of birds descends to quench their thirst at a small pond.\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-9-960x540.jpg\" alt=\"hundreds of birds take wing during the golden hour in Kenya, with the silhouettes of large mammals like an elephant and deer in the background\" class=\"wp-image-477157\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bence M\u00e1t\u00e9 (Hungary), \u201cFlock of Gold,\u201d Ashnil Aruba Lodge, Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Birds. A flock of birds descends to quench their thirst at a small pond.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-7-960x640.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477152\" title=\"Shane Gross (Canada), \u201cCalm Amid the Storm,\u201d D\u2019Arros Island, Seychelles. Highly Commended, Oceans: The Bigger Picture. A school of bigeye trevally swirls as the morning light breaks and a storm approaches.\" data-rl_title=\"Shane Gross (Canada), \u201cCalm Amid the Storm,\u201d D\u2019Arros Island, Seychelles. Highly Commended, Oceans: The Bigger Picture. A school of bigeye trevally swirls as the morning light breaks and a storm approaches.\" data-rl_caption=\"Shane Gross (Canada), \u201cCalm Amid the Storm,\u201d D\u2019Arros Island, Seychelles. Highly Commended, Oceans: The Bigger Picture. A school of bigeye trevally swirls as the morning light breaks and a storm approaches.\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-7-960x640.jpg\" alt=\"a school of fish swim beneath the surface of water as a sun-lit storm develops on the horizon above\" class=\"wp-image-477155\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shane Gross (Canada), \u201cCalm Amid the Storm,\u201d D\u2019Arros Island, Seychelles. Highly Commended, Oceans: The Bigger Picture. A school of bigeye trevally swirls as the morning light breaks and a storm approaches.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-10-960x574.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477152\" title=\"Jack Crockford (U.K.), \u201cThe Art of Flying,\u201d London, England. Highly Commended, 15-17 Years. A low-flying swift passes by, its shape echoed by an incoming plane to Heathrow Airport.\" data-rl_title=\"Jack Crockford (U.K.), \u201cThe Art of Flying,\u201d London, England. Highly Commended, 15-17 Years. A low-flying swift passes by, its shape echoed by an incoming plane to Heathrow Airport.\" data-rl_caption=\"Jack Crockford (U.K.), \u201cThe Art of Flying,\u201d London, England. Highly Commended, 15-17 Years. A low-flying swift passes by, its shape echoed by an incoming plane to Heathrow Airport.\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"574\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-10-960x574.jpg\" alt=\"a photograph of a swift in the foreground of a plane\" class=\"wp-image-477162\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jack Crockford (U.K.), \u201cThe Art of Flying,\u201d London, England. Highly Commended, 15-17 Years. A low-flying swift passes by, its shape echoed by an incoming plane to Heathrow Airport.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-4-960x640.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477152\" title=\"Gil Wizen (Israel\/Canada), \u201cHidden Dragon,\u201d Wildsumaco Biological Station, Napo Province, Ecuador. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Invertebrates. A lichen dragon katydid perches on a plant.\" data-rl_title=\"Gil Wizen (Israel\/Canada), \u201cHidden Dragon,\u201d Wildsumaco Biological Station, Napo Province, Ecuador. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Invertebrates. A lichen dragon katydid perches on a plant.\" data-rl_caption=\"Gil Wizen (Israel\/Canada), \u201cHidden Dragon,\u201d Wildsumaco Biological Station, Napo Province, Ecuador. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Invertebrates. A lichen dragon katydid perches on a plant.\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-4-960x640.jpg\" alt=\"a katydid crawls over some spiny plants\" class=\"wp-image-477161\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gil Wizen (Israel\/Canada), \u201cHidden Dragon,\u201d Wildsumaco Biological Station, Napo Province, Ecuador. Highly Commended, Behaviour: Invertebrates. A lichen dragon katydid perches on a plant.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-2-960x1200.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477152\" title=\"Andrea and Maceo Grammatico (France), \u201cBiting Back,\u201d Sierpe, South Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Highly Commended, Animal Portraits. A mosquito drinks a venomous viper\u2019s blood.\" data-rl_title=\"Andrea and Maceo Grammatico (France), \u201cBiting Back,\u201d Sierpe, South Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Highly Commended, Animal Portraits. A mosquito drinks a venomous viper\u2019s blood.\" data-rl_caption=\"Andrea and Maceo Grammatico (France), \u201cBiting Back,\u201d Sierpe, South Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Highly Commended, Animal Portraits. A mosquito drinks a venomous viper\u2019s blood.\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/wpoty-2-960x1200.jpg\" alt=\"a straight-on view in a photo of a snake being bitten by a mosquito on its head\" class=\"wp-image-477159\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Andrea and Maceo Grammatico (France), \u201cBiting Back,\u201d Sierpe, South Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Highly Commended, Animal Portraits. A mosquito drinks a venomous viper\u2019s blood.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-next\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/08\/minyoung-kim-cats-paintings-humor\/\" rel=\"next\">Previous article<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/08\/leslie-wayne-the-unintended-blues-paintings-rivers-aerial-landscapes\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Audun Rikardsen (Norway), \u201cIcy Window,\u201d Arctic sea ice north of Svalbard, Norway. Highly Commended, Animal Portraits. A polar bear is seen from a seal\u2019s perspective as it gazes down a breathing hole in Arctic sea ice. All images \u00a9 the photographers, courtesy of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, shared with permission Wildlife Photographer of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-2112937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2112937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2112937"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2112937\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2112937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2112937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2112937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}