We asked our Sony Artisans Of Imagery and Alpha Collective members to submit their favorite images of 2025. See Part 2 of this five-part series below, featuring a variety of wildlife images that show how patience, persistence and the right gear allows these photographers to ethically photograph animals in the wild. If you’re interested in wildlife photography, check out our Wildlife Photography 101 course on Alpha Camera Academy.
See Part 1 here and stay tuned to Alpha Universe as we count down to 2025 with another selection of images each day.
Cristina Mittermeier
Photo by Cristina Mittermeier. Alpha 1. 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G.
“This piece was created in Segera, a private conservancy in northern Kenya where the ancient rhythms of the African savannah unfold in golden silence. The image captures a solitary leopard sitting alone on an asutere branch—a moment of wild grace that speaks to my desire to bear witness to the poetry of the natural world.”
“There is something otherworldly about the way leopards occupy space, as if they’re somehow exempt from the laws of gravity. What struck me most in this scene was its simplicity: the clean lines, the texture of the cat’s fur, and the way it sat, as if posing. The entire moment reminded me of the scientific illustrations I used to pore over in old books as a child. Like a tableau lifted from the pages of an early explorer’s journal, sketched partly in the moment and partly from memory.”
Paul Nicklen
Photo by Paul Nicklen. Alpha 1. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master II.
"Craig, one of the last great tuskers, towers over me, his ears lifted toward the sky. I felt the weight of doing justice to his immense presence, beauty, and calm demeanor as one of Amboseli’s most legendary elephants. Although the time I spent in Amboseli was shorter than I would have liked, it only took a moment to fall in love with its wildlife. It was the first time in my life that I truly got to spend time in the company of elephants. No two personalities were alike and nothing could have prepared me for the deep attachment I felt for each one I photographed."
“Africa’s iconic wildlife has long been immortalized by visionary photographers whose images have shaped global awareness and conservation efforts. It is a true honor to finally explore the continent through my own lens and walk in the path of giants, both literal and figurative.”
Tony Gale
Photo by Tony Gale. Alpha 7CR. 20-70mm f/4 G.
“I was wandering through the forest and heard a plop in the nearby stream. I went over to take a look and see this green frog peeking out of the water. The frog was very calm so I tried a lot of things and liked this the best.”
“This photo helps me remember the importance of nature and publicly accessible local land.”
Melissa Groo
Photo by Melissa Groo. Alpha 1 II. 600mm f/4 G Master.
“I was standing on a ladder in deep forest on the Flathead Indian Reservation in the Mission Valley of Montana. On assignment for Audubon magazine, I was photographing a Great Gray Owl family in their nest at the top of a dead tree.”
“I loved this photo because everything came together. The mom had just fed the chicks, and was pausing before leaving to hunt again. The chicks were fed and happy, and the smaller one was nestled up under the chin of the larger one. It was a very sweet tableau.”
Matt Kloskowski
Photo by Matt Kloskowski. Alpha 1 II. 600mm f/4 G Master.
“While on a boat on a small lake in Florida we came across some great wildlife opportunities. The boat allows for a much closer and more active view of the birds and wildlife on the lake.”
“Snail kites are illusive and tough to photograph up close. A group of them were in a nearby tree and we had the opportunity to wait in our boat while they made multiple passes to catch snails from the water.”
David Burnett
Photo by David Burnett. RX10 IV.
“In the midst of the northward spring migration of millions of sand hill cranes, two birds sit in the North Platte River, near Grand Island, NE, pausing for a moment before restarting their epic flight.”
“I don’t see myself as much of a nature photographer, but I was struck by this quiet moment on the river, albeit within range of hundreds of thousands of very vocal cranes, and these two birds seemed to make the migration, apart from the masses of birds, simply about these two.”
Colby Brown
Photo by Colby Brown. Alpha 1 II. 600mm f/4 G Master.
