Audubon Announces 2023 Audubon Photography Awards Winners

By in Photography

Audubon Announces 2023 Audubon Photography Awards Winners
image

NEW YORK – Today the National Audubon Society announced the winners of the 2023 Audubon Photography Awards. Now in its fourteenth year, the contest features stunning work from professionals, amateurs, and young people that highlights the beauty of birds and the joy of capturing them through photographs and videos. Judges awarded eight prizes across five divisions, with winning entries and honorable mentions chosen from 2,200 entrants from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and 8 Canadian provinces and territories.  

For the third year, Audubon awarded the Female Bird Prize and the Video Prize. The Female Bird Prize showcases the beauty of female birds, which are often overlooked and underappreciated in birding, bird photography, and science, and the Video Prize celebrates the dynamic movement and unique behaviors of birds interacting with their habitats. The long-standing Fisher Prize recognizes the most creative approach in photographing birds, combined with technical expertise and an original composition. 

Audubon’s climate science report Survival by Degrees reveals that two-thirds of North American birds are threatened by extinction from climate change, including species featured in this year’s Audubon Photography Awards like the Dunlin, Short-eared Owl, and Baltimore Oriole. Learn more about how climate change will impact birds in your communities by entering your zip code into Audubon’s Birds and Climate Visualizer. 

Award winners and honorable mentions will be featured in the Summer 2023 issue of Audubon magazine.  

Grand Prize Winner 

Rock Pigeons. Photo: Liron Gertsman/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Grand Prize Winner 

Professional Winner 

Atlantic Puffin. Photo: Shane Kalyn/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Professional Winner 

Amateur Winner 

Chinstrap Penguin. Photo: Karen Blackwood/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Amateur Winner 

Plants For Birds Winner 

Verdin and cane cholla. Photo: Linda Scher/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Plants For Birds Winner 

Youth Winner 

Dunlin. Photo: Kieran Barlow/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Youth Winner 

Video Winner

Short-eared Owl. Video: Steven Chu/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Video Winner 

Fisher Prize Winner 

Brown Pelican. Photo: Sunil Gopalan/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Fisher Prize Winner 

Female Bird Prize Winner 

Baltimore Oriole. Photo: Sandra M. Rothenberg/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Female Bird Prize Winner 

Professional Honorable Mention 

Northern Hawk Owl. Photo: Liron Gertsman/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Professional Honorable Mention 

Amateur Honorable Mention 

Reddish Egret. Photo: Nathan Arnold /Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Amateur Honorable Mention 

Plants For Birds Honorable Mention 

Tree Swallows and bald cypress. Photo: Vicki Santello/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Plants For Birds Honorable Mention 

Youth Honorable Mention 

Green-winged Teal. Photo: James Fatemi/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Youth Honorable Mention 

Video Honorable Mention 

Osprey. Video: Steven Chu/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Video Honorable Mention 

2023 Contest Prizes: 
Grand Prize: $5,000 USD 
Professional Prize: $2,500 USD 
Amateur Prize: $2,500 USD 
Plants for Birds Prize: $2,500 USD 
Video Prize: $2,500 USD 
Female Bird Prize: $1,000 USD 
Fisher Prize: $1,000 USD 
Youth Prize: Six days at Audubon’s Hog Island Audubon Camp for teens during the 2024 season 

The 2023 panel of judges: 

  • Sabine Meyer, photography director, National Audubon Society 
  • Preeti Desai, senior director of social media & storytelling, National Audubon Society 
  • Melissa Hafting, conservation photographer and youth nature educator 
  • Morgan Heim, conservation photographer, filmmaker and adventurer 
  • Noppadol Paothong, nature/conservation photographer 
  • Marlene Pantin, partnerships manager, Plants for Birds, National Audubon Society 
  • Mike Fernandez, video producer, National Audubon Society 
  • Rina Miele, wildlife photographer and videographer 
  • Mick Thompson, wildlife photographer and videographer 
  • Karine Aigner, conservation photographer 
  • Founders of the Galbatross Project:  
    • Brooke Bateman, director of climate science, National Audubon Society  
    • Stephanie Beilke, conservation manager, conservation science, National Audubon Society  
    • Martha Harbison, senior network content editor, National Audubon Society  
    • Purbita Saha, member, Bergen County Audubon Society, and former Audubon magazine editor   
    • Joanna Wu, PhD student at the University of California, Los Angeles 

All photos and videos are judged based on technical quality, originality, and artistic merit and must adhere to Audubon’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography. For more information, please visit the official contest rules.  

To learn more about Audubon’s Plants for Birds program and Native Plants Database, please visit https://www.audubon.org/native-plants.  

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About Audubon  
The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @audubonsociety.   

