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Received today — 30 October 2026 ⏭ The Atlantic

Photos of the Week: Surfing Devil, Sheltered Owl, Fresh Snowfall

✇The Atlantic
By: Alan Taylor
30 October 2026 at 13:00
A cyclist rides beneath autumn-colored trees along a lake.
Martin Meissner / AP
A cyclist rides beneath autumn-colored trees along Lake Baldeney in Essen, Germany, on October 26, 2026.
Waves crash over a lighthouse during a storm.
Toby Melville / Reuters
Waves crash over the lighthouse at Newhaven Harbour during a storm in Newhaven, England, on October 23, 2026.
A surfer in a devil costume rides a small wave.
Caroline Brehman / AFP / Getty
A surfer competes in the Haunted Heats Halloween surf contest in Santa Monica, California, on October 24, 2026.
A skier race races on a downhill slope.
Marco Trovati / AP
Paula Moltzan of the United States competes in the Women’s World Cup giant slalom, in Sölden, Austria, on October 24, 2026.
Two hikers walk on a path during a gentle snowfall.
Jan Eifert / DPA / Getty
Two hikers walk near the Seealpe as it snows in Oberstdorf, Germany, on October 24, 2026.
Trees display autumn colors with a former Olympic Games tower visible in the background.
Gong Wenbao / VCG / Getty
Ginkgo and Amur maple trees display autumn colors at Olympic Park in Beijing on October 26, 2026.
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Gary Hershorn / Getty
The moon rises behind the Chrysler Building in New York City on October 27, 2026, pictured from Jersey City, New Jersey.
A member of a Brazilian indigenous group, wearing a traditional headdress, seen in silhouette
Pedro Vilela / Getty
A member of the Kamayurá Indigenous village, in the Xingu Indigenous Park, prepares for a cultural demonstration on the eve of Brazil’s general elections in Mato Grosso, Brazil, on October 24, 2026.
A small crested bird balances on a moss-covered branch.
Patrick Pleul / DPA / Getty
An alert crested tit (Lophophanes cristatus) balances on a moss-covered branch in Sieversdorf, Germany, on October 22, 2026.
An owl shelters in the trunk of a tree, barely visible.
Alper Tuydes / Anadolu / Getty
A long-eared owl shelters in the trunk of a tree toppled by a storm in the Karacabey Longoz Forest in Bursa, Turkey, on October 23, 2026.
Women in traditional skeleton makeup and costumes march in a parade.
Marco Ugarte / AP
Women dressed as Catrinas march in the Grand Procession of the Catrinas, part of upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico City, on October 25, 2026.
Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, Brazil's president, wearing red-tinted star-shaped sunglasses
Rodrigo Paiva / Getty
Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, the incumbent president of Brazil and presidential candidate, after casting his vote during general election day on October 25, 2026, in São Paulo, Brazil. Da Silva was later declared the winner, securing a fourth term as president.
Two women take pictures of rays of sunlight shining through the fog between trees.
Uwe Anspach / DPA / Getty
Two women out for a walk take pictures of rays of sunlight shining through the fog between the trees in Dossenheim, Germany, on October 28, 2026.
A farmer works on rows of sculpted shrubs.
Yang Meiqing / VCG / Getty
A farmer works among creatively shaped Ligustrum seedlings on October 26, 2026, in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, China.
A car sits on a high pedestal in a testing room covered with cone-shaped material on the walls and floors.
Martin Schutt / DPA / Getty
A vehicle sits in the 3D antenna-test chamber at the automotive supplier Desay SV Europe, in Legefeld, Germany, on October 26, 2026. The new facility allows for the testing of vehicle antennae and communication systems under controlled conditions.
People perform tricks on motorcycles as others watch.
Ernesto Benavides / AFP / Getty
Venezuelan citizens perform maneuvers on their motorcycles at Morro Solar, a prominent coastal headland and historic hill located in the Chorrillos district, south of Lima, Peru, on October 25, 2026.
Two professional wrestlers battle in a ring.
Rich Freeda / WWE / Getty
Liv Morgan battles Becky Lynch during Monday Night RAW in Fresno, California, on October 26, 2026.
Performers sing while lined up side-by-side.
Chaideer Mahyuddin / AFP / Getty
Dancers perform Ratoh Jaroe, a popular traditional dance from Aceh, during the Meuseuraya Festival in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on October 24, 2026.
A person enters a museum, walking past a tall, elongated sculpture of a person's head.
Martin Meissner / AP
A visitor enters the Küppersmühle Museum, walking past a large artwork by the Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa, in Duisburg, Germany, on October 28, 2026.
A sea lion sniffs at a carved pumpkin filled with fish in a zoo enclosure.
Jan Woitas / DPA / Getty
Sissi the sea lioness eyes a carved pumpkin filled with fish at the Leipzig Zoo on October 27, 2026, in Leipzig, Germany.
An elaborate Halloween display made up of many scary jack-o'-lantern faces, with a sign that reads 'The Pumpkin Cemetery.'
Justin Sullivan / Getty
Halloween decorations are displayed in front of a home in Burbank, California, on October 24, 2026.
The full moon rises behind a statue in Rome.
Tiziana Fabi / AFP / Getty
The full moon rises behind a statue on the top of a column at Piazza Venezia in Rome, Italy, on October 26, 2026.
A person on a scooter rides past a cow on a road in front of a temple lit up in blue.
Idrees Mohammed / AFP / Getty
A person rides past an illuminated Hindu temple as a cow crosses the street in Bengaluru, India, on October 26, 2026.
A deer stands in a beet field, sticking out its tongue.
Jens Büttner / DPA / Getty
A roebuck stands in a beet field on a cool autumn day in Gramnitz, Germany, on October 23, 2026.
An aerial view of a motorist driving through shallow floodwater on a road in a beach community.
Mario Tama / Getty
An aerial view of a motorist driving through coastal floodwaters during high-tide flooding along the closed Pacific Coast Highway in the Sunset Beach community on October 27, 2026, in Huntington Beach, California. A strong El Niño coupled with an ongoing marine heat wave is driving coastal sea levels to record heights in some areas along the Southern California coastline; a coastal-flood warning is in effect for Orange County.
An aerial view of a boat sailing through muddy water into clearer water.
Chaideer Mahyuddin / AFP / Getty
An aerial view of a boat sailing through murky waters off the coast of Banda Aceh on October 26, 2026, as monsoon conditions affect the coastal area
Crowds watch as a herd of sheep is guided through central Madrid.
Bernat Armangue / AP
A herd of sheep is guided through central Madrid, Spain, during the annual transhumance parade in defense of ancient grazing and migration rights, on October 25, 2026.
A person walks up a spiraling staircase inside a museum.
Martin Meissner / AP
A visitor walks up the stairs at the Küppersmühle Museum in Duisburg, Germany, on October 28, 2026.

