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  

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 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.”

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 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.”

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 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 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 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 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.”

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.

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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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.

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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.

The National Audubon Society has announced the winners of its annual Audubon Photography Awards. This year’s competition marks the 14th edition and garnered entries from professional, amateur, and youth photographers that capture the beauty of birds.

There were 2,200 entrants from all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, and eight Canadian provinces and territories. From the massive collection of submissions, a panel of judges selected eight prizes across five divisions, plus honorable mentions.

Photos are judged on technical quality, originality, and artistic merit and must follow Audubon’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and Videography.

The National Audubon Society also notes that its climate report, “Survival by Degrees,” reveals that two-thirds of North American birds are threatened by extinction as a result of climate change, including species featured in this year’s winning photos, including the Dunlin, Short-eared Owl, and Baltimore Oriole.

The Grand Prize-winning photograph seen above earned Canadian photographer Liron Gertsman a $5,000 payday. Gertsman’s photo of a pair of rock pigeons was captured in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada. The pigeon on the right is preening the other, showcasing a serene moment between a pair of colorful birds.

This isn’t Gertsman’s first success in the Audubon Photography Awards, as the photographer took home the Professional Award in last year’s contest.

Additional winning images below offer prizes ranging from $1,000 to $2,500. Youth prizes don’t pay a cash prize but instead include six days at Audubon’s Hog Island Audubon Camp during the 2024 season.

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

Professional Award Winner

Amateur Award Winner

Plants for Birds Winner

Youth Winner

Fisher Prize Winner

Female Bird Prize Winner

Professional Honorable Mention

Amateur Honorable Mention

Plants for Birds Honorable Mention

Youth Honorable Mention

More Winning Images

The video awards winner and honorable mentions can be seen on the National Audubon Society competition website, which also reveals more details about how each photo was taken.

Image credits: All photos are individually credited and provided courtesy of the Audubon Photography Awards.

A photographer captured a powerful and inspirational photo of a young runner helping his 82-year-old mentor finish an arduous road race in tough conditions atop Mount Washington.

The Delta Dental Mount Washington Road Race in New Hampshire is a brutal 7.6 mile running race that sees entrants gain 4,650 feet of elevation into Mount Washington’s notoriously bad weather.

Entering the 2023 race on Saturday was John McGinty, 21, and his 82-year-old running mentor Ron Paquette — who had completed the race 40 times before.

McGinty crossed the finishing line and waited almost an hour for Paquette. It was then the young runner realized his coach might be in trouble and set off to find him.

After heading back up the mountain, he found Paquette in a bad way. He had suffered a brain hematoma — he was cramping, frozen, and not speaking straight. The symptoms of hypothermia were setting in.

‘We’re Going to Make It’

Speaking to WMUR, McGinty’s mother Laura Chadwick said that when her son found the veteran runner he was about to give up.

“Ron was saying that he wasn’t going to make it, and John said ‘Yep, we’re going to make it’ And just grabbed him,” she says.

That’s when photographer Joe Viger encountered the pair. He tells PetaPixel that it was approaching the cutoff finish time and there were barely any runners on the road.

“I was standing alone in the fog. Wind was blowing across the road and slanting rain. My camera pointed down to protect the lens and my hand cupped around it,” he says.

“I saw a couple of people coming out of the fog moving slowly. I realized these runners were two men moving together… arms literally wrapped around each other.”

Viger says that he didn’t know who they were but one of the athletes was wearing a medal and wrapped in a blanket so assumed that he had already finished the race and gone back to find his friend.

“I made a few frames of them as they passed. On a day like that, you really need to shoot close to people because of the fog and rain masking the athletes and impacting the focus of the camera,” he says.

“But as they moved up the road, I grabbed a couple more frames of them from behind as they re-entered the fog and they were gone.”

Strong Reaction

After taking the photo, Viger says he immediately recognized it was an image “people could attribute feeling to” but didn’t think it was special.

