Water as an Element Challenge 2025
We’re excited to announce the highly commended, runner-up, and winning images selected for the Water as an Element category in the 2025 Pangolin Photo Challenge, along with the camera settings used to capture these remarkable shots!
For this category, water had to play a central role in the scene as a habitat, a hunting ground, a place to play, or simply to reflect.
Missed the Water as an Element finalists video?
In case you missed it, here are the finalists from which the images below were chosen.
Water as an Element Challenge was judged by
Highly Commended
A snail, a wood chip, a golden world, by Sonnyboy Mabunda (South Africa)
Canon EOS 200D with a 150–600mm F5–6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens
f/6.3 | 1/320 | 600 mm | ISO 1600
“A snail is rested on a dark wood chip after the rain. The image was taken in Pretoria.” – Sonnyboy
Highly Commended
Fish Bait, by Conrad Peloquin (USA)
NIKON Z8 with an 600mm F6.3 PF lens
f/6.3 | 1/160 | ISO 900
“This is a recently hatched May Fly.” – Conrad
Highly Commended
The Painted Surfer, by Jens Cullmann (Germany)
Canon EOS R3 with a RF100–300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens
f/8 | 1/2500 | 300 mm | ISO 1000
“Gracefully catching the updraft off a curling wave a Pintado Petrel (Cape Petrel) surfs the airwaves above the ocean and negotiates the downdraft from a towering ice berg nearby. This mesmerizingly beautiful scene was gifted to me whilst sailing in the lee of the towering castle of ice that was grounded off the south eastern side of South Georgia on the 2nd of December 2024.” – Jens
Highly Commended
Rhinopias and Friend, by Roxanne Streatfield (Australia)
NIKON Z 7II with NIKKOR Z MC 105mm F2.8 VR S lens
f/16 | 1/200 | 105 mm | ISO 100
“A rhinopias scorpionfish moves slowly through soft coral, carrying an unexpected passenger — a small nudibranch resting on its head” – Roxanne
Highly Commended
Silk & Pearls, by Joe Riederer (USA)
CANON EOS R5M2 with an RF70-200mm L IS USM Z lens
f/9 | 1/2000 | 173mm | ISO 640
“A tiny orb-weaver spider built a string of dewdrops in prairie grass and captured hundreds of sunrises.” – Joe
Highly Commended
Just Walking in the Rain, by Stephen Smith (United Kingdom)
Canon EOS R5 with a RF70–200mm F2.8 L IS USM Z lens
f/2.8 | 1/60 | 130 mm | ISO 5000
“A Hyena is backlit as it visits a water hole in Southern Kenya during a brief but heavy rain shower.” – Stephen
Highly Recommended
Alaskan Uber, by Kris Luckenbach (USA)
Canon EOS R5m2 with a RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM + EXTENDER RF1.4x lens
f/4 | 1/1250 | 560 mm | ISO 1000
“Two brown bear cubs velcro to their mama’s back to cross an incoming rising tide. Taken June 2025.” – Kris
Highly Commended
Flamingos on Marble, by Sammy Ruby (USA)
Canon EOS R5 Mark II with a Canon 100-300mm F/2.8 L IS USM lens
f/7.1 | 1/3200 | 100 mm | ISO 500
“A mineral lake, a thin coating of clean water from a recent rain, and reflections of clouds combine to provide the background for this aerial photo of flamingos.” – Sammy
Runner Up
Iberian Lynx Kitten, by Zita Quentin (USA)
Canon EOS R5 with a RF100–300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens
f/4.5 | 1/400 | 300 mm | ISO 500
“I photographed the Iberian lynx in Spain in July 2025. It was extremely hot during the day so the adults and the kittens came to the watering hole to drink in the evenings. This is one of my favorite golden hour images with a curious lynx kitten. The lynx are not baited at all – they just use the watering holes.” – Zita
Our Challenge Winner is
The Bounty, by Brian Kelly (USA)
NIKON Z 9 with a NIKKOR Z 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 VR S lens
f/7.1 | 1/2000 | 100 mm | ISO 3600
“An Alaskan brown bear diving head first into the water hunting for its next meal.” – Brian
Congratulations, Brian, on the well-deserved win!
You have won a 6-night stay for one person at The Pangolin Chobe Hotel or a $2,000 voucher to put towards any Pangolin Photo Safari including the ones detailed below!
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