The World's Best Photos of #Nature2020 by Agora

Taking the time to observe the nature that surrounds us to connect with it and feel the reason for our existence: the fact that Agora encourages this magic to happen is one of our main reasons to exist. Power to nature!

Octavi Royo, Agora's CEO & Co-Founder

I walked many difficult roads to climb to the top of this mountain, from where I could see the entire hills below. I have come here many times but I had never seen the fog covering the mountains this way. It was a very wonderful feeling.

@caokynhan (Vietnam)

Last April, a friend and I had the chance to visit Sequoia National Park, the largest collection of these endangered trees on the planet. My friend summed it best when he said 'it feels like you're living in a giants world'. Giant sequoia trees grow to an average height of 50–85 m with trunk diameters ranging from 6–8 m, and can live for well over 2,000 years. While the most popular trees are signposted around the park, we came across this grove just wandering off the beaten path. The trees themselves are hard to photograph: getting them in the frame is tricky enough due to their sheer size, but you also need some sense of perspective to capture just how gigantic these wonders are. I positioned my friend next to one whilst I hiked up a hill nearby. The recent snowfall not only contrasts nicely against the orange/red bark of the Sequoia's, but it helped highlight my subject in the photo. While you can't see their tops, I believe it makes them seem that much taller as you leave the viewer wondering just how far these trees climb.

@_kennyc_ (UK)

I took this shot during a hike to the rainbow mountains in Peru, around 5000m above sea level. I really like the colors and the fact that there is just one person hiking by itself.

@superthijs (Germany)

While I was participating in a national macro photography event, I managed to capture the moment where the frog was about to jump in the water. If I win, I will use the prize to go on a trip with my beloved wife and sons... It's been too long since we had our last trip altogether. 

@dennyandhika (Indonesia)

There's no other place in the world that has black ice – thanks to Iceland's unique volcanic landscape combination of fire and ice, we're fortunate enough to experience this. Although black, What makes these glaciers so clear is that when snow falls it’s compressed - squeezing out the air bubbles and increasing the ice’s density. All nature is unique, just like this ice cave, one that changes all the time as glaciers constantly move. This ice cave might be here one day and gone the next, making it a truly unique part of nature.

@joncleave (UK)

This is a Mascarene paradise flycatcher. When my sister spotted the bird, we started chasing it and luckily enough it stood still just for a split second in front of this gorgeous backdrop of the huge leaves in the tropical rain forest of La Reunion.

Trees are like small soldiers under the snow, always straight and ready. Trees are life, and nature is life.

@pherrography (Switzerland)

The oceans are a big and beautiful part of the nature surrounding us. We need to protect them.

@olgacristal (Portugal)

I took this picture in a cave where air bubbles have been trapped in ice for millions of years. I had a hard time taking this picture. Trying to take a photo at - 12 degrees was quite complicated for my hands!

@wmr.valdez (Dominican Republic)

This photo is taken very early in the morning, without much light, on the way to the top of a mountain. I want to convey the beauty of something very simple such as a flower in the darkness of the morning.

@caro.rovira (Spain)

This is nature on its most dramatic: fantastic light and blizzard is an unusual combination. Kirkufell, one of the most iconic mountains in Iceland. Stormy conditions at the time of sunset. Happily, there was a short glimpse of light for this composition. I wanted to present the majestic mountain as the main object. Kirkufell is probably one of the most photographed mountains, but rarely as the main object. It is often pictured in the background of the small waterfall or the sea. With these stormy conditions, I was able to get a quite unique capture.

@øystein (Norway)

A moody morning high up in the mountains. This was shot during late summer, the temperature was below freezing and the strong winds made it feel even colder. The next day this place was covered in snow!

@jamesxtheo (UK)

I had to wait a long time to take this shot! It took me a lot of patience. I had to adjust the speed on the camera when the chameleon ate his dinner (which was a dragonfly!).

@georock888 (Indonesia)

We already got back to our hotel to relax after an intense day. When we saw the beautiful midnight sun, we jumped into the car and hiked to Hengifoss, we had the place just for ourselves (except for some sheep).

@kveikjan (Germany)

The insect was protecting its newborn hatch from predators.

@hendymp (Indonesia)

It was the first time I was seeing a giraffe up close. With this shot, I wanted to show how beautiful and majestic this animal was. 

@eighthman (Ghana)

A beautiful & natural pink lake in Spain. The high salt level in the water have caused the water to turn pink naturally.

