Nature's Best Photography Awards. The Wall Street Journal

Nature's Best Photography

ROSEATE SPOONBILLS | 'In this photo the bird coming in to land was being warned off by a spoonbill already occupying the tree branch…but the soft color and graceful lines of the composition make the behavior appear almost like a kiss.' —Michael Rosenbaum, Delray Beach, Fla.  

"As with many things in life, taking memorable pictures of nature requires a generous dose of patience and luck.
This year, 130 winning images—starring irate monkeys, fighting bulls, cuddling giraffes and more—were chosen from over 20,000 entries in the annual Windland Smith Rice awards, from Nature's Best Photography magazine. (Photos were submitted by both professionals and amateurs in 47 countries.) A selection is on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington through Jan. 6. Here is a look at some of the winners, with background from each photographer..."photos here.