“I photograph a lot of mountain and trail running and the image struck me as portraying a lot of themes that endurance sports athletes identify with,” he says.

However, Viger was overwhelmed by the strong response by not just the running communtiy but from people outside of it.

“People were saying it made them cry to see how these two people were connected and the help and caring they had for each other,” he says.

“Comments were that the photo showed a positive message they needed or that they were inspired by it. Then the photograph and the story started to feel special.”

He says the reaction has been “amazing” and a “little surprising” that people have connected to it and found inspiration.

“To me, the photo speaks to perseverance of the human spirit to live, to overcome hardship, and also to achieve,” he says.

“Ron was suffering with hypothermia, but he also was trying to finish the race for the 41st consecutive time.

“The way the two men are connected. Leaning on each other. The younger runner coming to the aid of the mentor, helping him medically but also helping him athletically to keep his race finish streak alive. That was all remarkably giving.”

According to WMUR, Parquette, a Maine hall-of-fame runner, is doing okay and recovering well.

More of Viger’s work can be found on his Instagram, website, and sports website.

Image credits: All photos by Joe Viger.

I was born in Tehran and live there still today. I took this on my way home from work after a tiring day. I work for one of Iran’s news agencies, where my duties include editing other photographers’ reportage and shooting on assignment. On the bus that day, the women around me, as you can tell by their closed eyes, were also exhausted.

I took it discreetly with my iPhone, and I knew straight away that it was a powerful image. It speaks to a sense of loneliness – the isolation that comes with working in the capital, an issue for all workers regardless of gender. The black and white accentuates that feeling. Its formal composition, the sense of movement and strong diagonals also make it striking. Behind is the Chamran Expressway against the Alborz mountain range and the Milad Tower – one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. The tallest tower in Iran and the sixth tallest telecommunication tower in the world, it has become a symbol of Tehran. Although initial construction plans began in the mid-70s under the last Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, it wasn’t built until long after the 1979 revolution, when Iran became an “Islamic republic”.

Since the revolution, it has been mandatory for women to wear the hijab in public. Religious women wear the chador, a full body-length veil, but even if you are not religious, all women over the age of nine are required to cover their hair with a veil. The law is enforced by the government and morality police.

My photography attempts to give Iranian women visibility. It is likely that many of the women on the bus are civil servants or clerical workers, but also wives and mothers. This shot signifies the central presence, yet alienation, of women in Iranian society. The weight of their situation can be read on their faces. I truly believe women in my country must be superheroes to overcome some of the rules and restrictions they face every day at home and beyond.

Unveiled, my first European solo exhibition, brings together photographs of women and girls across Iran, in private and public spaces. It includes works from my series Lost Paradise, taken in the holy Shia city of Mashhad, one of the most conservative religious sites in the country, where most women can only be photographed if their faces aren’t shown. I captured women of that region from behind in patterned chadors standing before intricately designed Persian rugs. They appear to merge into the tapestries behind them – a metaphor that signifies women’s presence yet invisibility in Iranian society.

The show’s title alludes to the wearing – or not wearing – of the hijab in public, but also my attempts to expose a different side of life in Iran, at a time when the country is becoming more insular and veiled from the outside world. My primary concern is not to be controversial but rather to represent the varied experiences of women in my country, to pay homage to them.

Iran is a beautiful country with a rich and diverse cultural and historical heritage. I am so proud of my roots. But to be a woman and also a street photographer here isn’t easy, and since the civil unrest and protests last year, photographing in public comes with even more difficulties. Even Iranian news agencies must follow government policy – few photojournalists have permission to photograph in public, let alone the protests. I have some permissions as a photojournalist but, to be discreet in my personal work, I often photograph on my iPhone rather than use a larger camera.

