A playful polar bear sliding down an iceberg and a colourful festival of 80,000 pilgrims in the Peruvian Andes - these images have been named winners in the Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition.
Over 17,000 entries were submitted into the contest, which seeks to promote the most spectacular imagery of nature, wildlife, landscape, travel and adventure.
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Shortlisted - Andy Skillen from the UK snapped this shot of a polar bear lowering herself from the top of the iceberg in order to return to the seal carcass, while her newborn cubs hide out of sight, on the Baffin Island, CanadaCredit: Andy Skillen
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Shortlisted - Jay Kolsch (USA) documented his incredible experience of the Vatnajökull glacier, IcelandCredit: Jason Kolsch
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Shortlisted - Riccardo Marchegiani (Italy) caputured this frolicking bear that had just caught a salmon in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska, USACredit: Riccardo Marchegiani
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Live the Adventure Winner, Kirsten Quist (Canada) braved -30C temperatures as she made a fire pit in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
From majestic elephants in the Kruger National Park to Galapagos Islands’ seals, the competition received a record number of images for its sixth year.
One of the mesmerising winners showed the powerful bond between a mother and cub leopard wandering Timbavati Game Reserve, which was named the best in the Young category.
The adventure category was won by Canadian Kirsten Quist for her image of lighting a fire amid dramatic icy structures.
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Young Outdoor Photographer of the Year Winner, David Rosenzweig (USA) impressed judges for his shot of a mother and cub leopard in the Timbavati Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South AfricaCredit: David Rosenzweig
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Spirit of Travel Winner, Christopher Roche (UK) journeyed to Sinakara, Peru to witness around 80,000 pilgrims descending upon the Sinakara Valley in the Peruvian Andes to celebrate the festival of Qoyllur Rit’iCredit: Christopher Roche
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Wildlife Insight Winner, Alice van Kempen (Netherlands) was highly ranked thanks to her shot of two majetic elephants in Lower Sabie, Kruger National Park, South AfricaCredit: Alice van Kempen
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Small World Winner, Justin Garner (UK) perfectly captured the rich textures in a blue anemone’s petals in Manchester, EnglandCredit: Justin Garner
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Under Exposed Winner, Johan Sundelin (Sweden) used natural light to capture these two seals on Santa Fe Island, Galapagos Islands, EcuadorCredit: Johan Sundelin
A beautiful image taken on UK soil was Justin Garner’s close-up of a blue anemone’s petals, which was named a Small World Winner.
The Outdoor Photographer of the Year attracted photographers from all over the globe, both professional and amateur.
Eight winners have been announced along with a commended shortlist, but the overall top prize is yet to be revealed.
The winner will be announced on March 18 at The Photography Show at the NEC, Birmingham and will be assigned a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cover a Fjällräven Polar dogsled expedition.
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At the Water’s Edge Winner, Pete Hyde (UK) stopped by the Gavlfjorden, Holm, Langøya, Norway to capture the soft, misty light and the calmness of the waterCredit: Pete Hyde
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Light on the Land Winner, Stian Nesoy (Norway) snapped this monochrome shot of Hardangervidda National Park, NorwayCredit: Channel 4
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Shortlisted - John White (UK) headed out in Brighton, England and saw a group of people dancing late a nightCredit: John White
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Shortlisted - Rachael Talibart (UK) used a long exposure to simplify the textures in this image of Seven Sisters, East Sussex, EnglandCredit: Rachael Talibart
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Shortlisted - Isabella Maffei (Italy) submitted this idyllic shot of the underwater world around Pescador Island, Moalboal, Cebu, PhilippinesCredit: Isabella Maffei
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Shortlisted - Marcio Cabral (Brazil) captured this electric storm during sunset in the Salar de Uyuni Salar de Uyuni, BoliviaCredit: Marcio Cabral
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Shortlisted - Pier A Mane (South Africa and Italy) managed to take a picture of this rainbow-coloured crown jellyfish in the Protea Banks, South AfricaCredit: Pier A Mane
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Some of the best images will be published in a book which will be available from March
Around 160 of the best images in the competition will be published in a book called
