Nature's Best for KIDS

• Snake River, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
  "Due to the popularity of this scene, I knew I needed to capture something special to make my image stand out. After returning to this same location again and again over the course of a week, some lingering storm clouds at sunset finally provided the defining element I had been waiting for. The sharp peaks, meandering Snake River, and spectacular rays combined to create an ethereal moment." - Scott Hotaling, age 21
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  Scott Hotaling, age 21 / Nature's Best Photography

• Mt. Drum, Copper Center, Alaska
  "At over 12,000 feet high, Mt. Drum is an impressive natural marvel. Bold and striking against the sky, the mountain takes on a new dimension when surrounded by a border of trees. The trees make the mountain appear within grasp, no longer a distant object looming over the landscape." -- Mark Henspeter, age 17
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  Mark Henspeter, age 17/ Nature's Best Photography

• Magpies, Biebrzanski National Park, Poland
  "This group of three magpies discovered leftovers from a white-tailed eagle's prey. There was not much food left and they were forced to fight for the scraps. Winters are hard in Biebrzanski National Park and only the strongest survive." -- Matesuz Kowalski, age 18
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  Matesuz Kowalski, age 18 / Nature's Best Photography

• Black-chinned Hummingbird, Spokane, Wash.
  "The hummingbirds always swarm in for one last drink around sunset. I decided to take a shot with the sky as the background because of the particularly vivid sunset. I only had a few minutes before the color faded and the hummingbirds left, but I worked fast and got the shot!" -- Michael Woodruff, age 17
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  Michael Woodruff, age 17 / Nature's Best Photography

• Eastern Screech Owl, Fort Salonga, Long Island, NY
  "This owl was found on the north shore of Long Island. As my dad and I were returning home after shooting at a local park, we received a phone call from a friend who had discovered this little owl nestled in a pine tree in her yard. We arrived as the light was fading, but with the help of a flash I was able to get this shot." -- Emily Pfeifer, age 15
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  Emily Pfeifer, age 15 / Nature's Best Photography

• Sea of Cortez, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
  "The power of the large waves as they broke on the shore made it difficult to take this shot. I had to wait for a wave to recede, then quickly run toward the water to shoot the incoming wave up close. As soon as the shutter clicked, I sprinted back up to shore so that my camera wouldn't get wet." -- Erik Funk, age 16
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  Erik Funk, age 16 / Nature's Best Photography

• Red-webbed Treefrog, Bartola, Nicaragua
  "Iheard this beautiful red-webbed tree frog before I spotted him at night in the rain forest at Bartola. Night is usually the time when male frogs sing to proclaim their territories and attract mates. According to the field guide, this species is uncommon. I saw another red-webbed tree frog near the same place on a subsequent night, but he was too high up in a tree to get a good photograph." -- Rick Stanley, age 18
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  Rick Stanley, age 18 / Nature's Best Photography

• Banana Slug, Muir Woods National Monument, Calif.
  "Banana slugs are the second-largest species of land slugs in the wold. They can grow up to ten inches long and are usually bright yellows, although they may also be green, brown, or white. They are native to the forest floors along the Pacific Coast of North America. I found this slug and it was about six inches long. They are very slow so I was able to take lots of pictures using the close-up setting on my camera." -- Alexandra Sandlin, age 12
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  Alexandra Sandlin, age 12 / Nature's Best Photography

• Mantis, Bartola, Nicaragua
  "I found this immature mantis grooming itself at night in the rain forest of Bartola, Nicaragua. The black background draws attention to the form of the mantis and the way the curved leaf mirrors the mantis' curved abdomen." -- Rick Stanley, age 18
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  Rick Stanley, age 18 / Nature's Best Photography

• Plains Zebra, Fort Worth Zoo, Texas
  "While spending an afternoon at the Fort Worth Zoo with my photo class, Istarted photographing textures and patterns in the natural world. I found the patterns of the zebra's unique stripes to be much more interesting up close. My trip to the zoo taught me to look beyond the obvious image." -- Rachel Klein, age 17
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  Rachel Klein, age 17 / Nature's Best Photography