Media Contact:  
Megan Moriarty, megan.moriarty@audubon.org  

Winners of the 2023 Audubon Photography Awards Celebrate Birds

By in Photography

Winners of the 2023 Audubon Photography Awards Celebrate Birds
Portrait of Two Rock Pigeons

Rock Pigeons by Liron Gertsman/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Grand Prize Winner.
Location: White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
“Two pigeons face left in profile, each with one orange eye in view against a black background. One bird is preening the other, its bill buried in gray, green, and purple iridescent feathers.”

Now in its 14th year, the Audubon Photography Awards spotlights the professionals, amateurs, and youth that create incredible visuals of birds. The recently announced winners of the 2023 edition were selected from 2,200 entrants living in all 50 U.S. states and eight Canadian provinces.

In the end, wildlife photographer Liron Gertsman took home the grand prize. The Canadian photographer, who has a biology degree and leads photography tours across Canada, won for his touching portrait of two rock pigeons. Gertsman is only 23, but he’s already making a name for himself in the field. After winning the Professional category in the 2022 edition of the contest, he was able to rise to the top and nab the $5,000 cash prize.

Amateur photographer Karen Blackwood was singled out for her stunning photograph of a chinstrap penguin. Her image of the penguin diving from an iceberg into the cool waters of Cierva Cove in Antarctica won the Amateur category. Kieran Barlow, who won the Youth category, didn’t have to travel far from home for his award-winning photo. The 18-year-old photographer from Massachusetts took his delightful photo of a sandpiper frolicking by the water on the coast of New Jersey.

All of the winners and honorable mentions were closely vetted by an expert panel of judges that includes wildlife photographers, conservationists, and staff from the National Audubon Society. Scroll down for more of the winning photographs and enjoy this look at our feathered friends in their natural environment.

For the 14th year, the Audubon Photography Awards celebrates the art of bird photography.

Chinstrap penguin diving from an iceberg into the waterChinstrap penguin diving from an iceberg into the water

Chinstrap Penguin by Karen Blackwood/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Amateur Winner
Location: Near Esperanza Station in Cierva Cove, Antarctica
“A Chinstrap Penguin, wings outstretched, dives from an iceberg. Head down, its bill is nearly touching the water’s surface. In the background, a white and blue iceberg is capped with fresh white snow. Deeply etched lines on the iceberg’s sides appear like hashtags behind the black bird.”

Sandpiper jumping on rocksSandpiper jumping on rocks

Dunlin by Kieran Barlow/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Youth Winner
Location: Barnegat Light, New Jersey, USA
“A sandpiper in profile appears to have jumped from the rocks to avoid an incoming wave. The bird’s wings are behind its body, its feet just above the rock in front of a background of water droplets from the surf.”

Atlantic puffin sitting on craggy cliffsideAtlantic puffin sitting on craggy cliffside

Atlantic Puffin by Shane Kalyn/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Professional Winner
Location: Westman Islands, Iceland
“An Atlantic Puffin sits on the edge of a craggy cliffside, its head turned to the left, its white breast in sharp contrast to the gray background. Lime green algae and small purple wildflowers drape the cliff, breaking up the otherwise dark image.”

Female Baltimore Oriole sitting on a perch with grass in her billFemale Baltimore Oriole sitting on a perch with grass in her bill

Baltimore Oriole by Sandra M. Rothenberg/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Female Bird Prize Winner
Location: Warren, PA, USA
“A bright yellow female Baltimore Oriole with thin light strands of grass held in her bill perches at the end of a branch and faces to the right in the frame. The strands billow around her, slightly out of focus, in front of a blurred green background.”

Northern Hawk Owl Perched on the Top of a Snowy TreeNorthern Hawk Owl Perched on the Top of a Snowy Tree

Northern Hawk Owl by Liron Gertsman/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Professional Honorable Mention
Location: Thompson-Nicola, British Columbia, Canada
“A Northern Hawk Owl looks directly into the camera as it perches at the tip of a frost-covered tree. Dark pine cones on the bare branches stand out against a white background, mirroring the pattern of the owl’s dark breast feathers.”

Tree swallos sitting on and flying around a cypress treeTree swallos sitting on and flying around a cypress tree

Tree Swallows and bald cypress by Vicki Santello/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Plants For Birds Honorable Mention
Location: Atchafalaya Swamp, Louisiana, USA
“Thousands of Tree Swallows sit on two cypress snags in a swamp, looking like leaves. One tree is larger in the foreground and the other is smaller in the background. More birds fly around the trees, their dark forms in contrast to the purple and blue sky.”

North America’s top bird photographers submitted their work for consideration.

Reddish Egret standing in shallow water while eating a fishReddish Egret standing in shallow water while eating a fish

Reddish Egret by Nathan Arnold /Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Amateur Honorable Mention
Location: San Carlos Bay – Bunche Beach Preserve, Fort Myers, Florida, USA
“A Reddish Egret stands in shallow water against a blurred yellow background, its body facing left and its wings open behind it. A small fish and water droplets are suspended in the air in front of the bird’s open bill.”