@henrydo (USA)

Just a group of gannets chilling on a rock. Soon after I took the photo, they all flew away, following their leader.

@phamhuytrung (Vietnam)

I could discuss the beauty of the Ciletuh geopark forever, but most of all, the Cikanteh waterfall. Curug is a great destination to entertain your eyes with the beauty of nature. If I win, I will use the $1,000 prize to invite my parents to Umrah, in Mecca because it's my biggest dream since childhood.

@cahyopriyo (Indonesia)

I wanted to give this shot a very moody and sad emotion because the subject (myself!) is surrounded by a dark forest. I also wanted to transmit a feeling of freedom to explore the world and nature surrounding us. This picture was a dream shot for me. It was very difficult to find the right forest with the perfect lighting for a moody feeling.

@rvb_productions (Belgium)

I went to South Africa last June to shoot a sardine run. Unfortunately, the shooting of Sardine Run failed: we looked for them all day but they never showed up. However, I was able to witness the best scene: blue sky, clouds, rainbow and whale jump! It was just a miracle. 

@reiko.t (Japan)

Finally, I managed to capture lightnings in a photo for the first time in my life.

@swetun (Myanmar)

I took this photo when I was traveling through the French Basque country. I loved the mystic atmosphere with the vultures flying above the cliffs, in the middle of the fog.

@nikopictures (France)

El Nido had some of the most breathtaking scenery. These huge mountains protruded the ocean creating a landscape like no other. As soon as I saw this island, I knew it would make for some amazing photographs. My girlfriend and I spent a solid hour kayaking against the wind on this island. I wanted to show the insane scale of this place: these mountains were huge. To help add to the scale, I waited for a boat to leave the beach. Mother Nature is so beautiful when left at its own devices.

@leemumford8 (Hong Kong)

The light was about to go out completely when I saw this tree and luckily got this shot. I wanted to transmit tranquility and peace through this image. The animals grazing in the last light of the day should be a lesson to humans as we take food security for granted, which is causing food shortages not only for humans but also for animals

@someguybehindthecamera (Kenya)

The Devils teeth is quite a famous place to take photos on Senja island. I wanted to combine the rugged mountain with the aurora.

@uglefisk (Norway)

I struggled to take this picture because the path to get there was quite tough, and I was in a hurry to take some photos. The water was so clear!

@novian_altelucav (Indonesia)

This same mountain features in the Game of Thrones series! I wanted to convey the scale and versatile landscape of Iceland, and, contrary to most people's perceptions of Iceland, how luscious and green the country can be in its summer months. When I think of nature, I think of vast green landscapes, waterfalls and how we are just one small part of nature as a whole.

@cannonmatt (UK)

The Nipa palm forest has been in this area for a long time. It has experienced many ups and downs in the history of its people. During the Vietnam War, it was a refuge for Vietnamese soldiers and people. During peaceful times, it was a great source of fishes and shrimps for the people living around it. The leaves of the nipa palm tree are used for roofing, and people also sell it in cafes and restaurants.

@anhtrungqng (Vietnam)

In order to take this photo, I approached motionless crocodile very carefully. They usually are very responsive to noise and movement. I'm so happy I managed to capture this moment.

@yensentan (Indonesia)

We were hiking that day. We got lucky to see five wolves resting on a meadow! I saw this Grass snake beside the road as it was moving towards the ground, which was covered with autumn leaves. I lied down and just before the snake disappeared I took a few photos of it. You can see the best one.

@maciejj (Poland)

It shows you how beautiful nature can be. This is pure abstract erosion in the desert, with mother nature’s first light hitting.

@hugohealy (UK)

In the fall of 2018, I went on a trip to the Kaluga Region. From the car window, I noticed a black mound. I immediately decided to fly my drone and I saw a real cosmic landscape. This coal mountain reminded me of a crater from another planet, and I wanted to transmit this cosmic relief in the photo. This is one example when a “view from the top” of ordinary things completely changes their meaning and perception.

@artempikalov (Russia)

It was such a peaceful moment in a cold winter morning. Both swans flew away in a majestic way. 

@myatzawhein (Myanmar)

I was looking to be part of nature by standing in the front of the waterfall and give a sense of scale for the place. Funny thing that to get this shot I had to go up the river created by the waterfall totally barefoot and hike up the hill. It was such a funny moment and I love how this resulted. My photo is a attempt to show the beauty of nature and giving a sense of scale but putting a subject in there but also appreciation of the magnificence of a powerful waterfall in the middle of the forest.

@thenorthernfeel (Spain)