Solayman Hossain, aged 18, nabbed first place in Nikon’s Young Environmental Photographer of the Year (21 and under) category for his colourful photo showing a farmer and his cows forced to wade through floodwater to find food, after the road became submerged in water. The photo was taken during monsoon season in Kushtia, Bangladesh, in a village close to Solayman’s own. Solayman said: “I hope my photo will inspire environmental action by showcasing the importance of nature, raising awareness about environmental issues, and encouraging others to take positive steps towards sustainability.”

Jahid Apu, professional photographer from Bangladesh, took home a category win in the MPB Vision of the Future category for his photo of a bridge surrounded by a sea of plastic waste, entitled “A Walk Through Trash”. Bangladesh is one of the top plastic polluted countries, with about 646 tons of plastic collected daily in Dhaka.

Jahid said: “Whenever I walk over this bridge, I always wonder how we can survive with so much plastic. Children are often playing in the garbage, with nearby communities forced to live around this sea of waste. I want my photo to be a wake-up call, encouraging people around the world to put an end to plastic pollution once and for all. My home country of Bangladesh has been hit especially hard by climate change. As the crisis intensifies, photographers must abandon pretty nature pictures for ones that confront our changing planet and inspire us to protect it.”

This year, the Recovering Nature category winner is Nicolas Marin, a 24-year-old photographer, National Geographic underwater explorer, environmental activist and former professional tennis player based in Argentina, scooped a category win for his photo of a rare luminescent coral. The photo was taken during a night dive in Aruba using a long-exposure technique and an ultraviolet light source. Documenting and protecting the oceans is a cause close to Nicolas’ heart, as he encounters fishing nets, straws and endless floating garbage while diving.

He commented: “We used specialised dive lights that wouldn’t disturb marine life, and in the darkness, you could only see where the lights were pointed. On this occasion, I witnessed something I had never seen before: a coral glowing like a Christmas tree. This photo is important because it showcases the wonder and fragility of marine life and the need to protect it. Bioluminescence is a fascinating natural phenomenon that indicates the health of the ocean. Coral, as one of the foundational pillars of these ecosystems, faces significant challenges due to climate change, pollution, and habitat degradation.”

“While there are challenges, there are also solutions underway, such as promoting sustainable fishing practices, establishing marine protected areas, and undertaking efforts to mitigate climate change. For me, corals are hope,” he continued.

The Adapting for Tomorrow category winner this year is Anirban Dutta, photographer and high-school teacher from West Bengal. He secured a win for his multi-exposure image of a cunning drongo using light from an urban petrol pump to catch termites. Every year before the monsoon season begins, termite species are drawn towards light sources to seek their mates. On this rare occasion Anirban spotted a crafty drongo seizing the opportunity to snatch termites flying around the light source. The drongo’s presence at the urban petrol pump suggests waning food sources in the wild, and indicates how species are adapting to a changing world.

Shafiul Islam, a Bangladesh-based professional photographer, scored a win in the Keeping 1.5 Alive category for his photo of buffaloes scouring parched grasslands for food during a drought, in Gaibandha, Northern Bangladesh. Northern and western Bangladesh, comprising 22 districts, has faced ongoing drought, affecting herders who rely on river grasslands to raise buffaloes. The prolonged dry spell has depleted pastures, causing food and water shortages for the buffaloes. To cope, herdsmen provide dry hay as an alternative to the scarce grass.

He said: “It was challenging to get the photo with the right exposure in the bright sunlight on the white sand. A picture is worth a thousand words. Photography is an art that can be easily understood by people of any age and language. I hope my winning photo, along with the other finalist photographs, will raise awareness about climate change in the whole world.”