Brown pelican on the water with shark swimming belowBrown pelican on the water with shark swimming below

Brown Pelican by Sunil Gopalan/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Fisher Prize Winner
Location: Galapagos National Park, Ecuador
“A Brown Pelican at the top of the frame sits in the water, its wings pulled behind its body. In the dark water below is the crescent silhouette of a shark, its snout nearly touching the pelican.”

Gray Verdin bird perched on a cactiGray Verdin bird perched on a cacti

Verdin and cane cholla by Linda Scher/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Plants For Birds Winner
Location: Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona, USA
“A gray Verdin with a yellow head and a small rust-colored patch on its wing stands in profile on a broken cacti branch that’s white, brown, and green. The bird carries a pale green caterpillar in its bill.”

The winners were selected from 2,200 entries.

A male Green-winged Teal sits on top of a female in the waterA male Green-winged Teal sits on top of a female in the water

Green-winged Teal by James Fatemi/Audubon Photography Awards/2023 Youth Honorable Mention
Location: Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia, USA
“A male Green-winged Teal sits on top of a female in the water, his bill appearing to push the female’s head down. His brown and green head stands out against an otherwise gray background with blurred snowflakes around the frame.”

National Audubon Society: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by the National Audubon Society.

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Winners of the 2022 Audubon Photography Awards Celebrate the Beauty of Our Feathered Friends

Using Color Contrast In Photography: Revealing Secrets

By in Photography

Using Color Contrast In Photography: Revealing Secrets

Black and white photography has many fans. They claim it is the only real art form, forgetting about other kinds of art.

One of them we want to talk about today. 

Color photography is not something you can do well without practice. Contrast plays a very big role in this type. It’s very difficult to get it right if you don’t have any experience. Our article is great for beginners who are just getting started with color photography and photo contrast editors. Believe us, you will find a lot of useful information in it!

Let’s Start with the Definition

Let us embark on an exploration of fundamental principles in the realm of visual aesthetics, beginning with the distinction between tonal and color contrast. Allow yourself to immerse in the understanding that the first revolves around the divergence between the deepest shadows and the brightest highlights within an image, irrespective of their specific hues. Meanwhile, delve into the realm of the second type, where we unravel the interplay of vibrant hues that ignite the canvas. With each step, expand your perception and knowledge, unraveling the secrets that lie within the dynamic world of visual composition.

Imagine a circle with three colors on different sides: red, blue, and yellow. The closer you move your gaze to the center of the circle, the less vivid the hues of those colors become. Accordingly, the principle of color contrast is to choose different shades that complement each other. A prerequisite is that they must not conflict. Here are a few of the most popular combinations:

  • Blue and red.
  • Green and purple.
  • Yellow and green.

Just imagining the combinations is difficult, so we advise you to try combining colors in the contrast photo editor. The best option is Luminar Neo. Its tool called Supercontrast can do wonders, so it should be used not only by beginners but also by professionals. It is able to change halftones, shadows, and highlights so precisely that you will be pleasantly surprised. 

Why Use Color Contrast?

It’s very simple: it makes your pictures much better. We have prepared for you some of the most important reasons:

  • Increase the visual interest of your picture. Viewers are always drawn to bright colors, so it’s the best way to get their attention. 
  • Help with communicating the theme. There’s no better way to draw attention to an object than by placing it against a contrasting background. It can be a light object against a dark background or vice versa. Use the contrast tool in the photo editor if you think the object has blurred into the background.
  • Create depth and volume. By using colors that contrast with each other, you can create a sense of depth and make your photos look more three-dimensional. Naturally, it will attract more attention.

Ways of Using Color Contrast in Your Photography

Of course, you can always use photo editing for contrast, but we wouldn’t recommend relying on post-processing all the time. It’s much better to follow simple tips and do everything yourself. No, no, we are by no means saying that picture editing is bad, but it is very time-consuming. And it’s also a way to improve your photo editing skills, not your shooting skills.

So, here are some tips to help you achieve the perfect color contrast:

  • Explore the mesmerizing allure of two-color images, where simplicity meets captivating visuals. Discover the innate presence of these striking compositions in our surrounding environment. Choose an object adorned with a vibrant and uniform shade, then juxtapose it against a backdrop of contrasting color. Engage in this exercise repeatedly, honing your ability to discern the interplay of hues. In due time, you’ll effortlessly stumble upon an arresting palette that effortlessly captivates the eye, unlocking your inherent talent for aesthetic composition.
  • Witness the captivating power of warmth conveyed through a kaleidoscope of red, orange, and yellow hues. These vibrant shades evoke a sense of coziness and comfort. In stark contrast, the cool tones of blue, green, and purple emanate a serene and refreshing ambiance. When these contrasting palettes intertwine, an enchanting miracle unfolds before our eyes.
  • The colors white and black are the only two colors that create a contrast with all the other colors. Don’t forget this when making a composition. Red and turquoise is also always a win-win combination.

