Photography and nature share a long and storied relationship, one that stretches almost to the medium’s very beginnings. From the early photogenic drawings of plants and outdoor scenes made through contact printing, to the daguerreotypes and calotypes of the 1840s, through the modernist masters of the 20th century and the drone images of today, photography has continually offered new ways of seeing the natural world: precise and truthful, yet capable of carrying profound emotion.

To celebrate our 2025 Color Award (now open for entries) we've surveyed winners, finalists, and the most eye-catching entries from all our previous awards, and selected 10 stunning images of all styles, that showcase the power of color photography.