© Martin Meissner / AP

A cyclist rides beneath autumn-colored trees along Lake Baldeney in Essen, Germany, on October 26, 2026.
Received yesterday — 29 October 2026 ⏭ The Atlantic

Photos: Preparing for the Day of the Dead

✇The Atlantic
By: Alan Taylor
29 October 2026 at 18:07
Two children with their faces painted pose for pictures in a field of flowers, beside a large skeleton statue.
Ulises Ruiz / AFP / Getty
Children with their faces painted pose in a field of cempasuchil (marigold) flowers during preparations for the Day of the Dead celebration at Rancho San Juan Diego, in Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Jalisco, Mexico, on October 24, 2026. On November 2, Mexico will celebrate the Day of the Dead to pay tribute to deceased family members and friends.
A person drives a three wheeled motorcycle with a traditionally-decorated skeleton statue riding on the back.
Gerardo Vieyra / NurPhoto / Getty
A skeleton sculpture, decorated for Día de Muertos, rides on a three-wheeled motorcycle in the southern part of Mexico City, Mexico, on October 25, 2026.
A person poses, wearing skeletal makeup, costume, and a large floral headdress.
Gilbert Flores / Variety via Getty
An attendee poses at the 2026 Día de Muertos Gala held at the Universal Studios Backlot Old Pueblo Village in Los Angeles, California, on October 27, 2026.
People in colorful skeletal costumes march in a parade.
Francisco Canedo / Xinhua / Getty
Revelers take part in the Catrinas Parade in Mexico City on October 25, 2026.
A woman dressed as a Catrina takes part in a parade.
Carl de Souza / AFP / Getty
A woman dressed as a Catrina takes part in the Catrinas Parade, ahead of the Day of the Dead, in Mexico City, on October 25, 2026.
A child holds a skull-shaped ice cream treat.
Francisco Canedo / Xinhua / Getty
A child holds a Catrina-shaped ice cream in Mexico City on October 17, 2026.
Flowers in a field, with a cloud-covered volcano in the distance
Alfredo Martinez / Getty
A view of a cempasuchil field on the slopes of the Popocatépetl volcano, seen on October 26, 2026, in Atlixco, Mexico
A couple wearing skeletal makeup poses in a field of orange flowers.
Ulises Ruiz / AFP / Getty
A couple poses in a field of cempasuchil flowers ahead of Día de Muertos celebrations at Rancho San Juan Diego, in Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Mexico, on October 24, 2026.
People in costumes and skeletal makeup dance in a parade.
Daniel Cardenas / Anadolu / Getty
People in costume participate in the annual Catrina parade in Mexico City on October 25, 2026. Thousands of costumed participants paraded from the Angel of Independence to Zócalo Square during the 2026 Mega Procession of Catrinas.
A crowd stands alongside several large skull sculptures, watching a passing parade.
Daniel Cardenas / Anadolu / Getty
Spectators watch the annual Catrina parade pass by in Mexico City on October 25, 2026.
A close view of a person wearing an ornate skull mask with floral headdress
Francisco Canedo / Xinhua / Getty
A reveler takes part in Mexico City’s Catrinas Parade on October 25, 2026.
A crowd gathers around a very tall statue of a skeleton in a town square in Mexico City.
Claudia Rosel / AP
A giant Catrina stands on an altar in Zócalo Square, in Mexico City, on October 31, 2025.
A man lights one of many candles burning on a grave, with many other candles on graves visible below on a hillside cemetery.
Jorge Luis Plata / Reuters
A man lights candles during the annual Day of the Dead celebrations, in Mazatlan Villa de Flores, Mexico, on November 2, 2024.
A person wearing traditional Catrina makeup looks down at a candle they are carrying during a Day of the Dead procession.
Dolores Ochoa / AP
People take part in a Day of the Dead procession in Quito, Ecuador, on November 1, 2025.
Many people gather in a cemetery, among hundreds of lit candles, on the Day of the Dead.
Eduardo Verdugo / AP
Families gather to keep company with their departed loved ones, celebrating the Day of the Dead at the cemetery in Arócutin, Mexico, on November 1, 2025.
A woman leans down next to the grave of a loved one, surrounded by flowers and candles.
Eduardo Verdugo / AP
A woman sits next to the grave of a loved one, celebrating the Day of the Dead at the cemetery of Tzintzuntzan, Mexico, on October 31, 2025.

© Ulises Ruiz / AFP / Getty

Children with their faces painted pose for pictures at a field of cempasuchil (marigold) flowers during preparations for the Day of the Dead celebration at Rancho San Juan Diego, in Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Jalisco, Mexico, on October 24, 2026.
Received — 27 October 2026 ⏭ The Atlantic