These tips will be enough for you while you are just learning. We also advise you to pay attention to Johannes Itten’s color circle, which will help you first to understand the combinations and simplify your work. Of course, when you become a real professional, you’ll be able to find contrast without it, but at the beginning of your creative journey, it will be indispensable for you.

Wrapping Up

If you learn how to work with color contrast, then a further study of photography will be easy for you, and you will quickly show the world your amazing results. Practice, and look for inspiration. We are sure you will succeed!

This content is part of the HWM Partnership.

Find your domain and create your site at Weebly.com!

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Poway, Rancho Bernardo students earn college honors and degrees

By in Art World News

Poway, Rancho Bernardo students earn college honors and degrees
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Dozens of students from the Poway and Rancho Bernardo area have recently earned academic honors and college degrees.

Mackenzie Rogers of Poway was named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas.

Rogers was among more than 2,000 students honored at the campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas. To qualify, students had to earn at least a 3.75 GPA for the semester while completing at least 12 credit hours.

* * * * *

Ethan Gilmour of the Rancho Bernardo area among the nearly 300 students who graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio. Gilmour earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business with a concentration in management.

* * * * *

Anisia Dumitrascu of the Rancho Bernardo area was recently awarded a $1,000 study abroad grant from The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Dumitrascu is one of 125 students nationwide to receive the award given to undergraduates seeking to expand their knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad.

The criminal justice major at San Diego State University will be attending the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Grant recipients were selected based on their academic achievement, campus and community service, relation of travel to academic preparation and career goals, a personal statement, letters of recommendation and acceptance into a study abroad program.

* * * * *

Ohio Wesleyan University has named three students from the Rancho Bernardo area — Bryan Benavente, Henry Blom and Megan Knee — to its Dean’s List for the Spring 2023 semester. To qualify at the campus in Delaware, Ohio, students had to earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

* * * * *

Coley O’Connor of Poway graduated magna cum laude from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. O’Connor, who majored in philosophy and theology, was among the 424 students to receive degrees during the May 2023 commencement ceremony.

* * * * *

Brooke Tyler of the Rancho Bernardo area was among the 1,051 students who made the President’s List at Utah Tech University for the Spring 2023 semester. They represented nearly 10 percent of the university’s students.

To make the list, students had to earn a semester GPA of 3.9 or higher and complete a minimum of 15 credits at the campus in St. George, Utah.

* * * * *

Grace Mihata of Poway was among the Spring 2023 graduates at Auburn University. Mihata earned a Bachelor of Science in business with an emphasis in marketing from the campus in Auburn, Alabama.

* * * * *

Patrick Oh of Poway was named to the Dean’s List at Miami University for the 2023 spring semester. Oh is working on a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science.

To be honored, Miami University students had to rank in the top 20 percent of undergraduate students within their division during the semester. The campus is in Oxford, Ohio.

* * * * *

Sydney Barnas of the Rancho Bernardo area was named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List at Hofstra University. Barnas is a drama major.

To be honored at the campus in Hempstead, New York, students had to earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

* * * * *

Annabel Prodnuk of ZIP code 92127 has graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science in games & simulation arts & sciences. Prodnuk was among the 1,957 students to earn degrees this spring from the campus in Troy, New York.

* * * * *

Trevor Gaswirth of Poway has made the Dean’s Academic Honor List for the Spring 2023 semester at Baylor University. To be honored at the campus in Waco, Texas, students had to earn at least a 3.7 GPA while enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours.

* * * * *

Two students from the Rancho Bernardo area made the University of Mississippi’s Dean’s Honor Roll for the spring 2023 semester. They are Alyssa Amaral, who is majoring in criminal justice, and Ava Zamadics, who is majoring in biological science.

To be listed at the campus in University, Mississippi, students had to earn a semester GPA of 3.50 to 3.74 and complete at least 12 graded hours.

* * * * *

Two students from the Rancho Bernardo area have received academic honors from Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee.

Leilani Baker was named to the President’s List for earning a 4.0 GPA. Baker is working toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art.

Elliha Baker was been named to the Dean’s List for earning a GPA of 3.4 or higher. Baker is working toward a Bachelor of Science in psychology.

* * * * *

Dania Grant of Poway earned a Master of Arts in biology from Miami University through Project Dragonfly.

Since joining the Global Field Program master’s in 2020, Grant has traveled to Baja and Namibia, engaged with global conservationists in action projects through an online course, and conducted projects that have made a difference in the Poway area.

Grant’s Master Plan final portfolio was “Tall Tales and Small Scientists: Youth Conservation Education Through Storytelling.” Grant is the Wildlife Conservancy Fundraising Ambassador for San Diego Zoo Global.

Project Dragonfly is based in the biology department at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

* * * * *

Savannah Evanko of Poway earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in commerce & business administration from The University of Alabama. The campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama awarded over 5,885 degrees during its spring commencement ceremonies.

