Natural History Photography – Best Photos of 2016

By December 29, 2016December 31st, 2018Best Photographs of the Year

My Best Natural History Photographs of 2016

2016 offered opportunities for me to photograph underwater and aerial views in the Sea of Cortez, sharks in the Bahamas, stingrays in the Cayman Islands, astrophotography landscapes in Grand Teton National Park, summer in Lake Tahoe, autumn in Mineral King, the Zion Narrows again, and as always America’s Finest City, San Diego.

This is the tenth year in a row I have done an annual retrospective. My creative goal for any one year is, as it always has been, to shoot 3-4 world-class images and 10-15 portfolio-quality images. Below are my favorites from 2016. If you like these feel free to check out previous years’ favorites as well: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007. Also, be sure to check out Jim Goldstein’s blog, where he collects the “best of the year” collections of many talented photographers.  Thanks Jim! Cheers and Thanks for looking!

Two tiger sharks, Galeocerdo cuvier

Two tiger sharks
Image ID: 31875
Species: Tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier
Location: Bahamas

Great hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran

Great hammerhead shark
Image ID: 31966
Species: Great hammerhead shark, Sphyrna mokarran
Location: Bimini, Bahamas

Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus perezi

Caribbean reef shark
Image ID: 31977
Species: Caribbean reef shark, Carcharhinus perezi
Location: Bahamas

Lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris

Lemon shark
Image ID: 32015
Species: Lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris
Location: Bahamas

Southern Stingray, Stingray City, Grand Cayman Island

Southern Stingray, Stingray City, Grand Cayman Island
Image ID: 32070
Location: Stingray City, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Beautiful Caribbean coral reef, sponges and hard corals, Grand Cayman Island

Beautiful Caribbean coral reef, sponges and hard corals, Grand Cayman Island
Image ID: 32101
Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, Grand Cayman Island

Loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, Grand Cayman Island
Image ID: 32137
Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Southern Stingrays, Stingray City, Grand Cayman Island

Southern Stingrays, Stingray City, Grand Cayman Island
Image ID: 32162
Location: Stingray City, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Southern Stingray, Stingray City, Grand Cayman Island

Southern Stingray, Stingray City, Grand Cayman Island
Image ID: 32165
Location: Stingray City, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Beautiful Caribbean coral reef, sponges and hard corals, Grand Cayman Island

Beautiful Caribbean coral reef, sponges and hard corals, Grand Cayman Island
Image ID: 32178
Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Aspens show fall colors in Mineral King Valley, part of Sequoia National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, California

Aspens show fall colors in Mineral King Valley, part of Sequoia National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, California
Image ID: 32257
Location: Mineral King, Sequoia National Park, California, USA

Aspens show fall colors in Mineral King Valley, part of Sequoia National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, California

Aspens show fall colors in Mineral King Valley, part of Sequoia National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, California
Image ID: 32273
Location: Mineral King, Sequoia National Park, California, USA

Teton Range from Schwabacher Landing, Grand Teton National Park

Teton Range from Schwabacher Landing, Grand Teton National Park
Image ID: 32312

Milky Way over T.A. Moulton Barn, Grand Teton National Park

Milky Way over T.A. Moulton Barn, Grand Teton National Park
Image ID: 32316

Eagle Falls at Sunrise, Lake Tahoe, California

Eagle Falls at Sunrise, Lake Tahoe, California
Image ID: 32326
Location: Lake Tahoe, California, USA

Split view of Trees and Underwater Boulders, Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Split view of Trees and Underwater Boulders, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Image ID: 32331
Location: Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Split view of Trees and Underwater Boulders, Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Split view of Trees and Underwater Boulders, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Image ID: 32334
Location: Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Underwater Sunlight, Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Underwater Sunlight, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Image ID: 32358
Location: Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Punta Colorada and San Gabriel Bay, aerial photo, Isla Espiritu Santo, Sea of Cortez, Mexico

Punta Colorada and San Gabriel Bay, aerial photo, Isla Espiritu Santo, Sea of Cortez, Mexico
Image ID: 32368
Location: Isla Espiritu Santo, Baja California, Mexico

Los Islotes, part of Archipelago Espiritu Santo, Sea of Cortez, Aerial Photo

Los Islotes, part of Archipelago Espiritu Santo, Sea of Cortez, Aerial Photo
Image ID: 32397
Location: Baja California, Mexico

Punta Alta and La Cueva, Baja California, Sea of Cortez, aerial photograph

Punta Alta and La Cueva, Baja California, Sea of Cortez, aerial photograph
Image ID: 32435
Location: Punta Alta, Baja California, Mexico

Isla San Francisquito, Aerial Photo, Sea of of Cortez

Isla San Francisquito, Aerial Photo, Sea of of Cortez
Image ID: 32441
Location: Isla San Francisquito, Baja California, Mexico

Boat Ambar and School of Fish, Ensenada el Embudo, Isla Partida, aerial photo

Boat Ambar and School of Fish, Ensenada el Embudo, Isla Partida, aerial photo
Image ID: 32456
Location: Isla Partida, Baja California, Mexico

Sea Lions playing in shallow water, Los Islotes, Sea of Cortez

Sea Lions playing in shallow water, Los Islotes, Sea of Cortez
Image ID: 32506
Location: Los Islotes, Baja California, Mexico

Sea Lion Underwater, Los Islotes, Sea of Cortez

Sea Lion Underwater, Los Islotes, Sea of Cortez
Image ID: 32522
Location: Los Islotes, Baja California, Mexico

California Sea Lion Hunts in a School of Scad Fish, Sea of Cortez

California Sea Lion Hunts in a School of Scad Fish, Sea of Cortez
Image ID: 32600
Location: Baja California, Mexico

Fall Colors in the Virgin River Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah

Fall Colors in the Virgin River Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah
Image ID: 32609
Location: Virgin River Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah, USA

The Virgin River Narrows, where the Virgin River has carved deep, narrow canyons through the Zion National Park sandstone, creating one of the finest hikes in the world

The Virgin River Narrows, where the Virgin River has carved deep, narrow canyons through the Zion National Park sandstone, creating one of the finest hikes in the world.
Image ID: 32622
Location: Virgin River Narrows, Zion National Park, Utah, USA

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!