Leanne Aust, Winter's Return: Life Awakens (ANIMAL & NATURE 2025)

These photographs were taken in early spring in the Himalayan foothills of south-west China, when the mountains were just beginning to stir with life. Then, without warning, winter returned — a cold front sweeping in to reclaim the thawing earth. In that brief moment between seasons, I found scenes of resilience and quiet beauty: vivid colour against muted snow, ritual against stillness. Winter’s Return: Life Awakens is a story of persistence — of life moving forward even when the world seems to pause. Each image captures a different rhythm of that transition: the flash of wings, the comedy of courtship, the curiosity of encounter, and the solitude of endurance. Together, they celebrate the fragile brilliance of wildlife in the face of change.

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