* * * * *

Abilene Christian University has named two Poway students to its Dean’s Honor Roll for the Spring 2023 semester. They are Emi Aguilar, a sophomore majoring in advertising/public relations; and Lucy Wilkinson, a sophomore majoring in social work.

To be honored at the campus in Abilene, Texas, students had to achieve a 3.6 or higher GPA while enrolled in at least 12 credit hours.

* * * * *

Two students from ZIP code 92127 were named to the Dean’s Honor List for the Spring 2023 semester at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. They are James Hunt, who is studying biomedical engineering; and Annabel Prodnuk, who is studying games and simulation arts & sciences.

To be honored, undergraduate students had to complete 12 or more credit hours with a GPA of 3.5 or better for that term.

* * * * *

Tate Nelson of the Rancho Bernardo area was named to Albion College’s Dean’s List for the Spring 2023 semester. Nelson is majoring in music education with a concentration in K-12 education.

To be honored at the campus in Albion, Michigan, students had to earn a GPA of 3.5 or better while taking four graded courses.

* * * * *

Ethan Marasco of the Rancho Bernardo area was named to the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Honors List for the 2023 Spring Quarter. Marasco is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in marketing. To be honored at the Milwaukee campus, undergraduate students had to earn a quarter GPA of 3.20 or higher.

* * * * *

Lehigh University has named Dylan Morschl-Villa of ZIP code 92128 to its Spring 2023 Dean’s List. To be honored at the campus in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania students had to earn a scholastic average of 3.6 or better while carrying at least 12 hours of regularly graded courses.

* * * * *

Matthew Hogan of the Rancho Bernardo area was among the more than 6,500 undergraduate, graduate and professional students to receive degrees or certificates during the University of Iowa’s 2023 commencement ceremony. Hogan received a certificate in leadership as part of the university’s Graduate Management Program. The campus is in Iowa City, Iowa.

* * * * *

Cory Lin of Poway was among the more than 6,500 students who earned undergraduate, graduate or professional degrees from the University of Iowa in May.

Lin received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the university’s Carver College of Medicine at the Iowa City campus.

* * * * *

Jenna Crowley of the Rancho Bernardo area has received two academic honors from the University of Iowa.

The second-year student majoring in English at the university’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences was among the more than 7,100 undergraduates named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List for earning a GPA of 3.5 or higher while completing at least 12 semester hours.

Crowley was also among the more than 1,100 undergraduate students named to the Spring 2023 President’s List for earning a 4.0 GPA while completing at least 12 semester hours for two consecutive semesters.

* * * * *

Three local students have earned academic honors at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont.

Sarah Lawhorn of Poway was named to the Spring 2023 President’s List for being a full-time undergraduate student who earned a semester GPA of 4.0.

Sophia Righthouse of San Diego and Robert Wagenseller of Poway were named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List. They are full-time undergraduate students who earned a semester GPA of at least 3.40.

The 2023 Audubon Photography Awards Zeros In on Threats to Avian Life Amid the Climate Emergency

By in Art World News

The 2023 Audubon Photography Awards Zeros In on Threats to Avian Life Amid the Climate Emergency

Liron Gertsman, Rock Pigeons, White Rock, British Columbia, Canada. Audubon Photography Awards 2023 Grand Prize Winner. All images courtesy of Audubon Photography Awards, shared with permission

About two-thirds, or 389 species, of birds native to North America are at risk of extinction due to the effects of the climate crisis. Rising global temperatures are predicted to force adaption or migration to new territories, two consequences of human-caused change that imperil avian survival. Some of the most threatened species include the dunlin, short–eared owl, and Baltimore oriole, all of which are featured in this year’s Audubon Photography Awards.

Selected from 2,200 entries, the winners of the 2023 contest spotlight a mix of avian antics. A rock pigeon sweetly grooms a mate, a reddish egret snaps up a tiny fish, and a chinstrap penguin dive into frigid Antarctic waters. While not all species photographed are in immediate danger, the images together showcase birds’ vast diversity and its potential loss amid climate disaster.

The Audubon Photography Awards are now in the fourteenth year, and you can find all of the top entries from 2023, along with previous winners, on its site.

 

A bright yellow female Baltimore Oriole with thin light strands of grass held in her bill perches at the end of a branch and faces to the right in the frame. The strands billow around her, slightly out of focus, in front of a blurred green background.

Sandra M. Rothenberg, Baltimore Oriole, Warren, Pennsylvania. Audubon Photography Awards 2023 Female Bird Prize Winner

A Reddish Egret stands in shallow water against a blurred yellow background, its body facing left and its wings open behind it. A small fish and water droplets are suspended in the air in front of the bird’s open bill.

Nathan Arnold, Reddish Egret, San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve, Fort Myers, Florida. Audubon Photography Awards 2023 Amateur Honorable Mention

A gray Verdin with a yellow head and a small rust-colored patch on its wing stands in profile on a broken cacti branch that’s white, brown, and green. The bird carries a pale green caterpillar in its bill.

