Hold Steady! 21 Photos of Wildlife in Action
I like to take pictures of animals, but I need them to be asleep to get a quality photo. That’s why I’m so impressed with the images below from the National Wildlife Photo Contest. These photographers were able to capture brilliant photos of wildlife in action. Think about it: they flutter, run, dance, fly, the list could go on forever. I hope you dig this sampling of all the ways animals move. What would you add to the list?
Swim
Most sharks move their tail back and forth to propel themselves forward. This tiger shark was photographed off the coast of North Carolina by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Jeremy Kozman.
Splash
Grizzly bear creates quite a splash while trying to catch salmon in Alaska. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Tommaso Balestrini.
Sprint
Cheetahs can sprint at speeds of up to 70 m.p.h. while a wildebeest runs at 50 m.p.h. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Sanjay Hiraskar.
Scoot
Seals have small flippers that make it difficult to move on land. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Milko Marchetti.
Pounce
Red foxes pounce with incredible precision. This fox kit was photographed in Massachusetts by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Sandy Selesky.
Hover
Blue banded bees have a dart and hover flight pattern. This one was photographed hovering in India by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Joshi Bhavya.
Breakdance
Turtle in New Jersey, by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Mike Quinn.
Leap
Frog leaps in India, by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Satpal Singh.
Butt
Bighorn sheep butting heads. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Daryl Hunter.
Jump
Mountain goats jump in Colorado. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Cathy and Gordon Illg.
Chest Bump
Believe it or not, this is a fight, likely related to nesting or feeding territory. Great egrets apparently can’t help but be graceful. Photographed in California by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Thomas Anderson.
Dabble
Dabbling ducks tip their bottoms up in the air while they feed. They submerge their heads in shallow water and probe the bottom for aquatic organisms (vegetation, fish, invertebrates, etc). These ducks were photographed in Pennsylvania by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Donald Madson.
Slide
Gentoo penguin slides on the Antarctic Peninsula. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Brian Kamprath.
Hang
Fruit bat hangs in Kenya. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Jenna Parker.
Slither
Snake slithers in Maryland. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Hannah Grove.
Wrestle
Bears cubs wrestle and play in Alaska. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Ursula Dubrick.
Flap
Photograph by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Amir Ayalon in North Israel.
Dive
Pelicans diving into water in Florida, photographed by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Nancie Rowan.
Climb
Bear cub climbing in a tree. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Barrett Hedges.
Surf
Giant petrel playing in the surf. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Isobel Wayrick.
Relax
Sometimes after all that action, it’s time to just relax.
Raccoon stretched out to relax in Washington. Photo by National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant Nancy Martin.
For more great wildlife photos…
If you’d like to see more wildlife and nature pictures, check out the National Wildlife Photo Contest. And if you’re a nature photographer, enter to win great prizes, like a trip to photograph polar bears and a chance to have your pictures in National Wildlife Magazine.
