Patience, perseverance and a little luck have helped these extraordinarily talented photographers capture some of the world's most breathtaking photos.
The BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition is open to all photography enthusiasts and professionals worldwide and offers a $5,000 grand prize.
This year, that prize went to Andy Parkinson for his extraordinary photo of a hare curled into a tight ball to ward off the cold and snowy weather around it.
The picture, taken in Scotland, will be featured in the annual exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences.
Now in its seventh year, Big Picture encourages photographers from around the world to contribute work that both celebrates and illustrates the rich diversity of life on Earth and inspires action to protect and conserve it.
First place winners of the seven official categories each received $1,000 in cash and will also have their winning images featured in the annual exhibit.
