Honorable mentions:
Great use of lighting. The lens flare really adds visual appeal.
Perfect example of backlighting. Nice and sharp too. Great framing and use of DoF.
The umbrella really makes this image pop.
The black background creates a beautiful corona effect.
3rd place:
Aah yes. I love images like this where every bristle and hair shows.
2nd place:
Could have been the winner, but I can only choose one. Very well done and crisp animal portrait with great colors.
Winner:
Excellent use of backlighting, creating a powerful silhouette. This must have been a difficult shot to pull of. And the photo tells a story on top of that. Were you really following the bear? How did you find him? Was this your last picture ever before the bear ate you?