Questioning what it means to be a woman in Iran is what first encouraged me to pick up a camera aged 16. It gave me permission to observe the world in a more profound way, and to make sense of my position within it. I had the courage to become a photographer because of the positive feedback and support of my friends, in particular, my female friends who recognised my talent. Women should support and help each other to be heard in the world.

My mother, who is also an artist, has always supported my ambitions. I am always struggling with my fears, yet she always has my back. Since last year I have been living alone, which is not commonplace for women before marriage. But she has supported my decision to be independent and to put my work first – an opportunity she wasn’t afforded by her parents. She understands what I’m trying to achieve, to show that photography is about a deeper sensitivity with the world around you, whether you are capturing cities or the remarkable individuals who shape those places.

Farnaz Damnabi: Unveiled is at 29 Arts in Progress Gallery, Milan, until 30 September, and also online in a viewing room of the show

Farnaz Damnabi’s CV

Born: Tehran, 1994.
Trained: BA in graphic design; MA in photography.
Influences: “I prefer to rely on my personal instinct. The greatest photography teacher I ever had is experience.”
High point: “Communicating with people is one of the great advantages of being a photographer.”
Low point: “Safety is crucial. Unfortunately there are no guarantees for either my camera or my personal safety when walking along the street. Because you might come face to face with a person who is not a fan of the camera.”
Top tip: “Every moment of life is worth capturing, so we should open our eyes wide and be prepared to press the shutter.”

Birds spend their waking hours seeking to survive, thrive, and care for their families. From behind their lenses, the creators of the photos and videos on these pages capture those meaningful moments. In reading the stories behind each shot, it’s clear that a photographer’s journey to document these scenes, and the memories they form in doing so, are often what makes the resulting images so special to them.

That’s not an experience any artificial intelligence can replicate. So while we can only feature a few standout submissions, we celebrate the stories behind all 9,000 entries to this year’s contest. 

The 2023 APA Judges 

Amateur, Professional, Youth, Grand, and Fisher Prizes:

• 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 and conservation photographer
• Marlene Pantin, partnerships manager, plants for birds, National Audubon Society

Video Prize:

• Mike Fernandez, video producer, National Audubon Society
• Rina Miele, wildlife photographer and videographer
• Mick Thompson, wildlife photographer and videographer

Female Bird Prize:

• Karine Aigner, conservation photographer
• Founders of the Galbatross Project: Brooke Bateman, Stephanie Beilke, Martha Harbison, Purbita Saha, Joanna Wu

Judging criteria: technical quality, originality, artistic merit

Grand Prize: Liron Gertsman

Category: Professional
Species: Rock Pigeon
Location: White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
Camera: Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II USM @400mm lens; 1/1600 second at f/5.6; ISO 2500

Story Behind the Shot: They may be common and non-native across most of the globe, but Rock Pigeons are amazing birds. They thrive in a wide variety of habitats, including where few other species can: a city center. I rarely point my lens toward pigeons, but I couldn’t resist as this pair, perched under a pier, carefully groomed each other’s feathers. Purposefully exposing for the brighter parts of the image, I used the shadowy environment to create a studio-like black background for these remarkable iridescent birds. I hadn’t planned on photographing pigeons that day, but I’m glad that this couple’s beauty captured my attention.

Bird Lore: Many people tend to ignore pigeons, but admirers of these adaptable, fast-flying birds abound throughout history and include Charles Darwin. Originally native to parts of Europe, northern Africa, and southern Asia, Rock Pigeons have been domesticated for thousands of years, and escaped birds have established feral populations the world over. Pairs of Rock Pigeons stay together during all seasons and generally mate for life, with both sexes taking a full share of incubating their eggs and caring for their young.

Judge’s Take (Preeti Desai): When you take a minute to look closely at a pigeon, you’ll see that they’re quite beautiful. In the right light, their iridescent neck feathers appear to glow. This photo captures not only that beauty but also a behavior that many humans can identify with: The pair are allopreening, an affectionate courtship behavior. I hope photos like this will lead to more appreciation for pigeons and other common birds we see daily.

