The answer is an alpine hare. I’ll admit, it took me an embarrassingly long time to spot the hare—perhaps a testament to how perfectly alpine hares have adapted to hide from mountainous predators. In capturing this remarkable feat of camouflage, German photographer Luca Lorenz was selected as 2026’s Nature Photographer of the Year by the German Society for Nature Photography (GDT). “It means a great deal to me that an image of such an unassuming species can draw so much attention,” Lorenz said in his winning statement. “Alpine hares are deeply important to me and, in light of the significant challenges facing the species, raising awareness and supporting research into these extraordinary animals is more important than ever.” Each year, GDT hosts this international photography competition to honor the diversity of nature across seven categories. This year, nearly 9,000 entries from 15 countries submitted their photographs. Entries from finalists are presented in person at the society’s annual Nature Photography Festival, which will be held this year in Lünen, Germany, in October. The competition aims to direct attention to the “finely balanced interaction of habitats, plants, animals, and microorganisms that sustains the vitality and resilience of our planet.”