15 of the most sensational Nature & Wildlife images

© Alain Berard, France, Commended, Open, Nature & Wildlife, 2015 Sony World Photography Awards

Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean - John Muir

We need no excuse to look back through the archives of the Sony World Photography Awards. One of the world's leading free photography competitions, we've received an incredible 1.5 million images since 2008.

With the launch of the 11th edition of the awards on June 1, each Thursday we'll be looking back over the last three years and choosing our favourite images from across a range of categories.

This week explore the inspiring and powerful categories of Nature & Wildlife...

© Andrew Greaves, UK, Commended, Open, Nature & Wildlife, 2015 Sony World Photography Awards

© Andrew Suryono, Indonesia, Commended, Open, Nature & Wildlife, 2015 Sony World Photography Awards

© Andrey Narchuk, Russia, Commended, Open, Nature & Wildlife, 2016 Sony World Photography Awards

© Antoine Weis, Luxembourg, Winner, Open, Nature and Wildlife, 2015 Sony World Photography Awards

© Antonio Caputo, Italy, Commended, Open, Nature, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards

© Arnfinn Johansen, Norway, Commended, Open, Nature & Wildlife, 2016 Sony World Photography Awards

© Christian Spencer, Australia, Commended, Open, Nature & Wildlife, 2015 Sony World Photography Awards

© Christine Ody, New Zealand, Commended, Open, Nature & Wildlife, 2015 Sony World Photography Awards

© Giovanna Griffo, Italy, Commended, Open, Nature, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards

© Jassen Todorov, USA, Shortlist, Open, Nature & Wildlife, 2015 Sony World Photography Awards

© Masayasu Sakuma, Japan, Shortlist, Open, Nature, 2017 Sony World Photography Awards

© Mike Korostelev, Russia, Commended, Open, Nature & Wildlife, 2016 Sony World Photography Awards

© Robyn Cook, Australia, Commended, Open, Nature & Wildlife, 2015 Sony World Photography Awards

© Torsten Velden, Germany, Commended, Open, Nature & Wildlife, 2016 Sony World Photography Awards

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