Professional Award Winner: Shane Kalyn

Species: Atlantic Puffin
Location: Westman Islands, Iceland
Camera: Nikon D500 with a Nikon 500mm lens f/4; 1/6400 second at f/4; ISO 2000

Story Behind the Shot: My wife and I were on a road trip in Iceland, and we took a ferry to the Westman Islands where we’d heard there was a puffin colony. We pulled over at a beautiful spot to stretch our legs. There we saw a lone bird perched on the most amazing lava rock cliff, which was covered in colorful lichen and blooming wildflowers. It was raining and the sky was dark, creating a moody tone. I knew this moment was special: It was the first Atlantic Puffin I’d seen, let alone been able to photograph.

Bird Lore: Puffins are popular birds, even though most people have never seen one. The Atlantic Puffin is widespread in the North Atlantic and adjacent areas of the Arctic Ocean, but Iceland is their epicenter: Up to 2 million pairs nest there, representing close to half the breeding population. Rising sea temperatures have reduced the availability of small fish that puffins need to feed their young, leading to major breeding failures at some Icelandic colonies.

Judge’s Take (Preeti Desai): This photo evokes a painting for me. I love the soft, pastel colors and especially how they pop against the gray backdrop. My eye immediately goes to the puffin because the white and orange stand out, and once I’m done looking there, my eye easily roams around the rest of the photo. Another judge also pointed out that the upper rocks almost form a puffin head with a bill sticking out, and I love that. This is such a peaceful, pleasing moment.

Female Bird Prize: Sandra M. Rothenberg

Category: Amateur
Species: Baltimore Oriole
Location: Warren, Pennsylvania
Camera: Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 200-600mm F/5.6–6.3 G OSS @459mm lens; 1/1000 second at f/6.3; ISO 1600

Story Behind the Shot: Since I was a child, Baltimore Orioles have nested on our property. I have always loved watching the females: aerial acrobats that collect dried grasses and long gossamer strands of horsehair from my sister’s adjacent farm. The birds use the materials to build their pendulous, pear-shaped nests. What miraculous feats of avian engineering! Once they arrive in May after their long migration north, I use a tiny blind to observe the birds without disturbing them. This female barely landed to grasp a tangled clump of horsehair and natural hemp and sisal fibers caught on a branch. She was surrounded by a lacy, fluttering, diaphanous veil. Off she flew into the woods with her prize trapped in her slender bill.

Bird Lore: In a marvel of instinct, the female Baltimore Oriole weaves a hanging pouch to provide a secure cradle for her eggs. A key to success is choosing the right materials, and she scours the surroundings for long, strong, flexible plant fibers to create a durable structure. If artificial fibers meet her standards, they’re incorporated into the nest as well. The male will stop by to watch, but rarely helps. Construction usually takes at least a week, but some females have been known to complete the task in less than five days.

Judge’s Take (Purbita Saha): We usually see the grace and inventiveness that goes into a Baltimore Oriole’s nest manifest in the final product. But in this photograph, we get to witness the female oriole literally wrapped up in the process. It conveys urgency and a healthy dose of whimsy, which is one my favorite ways to think about birds, female or not. 

Amateur Award Winner: Karen Blackwood

Species: Chinstrap Penguin
Location: Cierva Cove, Antarctica
Camera: Canon EOS R5 with a RF 70–200mm f/2.8 L IS USM @200mm lens; 1/4000 second at f/8; ISO 1000

Story Behind the Shot: On a stormy, snowy day, I was in a Zodiac touring an iceberg-filled cove. The rough water tossed the little rubber boat around. As I watched Gentoo Penguins leap onto the rocky shore and march to their nesting colony, I spotted a Chinstrap Penguin standing alone on a blue iceberg capped with fresh snow. It peered over the edge, and I knew it was going to jump. I adjusted my settings, keeping in mind the pitching boat, moving iceberg, and penguin that would soon be in midair. The bird jumped directly in front of me, diving straight into the water. I caught it just before it slipped beneath the waves and got both eyes and its perfect shape. I had captured a “perfect 10” of a dive. Wow!

