Laurent Ballesta named Wildlife Photographer of the Year for 'Creation'

Image captures camouflage groupers exiting their milky cloud of eggs and sperm in Fakarava, French Polynesia

This creation by Laurent Ballesta showing a trio of camouflage groupers won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Underwater Award. Laurent Ballesta / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Elephant in the room by Adam Oswel won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Photojournalism Award. Adam Oswelr / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Cool time by Martin Gregus, showing polar bears as they come ashore in Canada, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Rising Star Portfolio Award. Martin Gregus / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Head to head by Stefano Unterthiner, showing two Svalbard reindeer battle for control of a harem, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Behaviour: Mammals Award. Stefano Unterthiner / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The intimate touch by Shane Kalyn, showing two ravens in Canada, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Behaviour: Birds Award. Shane Kalyn / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Dome home by Vidyun R Hebbar, showing a tent spider as a rickshaw passes by in India, won Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year: 10 Years and Under Award. Vidyun R Hebbar / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Spinning the cradle by Gil Wizen, showing a fishing spider stretching out silk from its spinnerets, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Behaviour: Invertebrate Award. Gil Wizen / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Face Off by Angel Fitor, showing two adult male cichlid fish fighting jaw to jaw over a snail shell in Lake Tanganyika, Africa, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio Award. Angel Fitor / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Reflection by Majed Ali, showing the moment Kibande, an almost-40- year-old mountain gorilla, closes its eyes in the rain in Uganda, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Animal Portraits Award. Majed Ali / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Eye to Eye by Zack Clothier, showing a Grizzly Bear investigating a bull elk carcass in Montana, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Animals in their Environment Award. Zack Clothier / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The healing touch, from Community care by Brent Stirton, showing a the director of a rehabilitation centre caring for chimpanzees orphaned by the bushmeat trade sitting with a newly rescued chimp, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Photojournalist Story Award. Brent Stirton / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The spider room by Gil Wizen, showing a venomous Brazilian wandering spider hiding under his bed in Canada, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Urban Wildlife Award. Gil Wizen / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Road to ruin by Javier Lafuente, showing the stark, straight line of a road slicing through the curves of the wetland landscape, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Wetlands The Bigger Picture Award. Javier Lafuente / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Nursery meltdown by Jennifer Hayes, as she records harp seals, seal pups and the blood of birth against the melting sea ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Quebec, Canada, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Oceans: The Bigger Picture Award. Jennifer Hayes / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Sunflower songbird by Andres Luis Dominguez Blanco, showing a singing warbler surrounded by sunflowers in Spain, won Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year: 11-14 Years Award. Andres Luis Dominguez Blanco / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Where the giant newts breed by Joao Rodrigues, showing a pair of courting sharp-ribbed newts in a flooded forest, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Behaviour: Amphibians and Reptiles Award. Joao Rodrigues / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Rich reflections by Justin Gilligan, showing the reflection of a marine ranger among the seaweed in Australia, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Plants and Fungi Award. Justin Gilligan / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

High-flying jay by Lasse Kurkela, showing a Siberian jay fly to the top of a spruce tree to stash its food in Finland, won Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year: 15-17 Years Award. Lasse Kurkela / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Bedazzled by Alexander Mustard, showing a ghost pipefish hiding among the arms of a feather star, won Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Natural Artistry Award. Alexander Mustard / Wildlife Photographer of the Year

A French biologist and underwater photographer has been named the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year for 2021.

Laurent Ballesta was selected as the winner of the competition for his “enigmatic image” Creation, which captures camouflage groupers exiting their milky cloud of eggs and sperm in Fakarava, French Polynesia.

Over the past five years, Mr Ballesta and his team dove into the lagoon day and night so they did not miss the annual spawning that takes place around the full moon in July.

His image was selected from more than 50,000 entries from 95 countries and was named the winner at a virtual awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum in central London.

“The image works on so many levels. It is surprising, energetic and intriguing, and has an otherworldly beauty,” said chairwoman of the judging panel, writer and editor Rosamund “Roz” Kidman Cox.

“It also captures a magical moment — a truly explosive creation of life — leaving the tail-end of the exodus of eggs hanging for a moment like a symbolic question mark.”

Meanwhile, Vidyun R Hebbar was named Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year at the ceremony.

The 10-year-old's colourful image, Dome home, features a tent spider in its web as a tuk-tuk passes.

The two winners were chosen from 19 categories in total which aim to celebrate the natural world.

Three new categories were introduced this year, including Oceans — The Bigger Picture and Wetlands — The Bigger Picture.

A total of 100 images from the competition will be on display at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum.

It opens on October 15 before touring across the UK and internationally.