10 mesmerizing pics of tigers that won awards

The tiger, with its majestic stripes and powerful presence, has been the subject of countless photographs. Among these, some have stood out for their breathtaking portrayal of this magnificent creature in its natural habitat. These images have not only captured the beauty of tigers but have also garnered international acclaim, winning prestigious awards. This article celebrates ten such stunning photographs, each telling a unique story of the tiger’s life in the wild.

Sergey Gorshkov captured a rare moment of a Siberian tiger hugging a tree in Russia’s Far East, which won him the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2020. This image, titled “The Embrace,” was taken in the Land of the Leopard National Park and showcases the tiger marking its territory. The photograph is a result of patience and skill, with the camera trap set for 10 months before capturing this moment.

Image: natural_history_museum/Instagram

In the arid wilderness of Ranthambore National Park, Vladimir Cech Jr. captured the quintessence of regality with his photograph “The Tiger”. This image, which garnered acclaim in the Nature’s Best Photography Asia 2019, depicts a Royal Bengal tiger in a moment of serene command. Bathed in the golden light of the dry season, the tiger’s gaze holds the weight of its legacy, reflecting the untamed spirit of one of India’s most revered wildlife sanctuaries

Image: Courtesy of Vladimir Cech Jr. and Nature's Best Photography Asia awards

Ashley Vincent’s “The Explosion” is an extraordinary photograph that captures the dynamic essence of the Indochinese Tiger, also known as Corbett’s Tiger. This image, which won the Grand Prize of the 2012 National Geographic Photo Contest, showcases the tiger in a moment of pure, uninhibited energy as it shakes off water, sending droplets flying in a spectacular display. The power and vitality of the tiger are palpable, with each water droplet caught in mid-air, highlighting the animal’s raw strength and the sheer beauty of its movement.

Image: Courtesy of Ashley Vincent and National Geographic

This photograph by Nitish Madan, captured in the dense forests of India’s Corbett National Park, won the Highly Commended Award at the Sanctuary Wildlife Photography Awards 2020. This striking image features a dominant male tiger, known locally as ‘The Ghost of the Forest’, taking a light and solitary nap just before dawn. The tiger is peaceful in repose and looks like a cub with it's curled paw and adorable posture.

Image: Courtesy of Nitish Madan/Remembering Wildlife

Sofia Lopez Mañan captured a compelling portrait titled “Tiger”, which won the 2nd Place at the 1839 Color Photography Awards. The image features the intense gaze of a tiger, a testament to the animal’s fierce and unyielding nature. The photograph’s vibrant colors and sharp focus draw the viewer into a direct confrontation with the tiger’s piercing eyes, making it a memorable piece. For the unversed, the 1839 Color Photography Awards, include
world-renowned photographers, curators, directors, and industry professionals as judges who are chosen based on their respected positions within the global photography world.

The photograph “Tiger’s Solitude” by Andrew Holt captures the essence of a Bengal tiger’s solitary life in the wild. This image, taken in Ranthambore National Park, India, was featured in the “Remembering Wildlife” photography competition in 2024 and is set to be included in the book “Remembering Tigers”. The photograph showcases the tiger’s contemplative nature, as it's reflection ripples in the body of water of which Holt had taken an image. The interesting composition surely contributed to it's win

Image: Courtesy of Andrew Holt/Remembering Wildlife

Sascha Fonseca’s evocative photograph captures the elusive Amur tiger, also known as the Siberian tiger, in its snowy habitat. While Fonseca is recognized for a snow leopard image that won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People’s Choice Award, his work with the Amur tiger is equally compelling, winning the "Remembering Wildlife” photography competition. In a rare glimpse, Fonseca’s camera trap immortalized the majestic tiger, set against the stark and beautiful landscape of Russia’s Far East.

Image: Courtesy of Sascha Fonseca/Remembering Wildlife

Soham Bhattacharyya’s photograph, titled "Finest Flower of the Mangroves" won the overall winner of the Mangrove Photography Awards in 2023. The image captures a young Royal Bengal tigress in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, India. The tigress’s steely gaze, set against the lush green backdrop of the mangrove forest, underscores the isolation and beauty of this endangered species in its shrinking habitat.

Image: Courtesy of Soham Bhattacharyya/Remembering Wildlife

Sinheng Tse’s poignant photograph, “Ghost Cat,” was featured in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. This powerful image captures one of the few remaining South China tigers, a species now extinct in the wild due to decades of persecution. The tiger, photographed within the confines of Guangzhou Zoo, is seen pacing behind bars, its striped pattern a stark reminder of the wild ancestry it can no longer claim. Tse’s work is a sobering reflection on the consequences of human actions on wildlife, and the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these majestic creatures

Image: Courtesy of Sinheng Tse