Bird Lore: Contrary to their public image as birds of Antarctica, most of the 18 penguin species live in the south temperate zone. The Chinstrap Penguin is among the few true denizens of the zone of pack ice. Like many penguins, Chinstraps feed primarily on the small shrimplike crustaceans called krill, often pursuing them more than 50 feet below the sea surface. The long tail of this species, noticeable in this photo, probably helps it maneuver when swimming underwater.

Judge’s Take (Melissa Hafting): This photographer brilliantly captured the stark contrast of the mostly black penguin against its blue, melting sea-ice landscape. The diving bird’s eyes are visible, and everything is sharp and in focus. Beyond technical merits, this photo evokes a lot of emotion in me. Chinstrap Penguins are having a difficult time adapting to a warming climate—just like the Indigenous peoples and northern communities who have contributed little to climate change but are experiencing the worst of its effects. It’s easy for people in far-away cities to ignore these problems. But these penguins are an indicator species that everyone must pay attention to. If the sea ice melts away, everyone is affected. The photo is a good reminder how we are all so connected.

Video Award Winner: Steven Chu

Species: Short-eared Owl
Location: Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge, Wallkill, New York
Camera: Nikon Z9 with Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens; 1/320 second at f/8; ISO 900

Story Behind the Shot: I’ve spent the past four winters setting out every free moment to document Short-eared Owls. They survey the grasslands for voles close to sunset, but many times the birds don’t come out at all or are too far away. On this day, at the end of the trail, I heard an owl call. I saw another fly quickly to the first. The birds locked talons and cartwheeled downward, releasing each other just before hitting the ground. I’d never seen this before. It was my lucky day!

Bird Lore: Most owls are creatures of mystery, lurking in dense forest and calling at night. The Short-eared is a delightful exception. It forages by flying low over marshes, prairies, and other open habitats, often in daylight, making it easier to observe. Its range across five continents adds to its everyman’s owl aura. Local concentrations may develop in winter where prey are abundant. When several birds converge on a field, frequent but brief clashes may ensue.

Judge’s Take (Rina Miele): The videos I selected were very intentional. They demonstrated the videographer was actively engaged and took advantage of the moving-image medium. Action was key, especially the shooters’ ability to capture difficult or spontaneous events: Short-eared Owls fight and bicker and engage each other in combat, but this spiral is one of the best I’ve seen. Capturing this was certainly an amazing achievement.

Plants for Birds Award Winner: Linda Scher

Photographer: Amateur
Species: Verdin
Location: Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona
Camera: Nikon Z9 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens; 1/400 second at f/7.1; ISO 640

Story Behind the Shot: I birded the Sweetwater Wetlands while visiting Tucson and saw Verdins for the first time. At the far end of the site, I found a pair building a nest in a cane cholla. Given how tiny the birds are, I was surprised by the nest’s large size. Four weeks later, I came back with friends. Using long lenses to stay distant, we photographed the busy pair gathering insects and caterpillars for their chicks. I love this image because it captures the Verdin’s high energy, its desert habitat, and the protection that cacti offer.

Bird Lore: A tiny desert dweller of the Southwest and Mexico, the Verdin is unique in the Americas. Its closest relatives in Africa and Eurasia are best known for building elaborate nests, and the Verdin is equally impressive. Its nest is a large globular structure with an entrance low on one side. An outer layer of thorny twigs surrounds inner layers of much softer materials: leaves, grasses, plant down, fur, feathers, and spiderwebs. Verdins often build in spiny plants, which help to deter predators.