Winners of the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026

✇The Atlantic
By: Alan Taylor
27 October 2026 at 16:14
A polar bear, seen peeking into a hole in sea ice, viewed from underwater, looking up through the hole
© Audun Rikardsen / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
A Seal’s Worst Nightmare. Highly Commended, Mammals. “For many years, I had been planning to photograph the most common hunting technique of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from a seal’s perspective. In the dense pack ice at 83° N, I drilled a hole next to a seal’s breathing hole, installed my camera beneath it, and positioned a motion sensor on the ice above. Eight hours later, I spotted a polar bear in the distance heading straight for the breathing hole. By then, a thin layer of ice had formed on the water. The bear pushed its head through the ice to see what was going on below and looked straight into the camera. The bear then lay down and slept for nine hours, leaving me unable to retrieve my camera. When the animal finally moved on, I rushed over and was over thrilled to discover that I had captured my dream photo of a polar bear.”
A close view of a mosquito perched on the curved neck of a flamingo
© Jan Leßmann and Hermann Hirsch / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Pretty on Pink. Highly Commended, Other Animals. “While staying in the Camargue in the south of France, we came across a group of greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) near Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. They were standing in a ditch and weren’t bothered in the least by the people walking past just a few meters away. Anyone who has ever photographed in the Camargue will know this all too well: You set up your camera, compose your image, and within seconds you are swarmed by mosquitoes. This particular mosquito was perched quite attractively on the neck of a resting flamingo.”
An aerial top-down view of three ducks on a partially-frozen lake. Two stand on thin ice, the other paddles through muddy water, churning up a turbulent trail in the water behind it.
© Csaba Daroczi / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Water Rocket. Highly Commended, Birds. “This photograph was taken in January at the Kiskunság Lakes in Hungary. As these salt lakes are very shallow, they freeze over every winter and dry out completely in summer. They serve as important breeding and resting habitats for numerous bird species. Because of the mild winter, the ice on the lakes started melting in January. Waterbirds appeared almost immediately—mainly ducks and geese. The drone perspective offered an interesting sight as the birds churned up the mud, creating striking shapes and patterns.”
A black wolf, sitting among trees on a snow-covered forest floor
© Danny Green / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Black Wolf. Highly Commended, Mammals. “This image was taken in Yellowstone National Park in the United States, a place I have visited regularly for many years. One of the main reasons for my repeated visits is that there are few better places to observe and photograph wolves (Canis lupus). Even so, these animals are elusive and encounters are a matter of luck. Around 50 percent of the wolves in Yellowstone are black, and, although I have seen and photographed them many times before, I always felt that I had not yet captured a truly compelling image. During this particular visit, I encountered the Wapiti Pack which had taken down a bison along Firehole River and consists mostly of black individuals. It was an extraordinary experience, given that wolf sightings in Yellowstone typically last only a few minutes.”
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© Szymon Bartołd / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Swan Lake. Winner, Youth Category | 14–17 years. “Out walking, I came across a lake with a large number of waterbirds, and decided to return before dawn the next morning. Well hidden, I watched as mute swans (Cygnus olor) rose majestically out of the mist in a scene bathed in gold light.”
A marine iguana clings to a rock underwater as currents flow past.
© Henley Spiers / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Turbulent Feeding Patch. Runner-up, Underwater World. “Marine iguanas (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) are endemic to the Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador. They are most often seen basking in the sun, their dark bodies perfectly camouflaged against the black lava rocks. As ectothermic reptiles, they rely on external heat to regulate their body temperature. This is particularly important as they dive into the cold waters surrounding the archipelago to forage, primarily on marine algae. I followed this individual into the water and watched with fascination as it propelled itself swiftly and purposefully through the powerful surf with the aid of its muscular tail. While I was tossed about by the waves, the marine iguana clung firmly to a rock with its sharp claws and began methodically grazing on algae.”
A seabird comes in for a landing, framed by a backdrop of hundreds of smaller birds in flight above it.
© Sandra Kenyon / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Sky Surfer. Highly Commended, Birds. “Each March, tens of thousands of seabirds return to the windswept Arctic island of Hornøya in the Barents Sea for the breeding season. This was my third consecutive visit, as in previous years I had missed this highly synchronized migration event—an experience I was determined to witness at least once. This time, everything came together. The deafening calls and the swirling movements of immense flocks passing just a few meters overhead were truly breathtaking. European shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) are giants compared to the smaller auks, and as I watched them weaving through the fast-moving streams of common guillemots (Uria aalge), I realised there was potential for a striking and dynamic image. When a shag came in to land, perfectly framed by countless guillemots, I was finally able to capture the photograph I had long envisioned.”
Hairlike strands of a mold rise from a cave floor, with roosting bats visible on the ceiling above.
© Imre Potyó / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Hidden Worlds. Overall Winner. “I have been photographing hibernating bats for 13 years in restricted-access mine tunnels in the Börzsöny mountains of Hungary, and yet this particular composition was novel for me. A key characteristic of the lesser horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) is that, during hibernation it occasionally wakes and leaves its roost to hunt flying insects. In doing so, the bat leaves behind droppings that gradually accumulate into a continuous dark layer. And this is where the real wonder begins: in the beam of a torch, a whitish coating can be seen on the guano—a small pin mold thriving in this unusual habitat. Using a macro lens, I captured the mold in the foreground with the hibernating bats visible in the background.”
A grizzly bear walks on a broad stretch of mudflat, followed by a single seagull.
© Preeti John / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Exit Stage Right. Highly Commended, Mammals. “End of a performance in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska: The scene is over, and the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) has had its moment in the spotlight. The animal leaves the stage without a bow, without a backward glance. Fog hangs like a flowing curtain, and the bokeh glows like fading stage lights. A gull remains behind, watching the main actor’s exit and perhaps wondering what it should do next.”
Several storks wade through a marsh.
© Jan Wieczorek / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Secret Paths. Winner, Birds. “During moult, common cranes (Grus grus) lose all their flight feathers at once, rendering them earthbound for several weeks. During this period, they remain extremely vigilant and usually hide in wet forests where they can find food. At dawn, the cranes walk from their roosting sites via secret paths through reed beds to their feeding grounds and typically return via the same route.”
An aerial view of two whales swimming near a large iceberg.
© Bart Heirweg / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Tiny Giants. Highly Commended, Mammals. “This photograph was taken using a drone near the Ilulissat Icefjord on the west coast of Greenland. It shows two humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) swimming among drifting ice floes and towering icebergs. The drone was deliberately flown at a higher altitude to place the whales in the context of the wider landscape and to convey the immense scale of their Arctic habitat.”
A close view of an ant walking on the underside of a mushroom
© Agorastos Papatsanis / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Microcosm. Highly Commended, Other Animals. “Sunlight transforms the underside of a fungus (Pluteus atrotomentosus) into an architectural masterpiece—a tiny illuminated cathedral. Photographed from an extremely low point of view on the forest floor of Mount Olympus in Greece, the scene takes on an unexpected sense of scale and drama. Beneath the glowing gills, an ant makes its way across the fungus, a subtle reminder of the microfauna that inhabits these miniature worlds.”
Several people on skis lift a temporary fence on a ski slope, allowing a grouse to walk under.
© Lukas Schaefer / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Helping Hands. Runner-up, Humans and Nature. “During the mating season, capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) sometimes lose their wariness of people, seeing them instead as rivals. That is exactly what happened at a ski resort near my home, where a capercaillie took up position on the ski slope every day throughout the lekking season to defend his patch. The bird soon became something of a local celebrity, even making the news, and crowds came daily to watch and film him. Then, one day, a ski race was held—and the bird chose the middle of the course to display. Not the safest spot. Several people stepped in, gently steering him behind the safety fence and out of harm’s way. A year later, the same bird was accidentally killed by a skier who failed to notice it. Some people care. Others simply don’t.”
A hairy crab, fluorescing under a black light, seen underwater.
© Marco Colombo / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Furry Ghost. Highly Commended, Other Animals. “During a nighttime photography expedition along the coast of Sardinia, I discovered this fluorescent hairy crab (Pilumnus sp.) in a rock pool, glowing in the beam of my UV torch like a shaggy ghost in the darkness.”
Embers and ash form streaks as a volcanic eruption throws them into the air, and they fall to the ground.
© Philipp Egger / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
Rain of Fire. Highly Commended, Nature’s Studio. “During a volcanic eruption, molten lava is thrown out into the dark of night. The glowing arcs trace the paths of liquid rock, hurled skyward by explosive degassing. Shot as a long exposure from a safe distance, these natural movements appear as energy-charged lines. In the lower part of the frame, the ejected fragments cool and begin to solidify within seconds, laying down new crust.”
A small wild cat walks through grass, seen among fireflies.
© Lorenzo Shoubridge / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026
The Cat and a Thousand Lanterns. Winner, Mammals. “In the wild, romantic mountain landscape of Alto Mugello, Italy, a European wildcat (Felis silvestris) moves silently through the night, framed by the ethereal dance of countless fireflies. Capturing this fleeting encounter required months of preparation and an almost invisible photographic setup: a DSLR camera trap installed with meticulous care to ensure that the wildlife remained entirely undisturbed.”

Be sure to visit the GDT’s website for full coverage of the winners and honorees.

