Wildlife / Animals nominee

Two male wildebeest pause in their territorial battle to observe our arrival in the Masai Mara. They must constantly defend their territory, as foreshadowed by the lone male in the distance, quietly waiting for his chance to challenge a weakening competitor.

Zenya Lepper is a wildlife photographer based in Middleburg, Virginia. Her first introduction to the arts was through ballet, which she pursued as a career until retiring at twenty. Around this time she was gifted her first camera and instantly became intrigued by this new form of storytelling. From there Zenya acquired a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from George Washington University in 2022. Growing up she often found herself nose-deep in a National Geographic magazine, captivated by the photos. This childhood captivation led her to volunteer in South Africa after graduation; she not only fell in love with wildlife photography but developed a passion for telling their stories. Zenya has continued to volunteer and photograph in various countries throughout Africa with the goal of showcasing and capturing people's imaginations of the breathtaking wildlife.

- Africa Geographic Photographer of the Year July 2024 - Highly Commended
- Head On photo award November 2024 - Semi-Finalist