June 2025 Photo Contest Image Critique
- Presented by: Daniel Cadieux & Bill Maynard
- When: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 2:00 pm EDT
- Theme: Reflections
What You'll Learn:
- How to use reflections as a compositional tool that strengthens the story instead of simply duplicating your subject.
- When symmetry creates impact—and when breaking symmetry produces a stronger, more engaging wildlife image.
- Practical cropping, horizon alignment, and framing techniques that create cleaner, more balanced reflection photographs.
- How subtle Photoshop adjustments, including hue and saturation corrections, can improve natural-looking reflections without overprocessing.
- Common mistakes photographers make when photographing reflections, and simple ways to avoid distractions before pressing the shutter.
- How Daniel evaluates contest images, balancing creativity, technical execution, and interpretation of the monthly theme during the judging process.
Here's What Some Of Our Attendees Had To Say...
Congratulations to The Winners 🎉
June 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest First Place Winner
June 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest Second Place Winner
June 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest Third Place Winner
Meet Your Instructor
Daniel Cadieux & Bill Maynard
Daniel Cadieux and Bill Maynard lead our monthly contest critiques, combining decades of experience in wildlife photography with a deep understanding of what makes an image stand out.
Daniel Cadieux is a highly respected bird and nature photographer based in Canada, with years of experience studying and photographing wildlife behavior, as well as contributing to the broader birding and photography community.
Bill Maynard is an award-winning wildlife photographer whose work has been featured by organizations such as Canadian Geographic and the Canadian Wildlife Federation.
Together, they break down winning images and submitted entries to show exactly what works, what doesn’t, and how you can improve your own photography in the field.
What to Expect
Here’s What Our Live Critique Sessions Are Like
Each month, we host a live session where contest winners are revealed and selected images are reviewed in detail by our judges.
You’ll see exactly why certain images stood out, how they were evaluated, and what separated them from the rest.
During the critique, we break down real submissions to show what works, what holds an image back, and how small changes in composition, light, or timing can make a stronger impact.
You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and get direct insight into how experienced photographers think through decisions in the field.
If you can’t attend live, the full session is recorded and added to the library so you can watch anytime.
To attend this live event or watch the replay, you must be a member of the Journal of Wildlife Photography.
Members get access to live trainings and critiques designed to help serious wildlife photographers improve faster through real instruction and real feedback.
Each session focuses on practical decisions made in the field and why certain images succeed while others fall short.
When you join today, you can attend live or watch the full replay anytime.
Unlock this session and all member-only trainings and critiques by choosing a membership below.
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4TH OF JULY SALE! 40% OFF ANY MEMBERSHIP
- 5 photo contest entries per month
- Live monthly trainings + full recording archive
- Live monthly critiques so you can see why images win
- Every back issue, video, and article unlocked instantly
- Private photographer community with real feedback
- Members-only discounts from top photography brands.
- 5 Free Anytime Photo Credits ($50 Value). These credits can be used on any future monthly wildlife photo contest you choose. They never expire, so you can save them for themes you really love throughout the year.
- 10 photo contest entries per month
- Lifetime access to every training, critique, and recording, past and future
- The full Journal library, every issue, every video, every article
- Lifetime access to the private community
- 15% off all future full-price purchases
- Members-only discounts from top photography brands.
- 10 Free Anytime Photo Credits ($100 Value). These credits can be used on any future monthly wildlife photo contest you choose. They never expire, so you can save them for themes you really love throughout the year.