Linda Scher, Verdin and cane cholla, Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona. Audubon Photography Awards 2023 Plants For Birds Winner

Thousands of Tree Swallows sit on two cypress snags in a swamp, looking like leaves. One tree is larger in the foreground and the other is smaller in the background. More birds fly around the trees, their dark forms in contrast to the purple and blue sky.

Vicki Santello, tree swallows and bald cypress, Atchafalaya Swamp, Louisiana. Audubon Photography Awards 2023 Plants For Birds Honorable Mention

A Chinstrap Penguin, wings outstretched, dives from an iceberg. Head down, its bill is nearly touching the water’s surface. In the background, a white and blue iceberg is capped with fresh white snow. Deeply etched lines on the iceberg’s sides appear like hashtags behind the black bird.

Karen Blackwood, Chinstrap Penguin, near Esperanza Station in Cierva Cove, Antarctica. Audubon Photography Awards 2023 Amateur Winner

A sandpiper in profile appears to have jumped from the rocks to avoid an incoming wave. The bird’s wings are behind its body, its feet just above the rock in front of a background of water droplets from the surf.

Kieran Barlow, Dunlin, Barnegat Light, New Jersey. Audubon Photography Awards 2023 Youth Winner

Left: An Atlantic Puffin sits on the edge of a craggy cliffside, its head turned to the left, its white breast in sharp contrast to the gray background. Lime green algae and small purple wildflowers drape the cliff, breaking up the otherwise dark image. Right: A Brown Pelican at the top of the frame sits in the water, its wings pulled behind its body. In the dark water below is the crescent silhouette of a shark, its snout nearly touching the pelican.

Left: Shane Kalyn, Atlantic Puffin, Westman Islands, Iceland. Audubon Photography Awards 2023 Professional Winner. Right: Sunil Gopalan, Brown Pelican, Galapagos National Park, Ecuador. Audubon Photography Awards 2023 Fisher Prize Winner

A Northern Hawk Owl looks directly into the camera as it perches at the tip of a frost-covered tree. Dark pine cones on the bare branches stand out against a white background, mirroring the pattern of the owl’s dark breast feathers.

Liron Gertsman, Northern Hawk Owl, Thompson-Nicola, British Columbia, Canada. Audubon Photography Awards 2023 Professional Honorable Mention

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article The 2023 Audubon Photography Awards Zeros In on Threats to Avian Life Amid the Climate Emergency appeared first on Colossal.

Art Attack: All the Best Art Shows to See in Denver and Beyond

By in Native

Art Attack: All the Best Art Shows to See in Denver and Beyond

It’s unfortunate that some of our favorite art openings and events are located in distant parts of the state, such as Ridgway’s Space to Create grand opening and a contemporary take on the Buffalo Soldiers by artists down in Fort Garland. But it may as well be First Friday for 40 West, with several co-op shows debuting; there’s also the first-ever Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design alumni show, and RedLine continues its salute to Indigenous artists with an exhibition by Arthur Short Bull.

Whether the drive is long or short — or to be postponed — there’s no reason to not see art this weekend. Here’s where to go:

Ridgway Space to Create is ready for its close-up.  
Ridgway Space to Create” class=”uk-display-block uk-position-relative uk-visible-toggle”> click to enlarge image

Ridgway Space to Create is ready for its close-up.

Ridgway Space to Create

Block Party and Grand Opening Celebration
Ridgway Space to Create, 675 Clinton Street, Ridgway
Thursday, June 22, 4 to 7 p.m.
RSVP at Eventbrite
Granted, this would be a perfect way to spend a late afternoon/early evening if you are visiting the faraway paradise of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. But it’s a significant nod to the state’s designated Creative Districts, which pop up in spots both urban and remote. Ridgway’s will celebrate its first ten years by cutting the ribbon on the new Artspace Space to Create artist community that solidifies the town’s FUSE Creative Main Street project. It’s a big deal. Should you find your way to Ridgway in time, have a peek at the new development and enjoy music, food, art, poetry and high-flying aerialists at the opening bash. If not, It will be there to see when you are.

Deborah Bryon, “Unrest.”  
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Deborah Bryon, “Unrest.”

Deborah Bryon

Deborah Bryon, Life on Life’s Terms
Gary Manuel, In and Out
Annalee Schorr, Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, in the North Gallery
Spark Gallery, 900 Santa Fe Drive
Thursday, June 22, through July 16
Artist Reception: Friday, June 30, 6 to 9 p.m.
Last Look: Sunday, July 16, 1 to 4 p.m.
Spark packs in three member solos when shows change this week, with showcases for Deborah Bryon, who explores what it’s been like to return to the politically divisive outside world after COVID; sculptor Gary Manuel, whose mixed-media works combine wood, metal, recycled materials and fiberglass; and a series of mirrored Mylar Plexiglas paintings and cubes with geometric patterns by Annalee Schorr. Note that the formal opening reception is on Friday, June 30.