Judge’s Take (Marlene Pantin): In this photo we see the role that native plants such as cacti play in providing critical food and shelter for birds—even in the harshest environments. The photograph also does an exceptional job of capturing the contrast between the large cane cholla and tiny Verdin. I am struck by how the cactus seems to envelop the bird, providing a sense of care and protection for it. The wonderful mix of textures and vibrant and muted colors add gravity to the photo.

Youth Award Winner: Kieran Barlow

Species: Dunlin
Location: Barnegat Light, New Jersey
Camera: Nikon D850 with a Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5–6.3 Di VC USD G2 @240mm lens; 1/3200 second at f/5.6; ISO 560

Story Behind the Shot: On a winter trip to New Jersey, my goal was to capture images of Harlequin Ducks. Instead, I became enraptured by a flock of sandpipers feeding on the rocks. They would all fly out of the way when a wave crashed onto shore, so I hunkered down between boulders and waited. It was a challenge not to fall between the wet, seaweed-covered rocks into the water. After more than an hour of unsuccessful attempts, I picked out a nearby sandpiper and hoped it would take flight. As a wave crashed, the entire flock took to the air. I eagerly reviewed my photos: I had finally captured a Dunlin as it narrowly avoided being dragged into the sea.

Bird Lore: The 24 sandpipers in the genus Calidris are all migratory, and many evade winter by flying to the southernmost reaches of the southern continents. But Dunlins buck the trend, migrating only short to medium distances from their northern high-latitude breeding areas. In North America, flocks of this hardy sandpiper winter along coastlines north to Canada and southern Alaska, often on rocky shorelines pounded by the surf.

Judge’s Take (Melissa Hafting): This shot is a spectacular feast for the eyes, and it also tells a story. The photographer caught the bird as it jumped up and both the water and Dunlin are perfectly frozen in motion. You can feel the crashing waves and the mossy wet rock. I can almost hear the bird’s wings flapping, and the chattering it would have made when it was disturbed from roosting or feeding. Hopefully this image makes people want to protect intertidal habitats on wintering and migration grounds where these shorebirds rest and feed.

Fisher Prize: Sunil Gopalan

Species: Brown Pelican
Location: Galápagos National Park, Ecuador
Camera: Canon EOS R3 with a Canon EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II USM @100mm lens; 1/200 second at f/4.5; ISO 25,600

Story Behind the Shot: On a cruise in the Galápagos with my family, my kids called for me. The lights of the docked boat had attracted many fish. This, in turn, drew several Galápagos sharks and a Brown Pelican. An interaction of species like that is a photo opportunity. The pelican would jump out of the water when the shark got close, so I hoped to time my shots to get both in the frame. After a couple of hours, I was able to photograph a few interactions. In this image, the shark swims under the bird, creating a ghostly silhouette. I didn’t know if this sort of photograph was common, but for me, it was special.

Bird Lore: Small fish near the sea surface must be aware of predators from above and below. In offshore waters from the United States to the Galápagos, Brown Pelicans are among the main aerial threats, plunging into the waves headfirst to scoop up fish in an expandable bill pouch. Adult pelicans have little to fear from other creatures while in the air, but on water they, too, must stay alert for the odd shark attack.

Judge’s Take (Morgan Heim): This image is like a present that you get to open over and over again. The light and curves are so elegant as to be painterly, but as you look longer you realize the layers of story. The Brown Pelican appears to sense something below it, and its bowed head prompts you to linger longer. You realize its reflection in the water is not only a reflection. The shark curving just beneath the pelican’s body completes a perfect arc, melding into each other. Did the shark attack or simply swim by? Our minds run wild. The moment could have easily been missed, and it is a prime example of a photographer composing a dramatic juxtaposition that pays homage to two species’ lives. It teaches us to notice subtleties.

