The results are in! Our February 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest asked members to take on a classic challenge—creating striking wildlife images in black and white. By removing color, photographers had to rely on contrast, tone, texture, and emotion to bring their scenes to life.

This month’s live critique was led by Gail Bisson, award-winning wildlife photographer and longtime contest judge. The session offered valuable lessons, detailed feedback, and plenty of inspiration for anyone looking to grow as a wildlife photographer.

💥 What the Judges Looked For

The theme, “Black & White Wildlife,” invited members to see the natural world differently and embrace the artistic potential of monochrome.

Judges evaluated each image based on:

• Tonal contrast — Strong use of light and shadow helped add mood, depth, and drama.
• Texture and detail — Wildlife features like fur, feathers, and scales stood out in high-performing images.
• Visual composition — Clean framing and thoughtful placement of subjects made a big impact.
• Intentional editing — Great conversions didn’t just remove color—they enhanced story and structure.
• Theme execution — Top entries felt truly designed for black and white, not just converted.

🔍 What Gail Covered in the Critique

In the live session, Gail walked through several non-winning entries and delivered clear, honest, and helpful critique. Some of her key takeaways included:

• Level your horizon: Tilted waterlines and slanted compositions were a common issue that could be easily fixed in post.
• Leave space for your subject: Crops that were too tight—especially in the direction of movement—hurt the flow of the image.
• Watch for clipped limbs: Paws, tails, and feet should be fully included when possible unless clearly intentional.
• Clean up dust spots: Sensor dust is distracting, especially in the sky. It’s allowed to remove these and strongly encouraged.
• Avoid harsh shadows: Branches or dark lines falling across faces or bodies pulled attention away from otherwise strong images.

She also shared tips on subtle sharpening, why post-processing restraint matters more in black and white, and how composition choices can make or break a great shot.

💬 What Members Said

• “Wow these are beginners”
• “Such beautiful images, congratulations to Louie and the runner-ups!”
• “Listening to your discussion about the camera settings, and what you might change if you were shooting the same image, is invaluable.”
• “Love the reflection on this!”
• “Thank you for adding the data.”

🏆 February 2025 Contest Winners: “Black & White Wildlife”

🟢 Beginner Category

Winner: Mumma and Me by Louie Owen
→ A beautifully framed moment showing a joey peeking out from the pouch, with the subtle outline of the mother appearing like a hidden silhouette in the background.
→ Praised for its storytelling, visual layers, and rewarding composition.
View the winning image →

🟠 Intermediate Category

Winner: Up Through a Jellyfish Universe by Carol May
→ An immersive underwater scene taken in Palau’s Jellyfish Lake, with golden jellyfish floating toward the light in a dreamlike composition.
→ Applauded for its creativity, mood, and technical execution in difficult conditions.
View the winning image →

🔵 Advanced Category

Winner: Hey, Wait for Me by Rick Beldegreen
→ A playful and perfectly timed image of rockhopper penguins racing across the beach, with one lagging behind and wings lifted for emphasis.
→ Judges loved the sense of story, energy, and humor—paired with excellent technical control.
View the winning image →

As always, we’re blown away by the creativity, patience, and technical skill our members bring to each contest. This month’s theme pushed photographers to think differently—and the results speak for themselves. Whether you won, made the finals, or just submitted something new, every image is part of your growth as a wildlife photographer. Keep showing up. We’ll see you next month.