© © Audun Rikardsen / European Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026

“A Seal’s Worst Nightmare.” Highly Commended, Mammals.
Received — 23 October 2026 ⏭ The Atlantic

Photos of the Week: Foam Fight, Santa Dance, Orangutan Escape

✇The Atlantic
By: Alan Taylor
23 October 2026 at 14:00
A protester wearing a mask, goggles, and period costume stands during a demonstration in Paris.
Kiran Ridley / AFP / Getty
A protester wearing a period costume stands during a demonstration against the high cost of living in Paris, on October 17, 2026, as part of a nationwide call for mobilization, bringing together various groups expressing their anger: former gilets jaunes protesters, secondary-school and university students, climate activists, farmers, and more.
A police officer wearing riot gear stands in front of a burning barricade.
Carl Court / Getty
A police officer wearing riot gear stands in front of a burning barricade during a demonstration near Place de la République on October 17, 2026, during a weekend of protests in Paris, France.
A person wears a suit covered in what appear to be coffee pods during a performance in an atrium.
Felix Hörhager / DPA / Getty
A performer in the rotunda of the Pinakothek der Moderne at the start of the Long Night of Munich Museums, on October 17, 2026, in Munich, Germany.
A close view of a soldier in London wearing a bearskin hat, their face almost completely obscured by the hat
Aaron Chown / AFP / Getty
A soldier wears a bearskin hat during the Household Cavalry’s centenary dedication of the Guards Memorial, at Horse Guards Parade, in central London on October 16, 2026.
An orangutan tries to escape as people try to capture it during a rescue operation.
Reina / AFP / Getty
A 20-year-old orangutan tries to escape as members of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency, the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation, and the World Wide Fund for Nature Indonesia evacuate it due to wildfires in Hampangen Village, Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan, on October 17, 2026.
A days-old giraffe stands beside its mother, its tongue poking out of its mouth.
Jens Büttner / DPA / Getty
A female giraffe calf, born nine days earlier, enjoys a sunny day with her mother, Kahlua, at the Schwerin Zoo on October 22, 2026, in Schwerin, Germany.
A deer walks through a stand of trees at sunrise, lit from behind.
Brook Mitchell / Getty
A deer walks through a stand of trees at sunrise in London’s Richmond Park on October 19, 2026.
A rocket lifts off, seen at night.
Kyodo / Reuters
The H3 rocket carrying the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) rover bound for Mars’s moon Phobos lifts off from the Tanegashima Space Center in Minamitane, Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, on October 20, 2026.
People watch a burning oil terminal.
AFP / Getty
People watch a burning oil terminal following an air attack in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on October 18, 2026. Russia shot down dozens of Ukrainian drones near Saint Petersburg, authorities said on October 18, hitting an oil terminal and disrupting flights at one of the country’s busiest airports.
Two people look at a crater after a Russian missile strike in Ukraine.
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP
People look at a crater after a Russian-missile strike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, on October 21, 2026.
Two people stand on stairs, looking up at the sky between many tall, densely-built residential buildings.
xCheng Xin / Getty
A man and a woman photograph the densely packed residential blocks of the Monster Building on October 20, 2026, in Hong Kong, China.
A nighttime view of part of the skyline of Seoul
Philip Fong / AFP / Getty
The Lotte World Tower (right) and Namsan Seoul Tower (back left), as captured from the observatory area of Namhansanseong in Gwangju city of Gyeonggi province, a suburb of Seoul, South Korea, on October 22, 2026.
A gymnast practices their beam routine.
Tim Clayton / Getty
Hezly Rivera of the United States performs her beam routine during podium training in preparation for the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 2026, on October 15, 2026, in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
A humanoid robot competitor falls while navigating a slope obstacle.
Jia Tianyong / China News Service / Getty
A humanoid robot competitor falls while navigating a slope obstacle during 2026 Robot Warrior Challenge Fall Competition on October 18, 2026, in Beijing, China.
A mail carrier walks down a path of a house decorated with many Halloween skeleton displays.
Michael Yanow / NurPhoto / Getty
A mail carrier delivers mail to a house decorated with skeletons for Halloween in Los Angeles, California, on October 21, 2026.
Five performers - four in bellhop costumes, one in a Santa Claus costume - kick while walking side-by-side.
Kin Cheung / AP
Santa and bellhops pose in front of the Selfridges’ Christmas windows during a media preview in London, England, on October 22, 2026.
A crowd of students, all covered from head-to-toe in soap suds
Lesley Martin / Reuters
Students from St Andrews take part in a foam fight as part of “Raisin Monday” on the lower college lawn, at St Andrews in Scotland, on October 19, 2026.
Electoral workers prepare electronic voting machines.
Eraldo Peres / AP
An electoral worker prepares an electronic voting machine ahead of Brazil’s presidential runoff election in Brasilia, Brazil, on October 20, 2026.
A group of young people hold CPR mannequins before a flash mob.
Vadim Ghirda / AP
Romanian Red Cross volunteers hold CPR mannequins before a flash-mob performance to mark World Restart a Heart Day in Bucharest, Romania, on October 16, 2026.
A dense flock of geese, in flight, in early morning light
Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert / DPA / Getty
Geese take flight from the Mannhausen shallow-water area in search of food, early on October 21, 2026, in Calvörde, Germany. Thousands of migratory birds are currently stopping there to rest on their way to their wintering grounds.
Fairgoers ride a spinning swing ride.
Mario Tama / Getty
Fairgoers ride a swing ride at the Big Fresno Fair on October 17, 2026, in Fresno, California.
An effigy of a mythical demon king is set on fire in an arena full of spectators.
Sachin Kumar / AFP / Getty
An effigy of the mythic demon king Ravana is set on fire on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Dussehra, at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna, India, on October 20, 2026.
Thick smoke and haze fill the air above a city street.
Afan Anugerah / AFP / Getty
An aerial view shows thick smoke and haze from regional forest and land fires in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, on October 15, 2026.
An aerial view of thousands of people dancing in concentric circles around a stage
Saurabh Sirohiya / NurPhoto / Getty
An aerial view shows more than 50,000 people performing Garba in concentric circles around a stage during the United Way of Baroda Garba Mahotsav 2026 in Vadodara, Gujarat, India, on October 19, 2026. The annual festival draws participants in colorful traditional attire who dance in rhythmic circles as live musicians perform from the central stage, while spectators watch from the stands. Garba, a folk dance of Gujarat performed in honor of the goddess Durga, is the centerpiece of the nine-night Hindu festival of Navratri.
An aerial view of a road with many sharp switchbacks on a mountainside covered in autumn-colored trees
Xue Jun / VCG / Getty
An aerial view of colorful autumn foliage and the Taihang No. 1 Tourist Road winding through a forest in Jinzhong, Shanxi province, China, on October 19, 2026
A man sits on a park bench among autumn foliage.
Narciso Contreras / Anadolu / Getty
A man sits in Djurgården National Park at sunrise among autumn foliage in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 18, 2026.
A pair of capybaras nibble on a carved pumpkin.
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty
Capybaras at the Five Sisters Zoo interact with pumpkins in their enclosure ahead of Halloween on October 21, 2026, in West Calder, Scotland.
A boy plays on rocks on a beach, silhouetted by the setting sun.
Martin Bureau / AFP / Getty
A boy plays on rocks on Sillon beach in Saint-Malo, France, at sunset on October 20, 2026.