Youth Honorable Mention: James Fatemi

Species: Green-winged Teal
Location: Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia
Camera: Nikon Z9 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens and a Nikon Mount Adapter FTZ II; 1/320 second at f/4; ISO 400

Story Behind the Shot: I enjoy taking pictures of wildlife in snow, but this winter was one of the least snowy on record. In late February, just as I was beginning to think the season would end with no snowfall, the forecast predicted flurries the next morning. I went to the marsh soon after sunrise and waited. These two Green-winged Teals were some of the only subjects in the marsh that day. After a few hours, they began their courtship ritual and mating just as large flakes started to fall. I hung my lens over the boardwalk to get a water-level view. The snow and smooth water created a serene image that I was happy to capture.

Bird Lore: Like many ducks, Green-winged Teals mostly pair up on their wintering grounds, with courtship behavior beginning by late fall. At first, courting is often a group activity, with up to two dozen males vying for the attention of one or more females. Courting males perform a variety of displays, with much bowing, headshaking, bill-pointing, short flights, and loud whistled calls. Ultimately the female chooses from among her suitors, and the mated pair migrate together to the breeding grounds. The male leaves after the female begins incubating eggs.

Judge’s Take (Sabine Meyer): I really like that this young photographer set out intentionally to capture this image in adverse weather, parlaying snowflakes and the gray overcast light into assets that created the cool mood of this mating scene. It’s also a tender moment and unusual in that the female is nearly submerged except for her head. The colors on the male pop beautifully against the overall muted color palette.

Professional Honorable Mention: Liron Gertsman

Species: Northern Hawk Owl
Location: Thompson-Nicola, British Columbia, Canada
Camera: Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II USM @400mm lens and Canon Mount Adapter EF–EOS R; 1/500 second at f/5.6; ISO 500

Story Behind the Shot: Despite my spending time in Northern Hawk Owl habitat over the years, my encounters with this elusive and stunning species were few and far between. My explorations had mostly been in summer, when the owls are locally scarce and harder to find. Eager to change my luck, I spent several days hiking and searching this winter. Even with my large snowshoes, I regularly sank to my knees in the deep, powdery snow. I was finally rewarded with several unforgettable encounters with a Northern Hawk Owl pair as they hunted and courted. I captured this image as one perched at the tip of a frosty tree.

Bird Lore: A unique owl with no close relatives, the Northern Hawk Owl ranges across boreal forest zones of Eurasia and North America, mostly staying far from human settlements. Adapted to the long light of northern summers, this owl is active by day year-round. Unlike owls that rely on sharp hearing to hunt by night, it watches for its prey, which consists mostly of voles in summer and some birds in winter. When it spots a target, the owl swoops in with fast, powerful wingbeats, suggesting the behavior of the Accipiter hawks, hence its name.

Judge’s Take (Sabine Meyer): Less is more for this photo of a Northern Hawk Owl: It exudes a peaceful, pared-down elegance built on a very limited color palette, and its shapes and lines easily draw the eye to the crowning jewel at the tip of the frosty tree. I like that the dramatic composition achieves a perfect visual balance, even though the tree limbs are not fanning out in total symmetry. And there is something ghostly yet magical about the bird that appears to stare us down.

Plants for Birds Honorable Mention: Vicki Santello

Category: Amateur
Species: Tree Swallow
Location: Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, Louisiana
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark III with Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS @140mm lens and a Canon Extender EF 1.4x III; 1/800 second at f/8; ISO 1250

Story Behind the Shot: I was enjoying the quiet of a secluded sunrise in my kayak when I heard a loud hum. I couldn’t imagine what could make such a persistent sound. My ears guided me to the source: thousands of Tree Swallows hunting insects on the wing and water surface. Their collective wing-beating generated the noise. As I got closer, I had a second wondrous realization: The swallows that were not actively hunting rested on bare, old-growth bald cypress trees; the birds crowded together so tightly that the branches looked as if they had leaves. I let my kayak drift and began to shoot, experimenting with focal lengths and angles until the flock burst up as one and departed.

