Queer Nature Photography Awards 2026
"Celebration"
Ysabela Coll
"Celebration"
Queerness is about blooming into the brightest and most authentic version of oneself. That is why I chose this underwater image of water lilies. Above the surface, we only glimpse part of their existence, but beneath the water unfolds a hidden world—vibrant, layered, and unexpectedly beautiful.
As an underwater photographer, discovering this submerged landscape felt deeply symbolic. The lilies exist between worlds: rooted underwater while reaching toward the light. Despite constant movement and distortion, they continue to rise and bloom with resilience. Their stems intertwine, reflections shift, and forms blur together, resisting rigid boundaries.
For me, this image is a celebration of identity, resilience, and the courage to exist openly in all of one’s complexity. Beneath the surface, what was once hidden becomes extraordinary, and I want to celebrate that.
About the Photographer
Name: Ysabelle Coll
Age: unknown
Nationality: the Dominican Republic
How does your identity influence your work?
My identity has taught me to embrace difference rather than fear it. It gives me the confidence to experiment, to create authentically even when I know my work may not always be understood, and to celebrate the success of others, knowing that creativity flourishes when everyone has the freedom to be themselves.
What message do you hope to convey with your work about the intersection of queerness and biodiversity in nature?
Nature has always been our greatest teacher. The remarkable diversity of queerness found throughout the natural world reminds us that there is no single way to exist. I hope my work encourages people to move beyond societal biases and embrace the complexity, diversity, and beauty that nature has always embodied.
What do you think is the importance of highlighting diversity in both nature and society, and how can photography play a role in this?
Photography has the power to connect us with experiences that feel distant. I hope my images spark curiosity, inspire wonder, and challenge preconceptions we may have. My goal is not only to show what I see in nature, but to share how it feels, inviting others to hopefully feel it too.
What is your favorite example of queerness in nature?
As an underwater photographer, I’m fascinated by the adaptability of marine life. Many species challenge the rigid beliefs humans impose on the world. But nature doesn’t reject diversity; quite the opposite, it thrives because of it. I hope we can approach one another with the same openness and celebration of the differences that make us unique.
A note from the Narwhal Rainbow Alliance
In the plant kingdom, the boundaries of sex and individuality are beautifully fluid. Water lilies radically dismantle heteronormative frameworks; the vast majority of species produce "perfect" (bisexual) flowers that contain both male and female reproductive structures. To prevent self-pollination and encourage diverse genetic exchange, many water lilies exhibit temporal fluidity (protogyny), opening as female on their first day of bloom and transitioning into male on the second. Furthermore, water lilies propagate through clonal, vegetative reproduction, creating vast, interconnected root systems beneath the sediment that blur the very definition of a single "individual" in favor of collective survival. Ecologically, these plants are vital freshwater engineers, oxygenating the water, purifying aquatic environments, and providing crucial shelter for fish and invertebrates. Their greatest threats are wetland destruction, climate-induced droughts, and water pollution (such as fertilizer runoff causing toxic algae blooms). Protecting them requires restoring local freshwater wetlands and reducing agricultural runoff to keep our waterways clean and vibrant.
Water Lilies (Nymphaeaceae) – Conservation Status Varies (Wetland habitats highly threatened)🟡
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