The Natural History Museum came on board in 1984 to create the competition as it is known today, according to the release. See photos: Impressive nature scenes delight and inspire ...

For Ilene Schwartz Montesinos, photography is a lifelong dialogue with the natural world—a way of seeing that blends her ...

Natural lighting from the Moon and stars can also play a role in image quality. Astronauts carefully time their shots to capture these events, often during orbital night.