Bird Lore: Aerial insectivores like swallows and swifts forage in flight, nabbing insects in midair as they sweep gracefully over open fields or water. Unlike swifts, which may stay on the wing continuously, swallows rest on convenient perches when they can. These stately bald cypress, iconic trees of southeastern swamps, give the Tree Swallows access to a prime feeding area: a wide-open bayou, where insect swarms often gather low over the water’s surface.

Judge’s Take (Marlene Pantin): On first glance, it appears that the limbs of the Bald Cypress, a native tree, are dotted with leaves. Only on closer inspection is it obvious that birds cover the branches, adding so much fullness to the trees. With the backdrop of the sky, water, and horizon, and the beautiful, serene colors that blend seamlessly into each layer, this photo appears to be a painting rather than a photograph. It is very calming, and as such, draws you in.

Amateur Honorable Mention: Nathan Arnold

Species: Reddish Egret
Location: San Carlos Bay–Bunche Beach Preserve, Fort Myers, Florida
Camera: Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens; 1/2000 second at f/2.8; ISO 640

Story Behind the Shot: At sunrise, when the tide was low, I kayaked to a local spot where Reddish Egrets fish. Heavy fog obscured the sun, creating a yellow-orange light. The scene felt surreal. It’s amazing to capture the craziness of this bird’s feeding behavior—how they stab their bills into the water, jump, and flap. I took this photo as the light over my shoulder illuminated water droplets and a small fish, right as the egret flipped its breakfast into its bill.

Bird Lore: The Reddish Egret is famous for its wildly varied feeding repertoire. Individuals may stand in one spot, walk slowly, or dash about, lurching side to side, stirring the water with their feet, abruptly spreading and closing their wings. All the action serves to startle fish into moving. Nabbing its prey, the egret expertly tosses it up to reposition it before swallowing it whole.

Judge’s Take (Sabine Meyer): A decisive moment perfectly captured! There are so many elements coming together in this photo: the Reddish Egret glowing in the misty light of the rising sun; the fish suspended vertically in the air just before it is swallowed; the water’s motion frozen in the beak’s opening and the droplets shimmering against the golden backdrop. To top it all, the reddish light beautifully matches the bird’s neck and belly.

Video Honorable Mention: Steven Chu 

Category: Amateur
Species: Osprey
Location: Millville, New Jersey
Camera: Nikon Z9 with a Nikon NIKKOR 800mm F/5.6E FL ED VR lens; 1/320 second at f/5.6; ISO 64

Story Behind the Shot: At this dam, I can capture Ospreys pulling fish from the water at eye level. But I have to walk down large, unstable rocks; I remember this day vividly because I nearly tumbled down. Luckily, I landed safely, and I set up on the water’s edge. The cloudy day and low tide allowed me to shoot for six hours without worrying about shadows. Ospreys like to fly into the wind, and with the wind at my back, the conditions were ideal. I finally got a video of an Osprey grabbing a large fish and flying directly toward me, its eyes trained on my lens. Now when I return, I use my tripod as a walking stick to help me navigate the rocks.

Bird Lore: Osprey hunting behavior is a feat of skill and strength: soaring or hovering over the water, plunging feet first to grasp a fish from just below the surface, then lifting it and flying away. They are known to capture and carry fish that are more than half their own weight. Tales of “fish hawks” being dragged underwater and drowned after snagging large prey are almost certainly false; the Osprey will simply let go of a too-heavy load.

Judge’s Take (Mick Thompson): There are so many things to love about this video. The videographer was not only able to get in close on the bird but also found a way to shoot at eye level. The Osprey shows off its powerful wings as it rises out of the water with such a heavy load. I was impressed with the videographer’s ability to keep the Osprey in focus, which is often difficult when birds are flying towards you. I love the detail we can see in the bird and the fish as we marvel at the Osprey’s ability to hang on. The small waterfall in the background enhances the composition.