23 Shots That’ll Make You Fall in Love With Our Planet This Nature Photography Day

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Majestic mountains in the predawn fog, funny animals in their natural habitat, mighty waterfalls, and valleys flooded with sunlight — we live alongside these things on the incredible planet Earth, which is illuminated daily by wildlife photographers around the world. Nature Photography Day, celebrated worldwide on June 15, seems to be the best day to thank artists for their work.

Depositphotos has compiled a collection of inspirational Mother Earth shots that prove wildlife has millions of hidden secrets in different corners of the world. Need some rest in the middle of a busy working day at the office? We invite you to travel to these exotic corners of the planet right now.

The day to explore continents

Nature Photography Day was first celebrated in 2006. The idea belongs to the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) which planned to promote nature photography in general. Part of the mission is to show its potential and to draw public attention to environmental issues, natural landscapes, and endangered species.

Yosemite

Yellowstone

Thanks to the NANPA initiative, many people have rediscovered the North American continent. So let’s start our journey with Yosemite National Park (in California) and the Yellowstone National Park (in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho).

Naples, Florida

And who is this brooding couple? On the promenade of the small town of Naples in Florida, pelicans love to watch people. You never know when one of them will decide to treat you with fish from a seaside tavern!

Bolivia

Our next station is Laguna Colorada (or Red Lagoon) which is a salt lake in the southwest of the Altiplano in Bolivia. Despite the fact that the famous James’s, Andean, and Chilean flamingos are the main inhabitants of this territory, you can also spot wandering white alpacas here.

Thailand

Scenic Thailand’s province of Phetchaburi, where this picture was taken, is located more than 60 miles from Bangkok. During the day, from the shore of Bang Taboon, you can watch giant whales jumping. And swimming in the sea at night, you can admire the giant full moon above the seashore.

Madagascar

And here comes the whale itself! Did you know that scientists are still curious why whales jump out of the water? However, whales’ sociality or alertness is currently the most common explanation.

Namibia

Dead camel thorn trees in Namib-Naukluft Park (Namibia) attract not only photographers but also filmmakers. At different times of the day, the sun paints the surrounding dunes in bright futuristic colors like red and orange, as well as white, blue, and violet.

Costa Rica

Although this young squirrel monkey from the Costa Rica rainforest seems sweet and defenseless, it’s considered to be one of the most clever monkeys on Earth due to its large brain compared to its tiny body! Another amazing fact: squirrel monkeys are one of the few monkeys that use their tails exclusively for balance (just like a squirrel). And yes, it can drink water while hanging upside down.

Lithuania

Kauno Marios is an artificial lake in Lithuania, however, you’ll hardly distinguish this lake from a natural reservoir. The lake occupies 0.1% of the country and is located in the middle of the picturesque Nemunas valley.

Poland

Today, it’s difficult for us to imagine nature photography without drones. The invention of aerial photography seems to have transformed the way we enjoy nature from these unusual vantage points. Ideal coastlines, forest gradients, and hill shadows appear for us thanks to this medium.

Lithuania

Romania

Turkey

Abstract art or subject photography? Try to find the answer while admiring images from Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Turkey.

Red Sea

And how about going down to greet the inhabitants of the Red Sea? In the spring, jellyfish approach the coastline to give birth to their offspring. Fortunately, in the Red Sea, there are no deadly jellyfish, but there are very beautiful ones. Perhaps this one was the prototype of the Gorgon Medusa?

Rural area

Sea

India

Whether it’s a river valley, a storm, or a herd of wild donkeys in a field, nature is keen on monochrome compositions. All the photographer needs to do is press the button in time!

Argentina

The Valdes Peninsula belongs to Argentina and is a part of the Patagonian region. Whales, pichi, Magellanic penguins, southern elephant seals, and, of course, South American sea lions are the reason why Valdes is popular among wildlife photographers. But without scuba gear it’s impossible to arrange a photo session for sea lions: these animals dive to a depth of almost 1,000 feet and can reach speeds of up to 25 miles an hour.

Iceland

Can you imagine a bird that can fly only if it sees the ocean in front of it? In 2020, the Atlantic puffin is recognized as Iceland‘s most precious bird, also known as “Clown of the Sea,” “Sea Parrot,” and “Penguin of the North.” Moreover, every other Atlantic puffin on Earth lives there. The bird’s beak changes color over the seasons and this exact shot was taken in the spring.

The Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, has become home to many species of penguins. The colony of thousands of King penguins enjoy the cliffs of the islands and often spend time on the seashore in the company of other seabirds. How do you distinguish a King penguin from other birds? It has an exceptional appetite. An adult King penguin eats up to 400 fish a day.

Finland

If you enjoy and appreciate wildlife just like the Depositphotos contributors, visit the National Nature Photography Day collection page as it contains dozens of inspirational images. We hope these images inspire you to try your hand at being a wildlife photographer so you too can share discoveries that lie ahead.