8 award-winning images of the great outdoors

The winners of this year's prestigious Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition have been released and they're truly awe-inspiring.Over 17,000 entries competed for the top prize of a once-in-a-lifetime photography assignment to cover the Fjllrven Polar dogsled expedition, which covers 300km of arctic tundra.Eight categories' winners have been released, and a final overall winner will be announced on stage at The Photography Show at the NEC, Birmingham on March 18.From epicNorwegian lakes to wild African game reserves, scroll down to see this year's remarkable winners.Wildlife Insight Winner, Alice van Kempen (Netherlands) ' Lower Sabie, Kruger National Park, South Africa.'In Africa, poachers slaughter an elephant every 15 minutes to supply the demand for ivorythats 96 beautiful creatures a day. In 2016, as of the middle of September, there had been 36 elephants killed by poachers in the Kruger National Park alonethe highest number since 1982. With this in mind, I wanted to create a photograph to reflect the situation the elephants are in. I chose to capture the sad look of one of the elephants; a dark image that lets you focus on the tusks.'At the Water's Edge Winner, Pete Hyde (UK) ' Gavlfjorden, Holm, Langya, Norway.'Having driven several miles up a minor road, we came to the small harbour at Holm. After a short walk, we were presented with this wonderful view up a small side-branch of Gavlfjorden. The soft, misty light and the calmness of the water were perfect for conveying the peace and tranquillity we were privileged to enjoy.'Young Outdoor Photographer of the Year Winne, David Rosenzweig (USA) ' Timbavati Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa.'The eternal bond between a mother and child is one that transcends the animal kingdom. One early morning in the Timbavati Game Reserve, we came across this female leopard. She was clearly searching for something and continued calling until she reached an open road. Just as she arrived, her cub came running out of the bushes. The ensuing interaction between the mother and cub proved the love that the two share for each other.'See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Click here to read full news..