© Kiran Ridley / AFP / Getty

A protester wearing a period costume stands during a demonstration against the "high cost of living," in Paris on October 17, 2026.
Received — 21 October 2026 ⏭ The Atlantic

Photographing the Microscopic: Winners of Nikon Small World 2026

✇The Atlantic
By: Alan Taylor
21 October 2026 at 15:01
A very close view of the leg of a weevil on a reflective surface
Daniel Knop, Oberzent-Airlenbach, Hessen, Germany
Image of Distinction: A close view of the leg of a weevil
A microscopic view of mold spore structures, looking like small spheres atop narrow stalks
Eric Epstein, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Sixth Place: Hemitrichia slime-mold spore structures (fruiting bodies)
A very close view of the tip of a pencil being struck and illuminated by sparks
Dr. Marcel Clemens, Verona, Veneto, Italy
Eighth Place: Pencil lead during exposure to a high-voltage electrical discharge
A microscopic image of a turtle embryo, with neural pathways colored bright green
Amartya Tashi Mitra and Paul Maier, Aria Huang, Nathaniel Sweet and Anthony Wokasch, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Honorable Mention: Neurons of red-eared-slider (Trachemys scripta) embryo
A. black-white-and-red microscopic image of a many-tendriled cell
Nicolas Noel and Dr. Valentina Cigliola, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Image of Distinction: Neonatal-mouse astrocyte in culture
A tiny water flea, near a cluster of green algae
Anne Gleich, Licoi, Kaiserslautern, Rheinlandpfalz, Germany
Image of Distinction: Daphnia sp. (water flea) and Volvox sp. (green algae)
A microscopic close-up of the face of a weevil
Přemysl Orlík, Opava, Czech Republic
Image of Distinction: Hazelnut weevil (Curculio nucum)
Purple-colored blobs, visible in a microscopic cross-section of a spruce tree
Gerhard Vlcek, Maria Enzersdorf, Austria
Image of Distinction: Cross-section of spruce treetop
A weevil pokes its head out of a hole it bored into a fava bean.
Zhang You, Kunming, Yunnan, China
Image of Distinction: A weevil pokes its head out of a hole it bored into a fava bean.
A dark image with a small creature at center, a limpet, with various cell structures illuminated in multiple bright colors
Amartya Tashi Mitra and Harsha Sen, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Image of Distinction: Cellular structures of slipper-limpet (Crepidula fornicata) larva
A microscopic view of long, parallel neurons in a mouse brain, looking like loose columns or bits of hanging string
Kaelin Wulf and Ms. Rachel Flannery, Allen Institute, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Third Place: Neurons in an expanded mouse brain
A close view of algae, diatoms, and microscopic creatures
Dr. Arlene Wechezak, Anacortes, Washington, U.S.
Image of Distinction: Red algae, diatoms, and protozoans
A close view of a gnat caught in sticky structures on a cannabis plant
Justin Zoll, Freeville, New York, U.S.
Image of Distinction: Adult fungus gnat caught in the sticky trichomes of a cannabis plant

Be sure to visit the Nikon Small World competition website to view the full set of winning and honored images.

© Daniel Knop, Oberzent-Airlenbach, Hessen, Germany

Image of Distinction: A close view of the leg of a weevil
Received — 20 October 2026 ⏭ The Atlantic

Winners of the 2026 Epson International Pano Awards

✇The Atlantic
By: Alan Taylor
20 October 2026 at 16:02
Tall cliffs and rock formations rise above a flat, arid landscape.
© Aytek Çetin / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Silent Citadel. 34th place (tie), Open—Nature / Landscapes. Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
An overhead view from a drone of an illuminated times Square in New York City
© Xuecheng Liu / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Center of the Cosmos. Winner, Open-Built Environment. Times Square, New York City. Liu: “Times Square is one of the most photographed places in the world, so my challenge was to find a perspective that could make such a familiar place feel unfamiliar again. From above, the dense architecture, streets, and illuminated billboards seem to radiate around the square.”
Three ranchers on horseback drive a small herd of horses across a snowy field with mountains in the background.
© David Soldano / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Winter on the Ranch. 38th place (tie), Open—Nature / Landscapes. Westcliffe, Colorado.
A white egret perches on a branch among many moss-covered swamp Cypress trees.
© Marsel van Oosten / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
The Hanging Garden. 89th place (tie), Open—Nature / Landscapes. Atchafalaya Basin, U.S.A.
A black-and-white underwater photograph of four beluga whales swimming together
© Merche Llobera / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Lines of Light. Fourth place (tie), Open—Nature / Landscapes. Churchill, Canada.
An elevated view of runners racing along a raised road surrounded by water on either side
© Shimon Perlstein / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Running on Salt. 74th place (tie), Open—Aerial. Dead Sea, Israel.
An aerial view of a herd of reindeer moving in concentric circles
© Michiko Kimura / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Currents of the Tundra—Sami Reindeer Migration. Fourth place (tie), Open—Aerial. Alta, Norway.
A large elephant walks in front of a low sun among trees and bushes.
© Merche Llobera / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Golden Colossus. 34th place (tie), Open—Nature / Landscapes. Amboseli, Kenya.
a09_OBE100_5_Mang.jpg
© Mang Sun / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Walking in the Rainbow. Fifth place (tie), Open—Built Environment. Eastbourne, U.K.
a10_ABE100_55_Csaba.jpg
© Csaba Tökölyi / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Reservoir. 55th place (tie), Amateur—Built Environment. Gellért-hegy, Hungary.
A whale breaches as many seagulls fly nearby, with icebergs visible in the background.
© Ngar Shun Victor Wong / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Ocean King. 38th place (tie), Open—Nature / Landscapes. Disco Bay, Greenland.
A close view of a greenish spider building a web on the tip of a plant's stalk.
© Ngar Shun Victor Wong / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Circle Game. 67th place (tie), Open—Nature / Landscapes. Taipo, Hong Kong.
An aerial view of distant snowcapped mountains standing above an uneven field of foothills
© Daniel Viñé Garcia / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
The Sleeping Giant. Winner, The Raw Planet Award. Garcia: “Parinacota Volcano was one of the main photographic goals of my trip to Chile. Rising to more than 6,300 meters, the mountain has a distinctive snow-covered cone with an almost perfect symmetry that immediately reminded me of volcanoes such as Mount Fuji. Beside it stands Pomerape, another giant reaching more than 6,200 meters, together forming one of the most impressive landscapes I encountered during the journey.”
A World-War-II-era military aircraft wreck at the bottom of the ocean
© Atsushi Hori / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Final Flight. Fourth place (tie), Amateur—Built Environment. A Japanese reconnaissance aircraft “Saiun.”
A view down a steep and narrow desert valley of a herd of camels drinking from a watering hole
© Marsel van Oosten / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Guelta. 95th place (tie), Open—Nature / Landscapes. Ennedi Massif, Chad.
A mother polar bear and two cubs, seen at a distance on a snow-covered hillside
© Marsel van Oosten / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Between a Rock and a Soft Place. 59th place (tie), Open—Nature / Landscapes. Nunavut, Canada.
An aerial view, looking down at flowing lava
© Adrien Sifre / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Rivers of Fire. 74th place (tie), Open—Aerial. Grindavik, Iceland.
Six giraffes walk in a field with a city skyline visible in the background.
© Jeffrey Dannay / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Urban Migration. 65th place (tie), Open—Built Environment. Nairobi, Kenya.
a19_ANL100_46_Gonzalez.jpg
© David Gonzalez / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Rider at Dusk. 46th place (tie), Amateur—Nature / Landscapes. Mount Bromo.
A long-exposure image of fireflies dotting the forest near a small Japanese shrine
© Shirley Wung / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Golden Path to the Sanctuary. Ninth place (tie), Open—Built Environment. Japan.
A penguin leans in to look at the camera, standing near a larger group of penguins on a rocky beach.
© Risto Raunio / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards
Royal Penguin. 46th place (tie), Open—Nature / Landscapes. Australia, Macquarie Island.

