In the deep: Antarctica's emperors make photographer's dream come true

In a wild underwater ballet of flippers and feathers, the moment these emperor penguins burst from the depths of Antarctica's Ross Sea was one that photographer Paul Nicklen says he will never forget. "Hundreds launched themselves out of the water and on to the ice above me," he said. "It was a moment that I felt incredibly fortunate to witness."

His skill in capturing that fortune on his camera last night earned him the title of Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year, beating other distinguished images seen here from among the 48,000 entries.