Striking Visuals Reflect the Earth’s Vulnerability and Strength

These photographs from the Earth Photo 2025 competition convey a vivid, thrilling, and surprising narrative about our planet’s climate and biodiversity.

In photographer Ami Vitale’s image Pandamonium, we see a giant panda keeper examining the health of panda cubs in Ulong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, China. The keeper’s attire is designed to minimize human impact on these bears. Following this, there’s another captivating shot by Sue Flood titled Craveter sticker, captured on a glacial ice floe in the waters south of the Antarctic Peninsula. Such images can unveil the area’s grandeur to those unable to visit.

From Paradise, La Palma – The photo below depicts the aftermath of the 2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption on this Spanish Canary island. A resident is seen redoing their garden, clearing away lava that destroyed mature palm trees and replacing them with new plants.

The concluding image below features Vincenzo Montefinese’s Lost Oasis, taken in Tinzouline, Draa Valley, Morocco. Here, an individual is seen adjusting solar panels that operate the water pump for irrigating nearby palm trees. Due to climate change and water scarcity, the valley’s oases have diminished by two-thirds over the past century, prompting farmers to illegally dig wells to access groundwater.

The featured images were curated by New Scientist photo editor Tim Bodhis and David Stock, the director of editorial videos. The winners will be announced on June 16th, and the Earth Photo 2025 exhibition will take place at the Royal Geographical Society in London from June 17 to August 20, followed by a tour across the UK.