To see a full gallery of winners and honorees from this year and previous years, be sure to visit the competition’s website.

© © Aytek Çetin / The 17th Epson International Pano Awards

"Silent Citadel." 34th place (tie), Open—Nature / Landscapes. Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Received — 16 October 2026 ⏭ The Atlantic

Photos of the Week: Rabbit Jumping, Floating Bazaar, Chief Mouser

✇The Atlantic
By: Alan Taylor
16 October 2026 at 14:00
A model poses outside, in front of a half-dozen passing hot-air balloons, wearing a flowing garment based on traditional designs.
İlkin Eskipehlivan / Anadolu / Getty
Traditional clothes and designs created by designers from across the Turkic world were showcased during the Cappadocia leg of the ninth Türksoy Women and Ethno-Fashion Meeting in Ürgüp, Nevşehir, Turkey, on October 9, 2026.
A riot police officer detains an injured protester with a bloodied face.
Hameraldi Agolli / AP
A riot police officer detains an injured protester during clashes near the Ministry of Education in Tirana, Albania, on October 13, 2026, joining a demonstration organized by the Flamingo protest movement demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
A person walks past a burning kiosk during a protest.
Florion Goga / Reuters
A person walks past a burning kiosk during clashes between police and demonstrators amid an anti-government protest by students in Tirana on October 15, 2026.
A tall tree stands in silhouette against smoke illuminated by a wildfire.
Bruno Kelly / Reuters
A deforested area of the Amazon rainforest burns during the dry season in the municipality of Autazes, in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, on October 12, 2026.
A closed walkway spans across part of a large and complex waterfall that is overflowing with high water.
Kiko Sierich / Reuters
A walkway, closed for safety reasons, photographed during high water flow at Iguazu Falls in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná state, Brazil, on October 13, 2026
Storm waves crash into damaged beachfront homes.
Jae C. Hong / AP
Waves from Post-Tropical Storm Rachel crash into damaged beachfront homes in Long Beach, California, on October 12, 2026.
Many dozens of scooter and motorcycle riders jam into a queue at a gas station.
Johannes Christo / Reuters
Motorcyclists queue to refuel at a petrol station amid a fuel-supply shortage in Badung, Bali, Indonesia, on October 15, 2026.
Dozens of sailboats sail together in a harbor, seen behind an ornate lighthouse.
Alberto Pizzoli / AFP / Getty
Boats sail past Vittoria Light lighthouse at the start of the 58th Barcolana sailing regatta in the Gulf of Trieste on October 11, 2026.
An elevated view of a long road bridge shrouded in hazy smoke.
Edmar Barros / AP
The Jornalista Phelippe Daou Bridge is shrouded in smoke from wildfires in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, on October 9, 2026.
A Blue Angels jet aircraft flies past, generating a cone-shaped condensation cloud.
Jeff Chiu / AP
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly during the San Francisco Fleet Week Air Show, on October 9, 2026.
A firefighting helicopter flies above a fire crew on a hillside.
David Swanson / AFP / Getty
An L.A. County Fire helicopter flies above crews fighting the Bike Fire on the outskirts of Santa Clarita, California, on October 11, 2026.
Many birds perch on a power transmission tower.
AFP / Getty
Migratory birds perch on a power-transmission tower on the Yellow River floodplain in Yueyahu township in Yinchuan, in China’s northern Ningxia region, on October 10, 2026.
Two acrobats swing upside-down from ropes attached to a tall pool on a rocky beach.
Fernando Llano / AP
The Flying Men of Papantla perform the “Danza de los Voladores” on the beach as Hurricane Simon approaches Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on October 10, 2026.
Two tram cars hang beneath a suspended railway above a river.
Halil Sagirkaya / Anadolu / Getty
The Wuppertaler Schwebebahn suspension railway carries passengers above the Wupper River in Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, on October 11, 2026.
A young child drives a small pink electric car on a road open to pedestrians.
Ellen Schmidt / AP
Bryanna Sarmiento cruises on the Stillwater Lift Bridge in her electric car during the annual Harvest Festival in Stillwater, Minnesota, on October 11, 2026.
A person works aboard a small boat amid many spherical floats in an abalone farm.
AFP / Getty
An aquaculture worker navigates a boat through an abalone-farming area to carry out maintenance work in Guanwu village, Lianjiang county, in China’s Fujian province, on October 13, 2026.
Many people sit and stand in dozens of small boats during a floating bazaar.
Thein Zaw / AP
Locals row their boats at a local floating bazaar in Inle Lake, Shan State, Myanmar, on October 13, 2026.
Soldiers carry long guns and heavy gear as they wade through waist-deep water.
Juni Kriswanto / AFP / Getty
Members of the Australian Defence Force take part in the “Keris Woomera” joint military drills with Indonesian marines at Banongan beach in Situbondo on October 15, 2026.
A car-shaped river taxi carries passengers down a river.
Khaled Desouki / AFP / Getty
A car-shaped river taxi cruises along the Nile River in central Cairo, Egypt, on October 15, 2026.
Sparks fly behind an F1 racing car.
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images / Getty
Sparks fly behind Pierre Gasly during sprint qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on October 9, 2026.
Two workers wield hammers at a sword-making forge, with one striking hot metal and sending up a shower of sparks.
VCG / Getty
Tourists visit a workshop at the Shen Guanglong Sword Casting Park to observe traditional sword-forging techniques on October 10, 2026, in Lishui, Zhejiang province, China.
Red deer stags battle each other during the annual rut.
Ian Forsyth / Getty
Red deer stags battle each other during the annual rut at Raby Castle on October 11, 2026, in Staindrop, England.
A life-sized dinosaur statue is loaded onto the low bed of a truck, as people watch.
David Ebener / DPA / Getty
A life-size Camarasaurus made of steel and concrete is transported from its previous location at the Barkhausen dinosaur trails in Bad Essen to Damme, Germany, on October 11, 2026.
A leashed rabbit hops over an obstacle during a competition.
Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP / Getty
A rabbit hops over an obstacle as its handler guides it during the long-jump competition at the European Rabbit Jumping Championships in Lysekil, Sweden, on October 9, 2026. The three-day championship featured several disciplines, including straight-course jumping and high jump.
A gray-and-white cat sits outside 10 Downing Street in London.
Henry Nicholls / AFP / Getty
Larry the cat, the chief mouser to the Cabinet Office, poses outside 10 Downing Street, the official residence of Britain’s prime minister, on October 14, 2026.
A handler pets a highland cow during an exhibition.
Jeff J Mitchell / Getty
A handler pets a cow at the 129th Highland Cattle Society autumn show and sale on October 11, 2026, in Oban, Scotland.
An aerial view of a seaside neighborhood with a long and curving pier.
Ulises Ruiz / AFP / Getty
An aerial view of the Zona Romántica (“Romantic Zone”), a tourist district in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco state, Mexico, seen on October 12, 2026
An elevated view of people rafting on a river in a steep valley, surrounded by trees in fall colors
Sergei Gapon / AFP / Getty
Tourists take a traditional rafting trip on the Dunajec River aboard a wooden raft guided by local raftsmen near the village of Sromowce Niżne, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, on October 13, 2026.

