Nature art category – Fields of Dreams, J Fritz Rumpf (USA)

Stefan Gerrits, a judge, says: ‘This striking image immediately caught the jury’s attention with its stunningly vibrant colours and unique patterns. The rich, vivid hues of the gills are beautifully accentuated by the soft forest light creating a mesmerising effect that draws the viewer into this maze of gills. The surreal, or otherworldly, scene is both intriguing and alluring. It provokes the imagination, making the viewer wonder about the origins of such an incredible, mystical, dreamlike, sight of nature.’

Photograph: J Fritz Rumpf/2023 NPOTY