Stunning images unveiled in nature photography competition... but you'll never guess which one won it

By Leon Watson
PUBLISHED: 14:18, 26 April 2012 | UPDATED: 17:49, 26 April 2012

Some are incredible - some are awe-inspiring. But don't be surprised if you can't pick the winner...
These stunning images beat off competition from thousands of entries to be named finalists of the Nature Photographer of the Year.
The photos, which showcase some of the most stunning scenes in nature from across Europe, were all finalists in the competition, organised by the Society of German Nature Photographers.

Approach by Werner Bollman: These are the stunning images which beat off competition from thousands of entries to be named finalists of the Nature Photographer of the Year. But can you guess which one won?

Journey To The Centre by Bernd Nill: The judges liked this incredible web captured on film by one of the finalists

Ermine Fullspeed by Rolf Muller: The competition was organised by the Society of German Nature Photographers

More than 200 members of the society, from seven different countries submitted 3,252 images to the contest.

The overall competition was won by Klaus Tamm from Wuppertal, with his image 'Toad Migration'.

Klaus said: 'One evening in early April I was out to save common toads crossing the road from being run over by approaching cars.
'I had wanted to photograph this situation for quite some time, so I parked the car on a quiet road to compose some images of a migrating toad.

Grouse portrait by Klaus Echle: More than 200 members of the society, from seven different countries submitted 3,252 images to the contest

Mute Swans in the hail storm by Ingo Plenk: The photos, which showcase some of the most stunning scenes in nature from across Europe, were all finalists in the competition

Blazing Pine Forest by Dr Martin Schmidt: This was another finalist, which shows red sunlight shining on trees

Carabus Auronitens by Bernhard Brautlecht: This picture of an insect on wood was one of the competition finalists

The Little One by Claudia Muller: Shows a single small mushroom amid a green surrounding

The animal moved very slowly due to the cool evening temperatures and I managed to create a photograph in the vehicle's beam of light.
'The wet surface of the road with its reflections added to the successful composition of the image.'
After a pre-jury had made their choices from the 3251 submitted images, ten images were selected from each of the seven categories: Birds, Mammals, Other Animals, Plants & Fungi, Landscapes, Nature's Studio, and this year's special category 'Marine Habitats in Germany'.
The exhibition of awarded photographs will be showcased at different venues throughout Germany.
A selection of the images will also be shown at the GDT International Nature Photography Festival which runs from October 26 to 28.

Titled Sylt by Stefan Puetz. This stunning horizon snap shows a blue sky stretching out and a single gull flying across an expanse of water

Petrified Sand Dunes by Harald Metzer: Shows this amazing naturally-created swirl of sand

Fox Gate by Hermann Hirsch: Just one eye and the ear of a silver-looking fox are showing in this black and white picture

Surf by Hermann Hirsch: Crashing waves are pictured below a craggy scene that almost looks like the outline of a human face

Booked Cathedral by Michael Lauer: This picture showing trees in a forest is beyond be-leaf

Knots by Uwe Naeve: A flock of birds

Chamios by Gisela Schmid: While this picture got to the final, it got a frosty reception from the judges when compared to the winner

In The Forest by Dr Ralph Graf: As soon as this snap was taken, it didn't take long for the photographer to twig how good it was

The Sandstorm by Michael Lohmann: A penguin on its own

But the winner was...

And the winner is... The overall competition was won by Klaus Tamm from Wuppertal, with his image Toad Migration