Featuring the work of award-winning photographers from around the world—and the perspectives of Academy scientists—BigPicture trains its lens on our mission to explore, explain, and sustain life.  

BigPicture, the Academy’s annual major photography exhibit, illustrates and celebrates the incredible diversity of life on Earth through 48 stunning works by award-winning nature, wildlife, and conservation photographers from 24 countries. Selected from more than 6,000 competition entries, the featured photos reveal fascinating stories from the depths of the ocean to our own backyards. 

Throughout the exhibit, valuable insights from Academy scientists accompany the striking moments captured by photographers and help explain how vital these images are in efforts to protect our planet.

BigPicture will close at 1 pm on November 2, 2015.

© Michael Pachis

Winners Gallery

Explore the images that earned top prizes and honorable mentions across the 2015competition's seven categories.

© Hilary OLeary

Behind the Lens

Learn more about the winning photographers—and the moments they captured—in a closer look at the stories behind BigPicture's prize-wining images.

© Paul Souders

2014 Competition Winners

See all the winners from the first year of our BigPicture competition.

Suzi Eszterhas

2015 BigPicture Judges

We invited a panel of esteemed nature photographers and photo editors, chaired by award-winning wildlife photographer Suzy Eszterhas, to judge and select from this year's competition entries.

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Experience the wonder

Visit an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum—all under one living roof.

BigPicture Competition

Our annual BigPicture: Natural World Photography Competition seeks to inspire environmental stewardship through the power of imagery. Professional-level photographers are encouraged to submit work that celebrates and illustrates the diversity of life on Earth.