“This photo was taken in Ranthambore National Park in India back in March of this year. Each morning and afternoon, I would take my workshop clients out on safaris in search of these incredible big cats. After spending decades exploring Africa, I have fallen in love with the wildlife of India and the surrounding countries.”
“Tigers are my favorite big cats in the world. There is something truly special about them. With this shot, I captured an incredible female tiger just after sunrise as she moved through the dry forest in Ranthambore National Park. Something about the soft light hitting her face as she moved between the trees caught my eye.”
Andy Mann
Photo by Andy Mann. Alpha 1. 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master.
“I brought my 10 year old daughter, Josie, on her first ocean conservation expedition in November to the very remote and isolated, Juan Fernandez Islands - 600km off the coast of Chile. We were there to tell the story of the once-considered extinct, Juan Fernandez Fur Seal, whose rediscovery in 1965 had led to an amazing conservation and repopulation efforts. I loaded my Sony a1 and 16-35 GM lens into my housing and jumped in with her to capture this shot of her free-diving down amongst the playful marine mammals.”
“I've spent the entirety of my daughter's life, traveling around the world, protecting our oceans. This marks the first assignment that we have done together, just the two of us. It's an image of hope, not only for the success of the once-considered extinct endemic fur seal, but a sense of hope that her generation will carry the torch of conservation. It's a proud papa moment for sure!”
L. Renee Blount
Photo by L. Renee Blount. Alpha 7R V. 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II.
"Went to the Sierras on horseback more than once to find wild mustangs that I had long heard about after climbing in the Sierras for years. Spending days on horseback to get this shot and finally grabbing it was incredible!"
Mike Meyers
Photo by Mike Meyers. Alpha 1. 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master.
“I was in Florida for a photography job, staying at a property that was next to a cypress tree swamp and I wanted to get out on the water to shoot the fog and the trees with early-morning light. Unfortunately, the tour boats didn't run until after 10:30am, so I had to ask if there was any way for someone to come in early (7am) and take me out on a boat meant for about 30+ people so I could get my shots. I was lucky enough to get someone to agree to take me, and the conditions were absolutely perfect. We came around the corner where the river opened up a bit and in the distance I could see this cormorant, wings out, facing the sun to dry its feathers--right next to a cluster of beautiful backlit cypress trees.”
“This is my favorite image for a few reasons - I really like the shot itself. But I'd been wanting to shoot cypress trees in the fog at sunrise for a few years now, and I was finally able to do it. And more importantly, it was a result of a complete stranger being kind enough to get up early and give me a personal tour of the river at a time when almost no one ever gets to see it. It was special to be somewhere that few people have been, and also another example of an experience I wouldn't have had if it wasn't for photography. I ended up sharing the shot with the guide and he liked it so much that I sent him a framed print as a thank you for his generosity.”
Autumn Schrock
Photo by Autumn Schrock. Alpha 1 II. 600mm f/4 G Master.
“While on safari on the Chobe River, it was nearing sunset and a tower of giraffes wandered out onto a spit. We were in a boat, so the alignment was exceedingly difficult, but shoutout to our captain, Ray, who kept the walking giraffes lined up with the sun as it set behind them.”
“I took my first trip to Africa this year and it absolutely blew my mind. It had been a dream of mine to capture that majestic animal-silhouetted-against-the-giant-sun shot, and I can't believe that we were able to make it happen on my very first safari. This entire trip was one that I will never forget, and this moment was the cherry on top.”
Scott Kranz
Photo by Scott Kranz. Alpha 1. 600mm f/4 G Master.
“While on assignment in the Yellowstone area, we spotted this majestic bald eagle perched at the top of a tree near Yellowstone Lake. Initially shooting from the road, I noticed the near-full moon closer to the horizon, so I ascended an embankment opposite from the perched eagle to create this alignment of wildlife and moon.”
“It was a fulfilling combination of luck, strategy, and skill, combined with an awesome moment in nature.”
