Owen Horton, A brutal balance in Antarctica (ANIMALS 2026)

Two images capture a leopard seal in violent motion, thrashing its prey—a freshly caught Adélie penguin—against the surface. Above, a skua circles and descends, seizing its opportunistic share in a chaotic exchange of survival. In stark contrast, the third image reveals a newborn seal pup, its umbilical cord still tethering it to the beginning of life. Fragile, motionless, and unaware of the world it has entered and the harsh existence it will face. All three images captured during the Antarctic winter of 2024.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.