Arthur Shortbull, “Wounded Knee,” watercolor.  
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Arthur Shortbull, “Wounded Knee,” watercolor.

Arthur Short Bull

Winyan Tate (Wind Woman): Selected Works by Arthur Short Bull (1991 – Present)
RedLine Contemporary Art Center,
Friday, June 23, through August 9
Opening Reception: Friday, June 23, 6 to 9 p.m.; free food and drink; $5 donation for non-members
RedLine continues its Roots Radical exhibition series with the work of Oglala Lakota Arthur Short Bull, who grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation but now dwells in beautiful La Veta, Colorado. Winyan Tate (Wind Woman) focuses on the recurring character of Wind Woman, who symbolizes the decimation of Indigenous life and traditions, including references to Wounded Knee. His interest in this history rises from his heritage, as it was preserved by his ancestor Amos Bad Heart Bull, who fought with Crazy Horse and later recorded his tribal story in a ledger book. Short Bull continues the storytelling through his own watercolor paintings and poetry.

Unwavering: First Annual Alumni Exhibition

Rotunda Gallery, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design,
1600 Pierce Street, Lakewood
Friday, June 23, through September 1
Opening Reception: Friday, June 30, 4 to 7 p.m.
RMCAD’s first alumni exhibition (destined to become an annual event) has been a long time coming, considering that the school has been around since it was founded by Philip J. Steele sixty years ago. For a start, the show will honor ten 21st-century graduates — some who have taken the fine-art path, while others launched their own commercial-art businesses. But they all exhibit excellence in the follow-through, which is why you should see this show.

Bruce Thorn, “Flying Flat,” 2023,oil on vintage steel automobile hubcap.  
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Bruce Thorn, “Flying Flat,” 2023,oil on vintage steel automobile hubcap.

Bruce Thorn

Brian Cavanaugh, Blossom and Decay
Leo Franco, Castle
Guest artist: Bruce Thorn, Letters from Distant Galaxies
Pirate: Contemporary Art, 7130 West 16th Avenue, Lakewood
Friday, June 23, through July 9
Opening Reception: Friday, June 23, 6 to 9 p.m.
Pirate’s first summer opening branches out in all directions. Brian Cavanaugh contributes mixed-media sculptures of human bodies made from organic plant materials over a wire armature (think Arcimboldo, only wild and weedy); Leo Franco brings new wood sculptures as modernist constructions; and guest artist Bruce Thorn goes overboard as a storyteller with Letters from Distant Galaxies, a tale of telepathic intergalactic love rendered in small oils and on vintage hubcaps. That will be a sight to see.

Deborah Abbott, “Seven Eggs.”  
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Deborah Abbott, “Seven Eggs.”

Deborah Abbott

Deborah Abbott, What is on your plate? (Body and Soul)
Maria Valentina Sheets, Air Uprising
Core Art Space, Hub at 40 West, 6501 West Colfax Avenue, Lakewood
Friday, June 23, through July 9
Opening Reception: Friday, June 23, 5 to 9 p.m.
Several shows are debuting at the Hub at 40 West, including double solos at Core. Deborah Abbott’s fun wall assemblages for What is on your plate? are meant to encourage good-natured self-reflection. Meanwhile, glass-art maestra Maria Valentina Sheets’s kiln-fired glass paintings take up more contentious issues on the theme of anarchy. Incidentally, Sheets has recently been commissioned by Judy Chicago to create a stained-glass version of her painting “Queen Elizabeth.”

See a variety of Kelly Pierce’s work from the last twenty years.  
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See a variety of Kelly Pierce’s work from the last twenty years.

Kelly Pierce

Alane Holsteen: The Call of Beauty
Kelly Pierce: Works on Paper
Edge Gallery, Hub at 40 West, 6501 West Colfax Avenue, Lakewood
Friday, June 23, through July 9
Opening Reception: Friday, June 23, 5 to 9 p.m.
Edge opens two solos, including paintings of flora by Alane Holsteen and a collection spanning twenty years of pop art and other works in reaction to two decades of news stories, from 9/11 to the present by Kelly Pierce.

Rebecca Yaffe, acrylic gelli print, 2022.  
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Rebecca Yaffe, acrylic gelli print, 2022.

Rebecca Yaffe

Matt Lay, Monomyth
Rebecca Yaffe, Signal to Noise
Contrast
Next Gallery, Hub at 40 West, 6501 West Colfax Avenue, Lakewood
Friday, June 23, through July 9
Opening Reception: Friday, June 23, 6 to 9 p.m.
At Next Gallery, Matt Lay’s Monomyth references Joseph Campbell’s version of a hero’s transformative epic journey as it might relate to our own lives, while Rebecca Yaffe’s monoprints are immersed in design, pattern and mastery of medium, free of philosophy. Contrast is a group show by gallery artists.