© İlkin Eskipehlivan / Anadolu / Getty

Traditional clothes and designs created by designers from across the Turkic world were showcased during the Cappadocia leg of the ninth Türksoy Women and Ethno-Fashion Meeting in Ürgüp, Nevşehir, Turkey, on October 9, 2026.
Received — 15 October 2026 ⏭ The Atlantic

Winners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026

✇The Atlantic
By: Alan Taylor
15 October 2026 at 17:35
An elephant splashes water toward zebras and a giraffe at a watering hole.
© James Lewin / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The Meeting Place. Winner, Animals in Their Environment. James Lewin watched a young bull elephant spray a group of zebra as they congregated in the Kenyan Chyulu Hills. Although there was no shortage of subjects and action around this waterhole, James had to deal with the harsh, unforgiving light. He chose to soften the light using a camera converted to infrared, creating this dreamlike scene.
A newt grasps a clutch of eggs that are attached to plant stalks underwater.
© Anton Sorokin / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Protective Pose. Winner, Behavior: Amphibians and Reptiles. Anton Sorokin found a California newt laying its eggs as it clasped vegetation that already held another newt’s egg clutch.
A view of a dividing dam in Utah’s Great Salt Lake, with two different bodies of water seen in varying hues of pink
© Alex Visbal / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The Great Divide. Winner, Wetlands: The Bigger Picture. Alex Visbal documented how a single engineered line can reshape an entire wetland in Utah’s Great Salt Lake. The distinctive pink color on the left is caused by bright-pink microbes that thrive in extremely saline water, which happens when an area is cut off from a supply of fresh water. The lake’s ecology is in sharp decline because of industrial use, upstream diversions, and climate change. Since this image was taken, the State of Utah has brought the area under conservation management.
A coyote pads along a trail in a park overlooking San Francisco.
© Loren Elliott / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
On the Outskirts. Winner, Photojournalist Story Award. A coyote pads along a trail in Bernal Heights Park, overlooking the city and bay of San Francisco. This individual is part of a resident pack that Loren Elliott observed hunting rodents in the park, which is also popular with people and dogs.
A pair of mating Moray eels, seen against a black background, underwater
© Tony Wu / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Making Morays. Winner, Under Water. Tony Wu provides a first-time glimpse into the mating ritual of Abbott’s moray eels. Wu has been working with biologists to address a knowledge gap of the social behavior of this eel species. Guided only by a dim red-light source to minimize disturbance, and using a customized fisheye camera lens, he has studied this male since 2024 as it visits females that dwell in crevices on the reef.
Two clusters of slime molds—tiny greenish spheres at the end of thin stalks
© Kutub Uddin / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Tiny Dancers. Winner, Portfolio Award. Kutub Uddin reveals a magical and often surreal world of slime molds that can barely be seen with the naked eye. Fine threads, known as capillitium, emerge on the round, yellow-green bodies, which will eventually help disperse reproductive spores.
A dead puma, tied to the top of a fence in a wide-open field
© Francisco Negroni / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Warning Sign. Winner, Photojournalism. Francisco Negroni recorded this scene of a dead puma amid the rugged, windswept beauty of Argentine Patagonia. Tied to the fence and presented as a hunting trophy, this display was one that Francisco had “never witnessed or photographed before.” In 2025, Santa Cruz banned the hunting of pumas, but illegal persecution continues.
An octopus peers out from behind leafy kelp.
© Aaron Sanders / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
A Watchful Eye. Winner, Animal Portraits. Aaron Sanders glimpsed a common octopus behind a curtain of kelp in the waters off southwest England. Sanders was diving off Porthkerris Beach when he noticed the footprints of octopus suckers through a thin blade of kelp, and a single eye slowly emerging. “We remained perfectly still, watching one another with a seemingly shared curiosity,” Sanders said.
A swarm of tiny flies hovers near a dung beetle that is pushing a clump of dung.
© Oscar Whitfield / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Labour of Love. Winner, 11-14 Years, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026. Oscar Whitfield noticed the arduous exertion of this dung beetle pushing its precious cargo. Using a fast shutter speed and high light sensitivity, Oscar lay flat on the ground to photograph the beetle at eye level, with the sunshine and heat creating dry dust all around him.
An overhead view of a whale shark investigating the catch of a mobile net-fishing platform
© Alex Lindbloom / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Night-Time Catch. Winner, Oceans: The Bigger Picture. Alex Lindbloom found a whale shark investigating the catch of a “bagan,” or mobile net-fishing platform, in the inky waters off Papua. Alex started searching for sharks around dawn when the nets were still in the water. Initially lacking natural light for his drone’s camera, he found these sharks illuminated by the bagan’s bright lights.
A pair of shoebill storks carry plant material in their beaks in a wetland area.
© Isak Pretorius / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Scenes from the Swamp. Winner, Behaviour: Birds. Isak Pretorius chanced across two elusive shoebill storks among wetland vegetation. Exploring the swamp in a narrow canoe with a guide, Isak felt exceptionally lucky to see not one but two shoebills. The birds pulled out vegetation, dropped it, and then repeated the process several times. It’s likely that this was a breeding pair gathering nesting material.
An adult elephant carries the lifeless body of an elephant calf with its trunk and tusks.
© Federico Veronesi / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The Aftermath. Winner, Behavior: Mammals, and Overall Winner, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026. Federico Veronesi witnessed this powerful moment of an elephant carrying a dead calf, a rare glimpse into complex animal behaviors. Veronesi was tracking elephants when he came across an unusual pattern of drag marks in the sand of a dry riverbed. The source became clear when he caught up with a family group. A female emerged with the calf, its leg wedged between her tusk and trunk. Behaviors centering on death have been observed in both Asian and African elephants, including vocalizations, guarding the dead, inspecting and handling bones, and carrying the deceased. Some researchers suggest these behaviors could indicate an elephant’s journey to understanding death, while others interpret these actions as possible displays of grief.
A flock of flying birds appears blurred against a backdrop of bare birch trees.
© Michał Michalski / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Escape Artistry. Winner, Natural Artistry. Michał Michalski used a slow shutter speed to create the illusion of trees still swathed in autumn foliage. Michalski was in a field of unharvested sunflowers that had attracted mixed flocks of birds, especially goldfinches and bramblings. As they took to the sky, startled by a sparrowhawk, Michalski blurred the movement against a backdrop of leafless birches.
A scorpion kicks up grains of sand as it burrows in the desert at night.
© Sitaram Raul / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Shifting Sand. Winner, Behavior: Invertebrates. Sitaram Raul encountered a scorpion burrowing into one of the shifting dunes of the Thar Desert in India. Exploring the dunes at night near the village of Sam, Raul saw many scorpions searching for prey. But as sunrise approached, they started burrowing to avoid the intense heat. Raul timed the exposure so that the excavated sand was suspended in midair.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum in London. Captions are provided by the photographers and WPY organizers, and are lightly edited for style.