RiNo Summer Art Market
RiNo ArtPark, 1900 35th Street
Saturday, June 24, noon to 4 p.m.
The RiNo ArtPark will be hopping when the RiNo Summer Art Market drops in on Saturday, with live DJ spins, Crazy Golf, a noon family storytime at the Ragland Library and a sweet duo of food trucks. Concurrently, ArtPark’s new Truss House performance stage will be offering tours and Good Bones, a dance theater work by Odd Knock Productions (4:30 and 7:30 p.m.; tickets, $20, at Eventbrite). But — no surprise — the art is the highlight of the afternoon, with work by more than thirty queer artists to celebrate Pride.

Yard Art artists are ready to sell new works.  
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Yard Art artists are ready to sell new works.

Courtesy of Yard Art Contemporary

Yard Art Contemporary
100 Gaylord Street
Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Yard Art is making one big statement this summer with a huge, two-day outdoor art sale sporting a lineup of twenty local artists, some of them familiar from past Yard Art events, and some new names, too. A group of young musicians from New Cottage Arts will perform live beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday, if you like to listen while you art.

Artist Jonathan Solter at work.  
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Artist Jonathan Solter at work.

Jonathan Solter, Threyda Gallery

Jonathan Solter, Illuminarium
Threyda, 878 Santa Fe Drive
Saturday, June 24, 6 to 11 p.m.
Tickets: $25 here
Threyda will fête Bay Area psychedelic visionary artist Jonathan Solter, a live painter and muralist whose specialty is inspired by higher dimensional travel, ancient civilizations and animism, with a one-night ticketed party offering a signed print and free food and drink for the $25 entrance fee. Solter is hanging solo works and others created in collaboration with Seth McMahon for the event.

Group photograph of 10th Cavalry soldiers, around 1900.  
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Group photograph of 10th Cavalry soldiers, around 1900.

History Colorado

buffalo soldiers: reVision
Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center, 29477 Highway 159, Fort Garland
Saturday, June 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free on opening day; $5 to $7 (free for kids 18 and under) thereafter, RSVP here
Fort Garland may be a hike from Denver, but the region has a history that goes back centuries, including one not everyone knows about: Beginning in 1866, the 9th Cavalry Black regiment of the nation’s first Buffalo Soldiers was stationed at the fort. Ironically, the soldiers, many of them former slaves, were utilized at the front line of the Indian Wars.

Their story will be reinterpreted through art created for buffalo soldiers: reVision, a new exhibit opening this weekend at the History Colorado’s Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center. The show was organized by Chip Thomas, aka Jetsonorama, a physician and artist known for wheat-pasting buildings with Native-inspired photos for his Painted Desert Project, which began in Navajo Nation and has spread to other Indigenous enclaves. Thomas enlisted artists Esther Belin, Mahogany L. Browne, Rosie Carter, Gaia, Andre Leon Gray, Theodore Harris and Tom Judd to help him tell the Buffalo Soldier story through a new lens. One could hope that this show will travel to 
the History Colorado Center in Denver one day, but we suggest heading straight to traditional Ute territory in the San Luis Valley area to check it out as soon as you can.

Interested in having your event appear in this calendar? Send the details to [email protected].

The 2023 Audubon Photography Awards

By in Photography

The 2023 Audubon Photography Awards
image

The winners of the 14th annual Audubon Photography Awards were just announced. Photographers competed for eight prizes across five divisions, and more than 2,200 images depicting birdlife from all 50 states and eight Canadian provinces and territories were judged. The National Audubon Society was once more kind enough to share some of the winners with us here.

Eiteljorg Indian Market and Festival coming soon

By in Native

Eiteljorg Indian Market and Festival coming soon

The 31st annual Eiteljorg Indian Market and Festival, located at the Eiteljorg Museum in downtown Indianapolis, promises a captivating experience for visitors. Brandi Crocker, the manager of special events and artist engagement at the Eiteljorg Museum, joined the camera to discuss the highlights of the event.

Attendees can expect to immerse themselves in the rich Native American culture and witness the talent of 130 Native American artists from the United States and Canada. The artists will showcase and sell their stunning artwork, including jewelry, pottery, paintings, sculptures, baskets, and more. Alongside the art displays, there will be engaging performances of Native American music and dance throughout both days. Additionally, visitors can savor the flavors of delicious food truck options available on-site.

To attend the festival, guests can purchase tickets in advance for $20 or acquire them at the gate for $25. Children aged 17 and under can enter for free, and Eiteljorg Museum members also enjoy free admission. The ticket price includes access to both the Indian Market and Festival as well as the Eiteljorg Museum. For convenient parking, the White River State Park underground garage is available. Further details and ticket information can be found on the Eiteljorg Museum’s website, Eiteljorg.org. By attending this event, visitors have the opportunity to support Native American artists, indulge in cultural performances, and appreciate the diverse array of artwork on display.

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