© © James Lewin / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

“The Meeting Place.” Winner, Animals in Their Environment. James Lewin watched a young bull elephant spray a group of zebras as they congregated in the Kenyan Chyulu Hills.
Received — 13 October 2026 ⏭ The Atlantic

Photos: Fall Is in the Air

✇The Atlantic
By: Alan Taylor
13 October 2026 at 20:53
A bull moose walks through shrubs, some showing fall colors.
Stan Grossfeld / The Boston Globe / Getty
A bull moose emerges from the deep woods somewhere in northern Maine, on September 26, 2026.
Trees display autumn colors on a mountainside.
VCG / Getty
Trees display autumn colors in Huanggangliang, in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on September 18, 2026.
A person shows the effort on their face as they paddle a giant pumpkin to the finish line of a race.
Ellen Schmidt / AP
Laura Fairchild paddles a giant pumpkin to the finish line in the Pumpkin Regatta, part of the annual Harvest Fest in Stillwater, Minnesota, on October 11, 2026.
Two children run into a corn maze.
Libby March / The Buffalo News / Getty
Siblings Charlotte and E. J. Taylor run into the corn maze at Bippert’s Farms outside Buffalo, New York, on September 27, 2026.
Fall colors appear among low shrubs along a mountain path.
Annika Hammerschlag / AP
Fall colors along a hiking path in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, near Mazama, Washington, on October 8, 2026
Spiderwebs glisten in a meadow against the backlight of the rising sun.
Thomas Warnack / DPA / Getty
Spiderwebs in a meadow glisten in the early-morning light, in Uttenweiler, Germany, on September 26, 2026.
A person wearing waders fishes at the base of a broad waterfall.
Anna Moneymaker / Getty
A person fishes at the base of Ithaca Falls in Ithaca, New York, on October 12, 2026.
A red squirrel peeks out from behind a mossy tree trunk.
Gerd Harder / DPA / Reuters
A red squirrel peeks out from behind a mossy tree trunk, somewhere in Germany, on October 8, 2026.
Visitors take photos of a 'King Kong' figure made of pumpkins.
Markus Schreiber / AP
Visitors take photos of a King Kong figure made of pumpkins and wood at the “Pumpkin Goes to Hollywood” exhibition at the Asparagus and Adventure Farm in Klaistow, near Berlin, Germany, on September 17, 2026.
A shepherd leads a herd of alpacas down a mountain path.
Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / Getty
Alpacas follow a shepherd during the traditional Alpabzug, in German, or Désalpe, in French, a Swiss festival to mark the return of herds from mountain pastures, in the Griesalp area above Kiental, on September 22, 2026.
A man in a cowboy hat casts a shadow on a giant pumpkin.
Benjamin Fanjoy / Getty
Brian Evans with his family’s entry at the 53rd Annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off on October 12, 2026, in Half Moon Bay, California
A cyclist rides on a broad mountain trail past trees in autumn colors.
Larry Clouse / CSM / ZUMA Press Wire / Reuters
A cyclist rides the Golden Gravel Trail through brilliant autumn colors along the western slope of the Great Divide in the Uncompahgre National Forest, near Paradox, Colorado, on September 24, 2026.
A historic riverside building, covered in Virginia creeper that has started to change into red autumnal colors
Peter Byrne / PA Images / Getty
The Tu Hwnt I’r Bont Tea Rooms is covered in bright Virginia creeper, in Llanrwst, North Wales, on October 2, 2026.
A child looks for a pumpkin among hundreds spread out over a field.
Jim Franco / Albany Times Union / Getty
Benjamin Bojadzija looks for the perfect pumpkin at Engelke Farm in Troy, New York, on October 7, 2026.
The Northern Lights light up the sky above the ruins of a castle.
Owen Humphreys / PA Images / Getty
The northern lights above the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, on the Northumberland coast of England, on October 11, 2026
Two cyclists ride past a bellowing deer stag.
Brook Mitchell / Getty
A deer stag bellows at sunrise during the annual rut in Richmond Park, London, on October 8, 2026.
Sunflowers and purple flowers cover a field, seen under a partly-cloudy sky.
Patrick Pleul / DPA / Getty
Sunflowers and purple-flowering phacelia glow in the autumn sun in a field near Jacobsdorf, Germany, on October 12, 2026.
An aerial view of a wide mountain slope covered in fall-colored trees
Lokman Vural Elibol / Anadolu / Getty
An aerial view of vibrant red, orange, and yellow leaves transforming the landscape in Westmore, Vermont, on October 3, 2026
Five beets, carved like Jack-o'-lanterns
Thomas Warnack / DPA / Getty
Illuminated “beet ghosts” outside a house in Riedlingen, Germany, on October 11, 2026. The fall tradition uses the vegetable as pumpkins are used for jack-o’-lanterns.
A heron flies over a foggy river.
Thomas Warnack / DPA / Getty
A grey heron flies above the Danube in morning fog near Riedlingen, Germany, on October 11, 2026.
A person tosses autumn leaves into the air.
Joaquin Corchero / Europa Press / Getty
A person tosses autumn leaves into the air in Seville, in the Andalusia region of Spain, on September 23, 2026.

© Stan Grossfeld / The Boston Globe / Getty

A bull moose emerges from the deep woods somewhere in northern Maine, on September 26, 2026.
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