"October 2025 Photo Contest Image Critique"

The October 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest brought members together to explore the theme of Warm Colours through bold light, rich tones, and thoughtful composition. Daniel Cadieux led this month’s critique, sharing clear guidance on what worked, what held images back, and how members can elevate their use of warm colour in future contests.

💥 What the Judges Looked For

• Warm, intentional light — Golden-hour skies, sunlit subjects, and scenes where colour shaped the mood.
• Clean backgrounds — Members were encouraged to shift position to strengthen separation and remove distractions.
• Strong use of environment — Landscapes enriched by wildlife rather than tight portraits alone.
• Clear subject placement — Images where the eye moves naturally through light, subject, and background.
• Purposeful composition — Use of angles, spacing, and edges to support the story.

🔍 What Daniel Covered in the Critique

• Background control — Daniel stressed how stepping left, right, forward, or back can completely change background quality.
• Light direction — Members were encouraged to think about how the sun’s position shapes depth and texture.
• Using shutter speed — When capturing motion, Daniel repeated the importance of using the shutter speed available unless intentionally blurring.
• Environmental storytelling — Wide or medium scenes combining landscape and wildlife held more emotional impact than tight crops.
• Intentional creativity — Starbursts, silhouettes, and layered scenes were highlighted for their thoughtful design.

💬 What Members Said

• “Love the detail of the open mouth. Also like that their wings are in opposing positions.”
• “Very steady panning that follows the pace of the animal.”
• “What a great collection of images. Well done everyone!”
• “Gorgeous light… this really helps improve my skills.”
• “Absolutely gorgeous and great skills.”

🏆 October 2025 Contest Winners: “Warm Colours”

🟢 Beginner Category

Winner: Flying Geese by Jonathan Isola
→ Praised for its early morning light, clean background, and dynamic wing positions.
View the winning image →

🟠 Intermediate Category

Winner: Baby on the Lookout by Joyoti Basu
→ Recognized for intimate storytelling, warm tones, and strong subject presence in a calm, reflective scene.
View the winning image →

🔵 Advanced Category

Winner: Amboseli Zebras by Jeff Grabert
→ Celebrated for its breathtaking environmental scene, painterly sky, and warm colour palette that stands on its own even without wildlife.
View the winning image →

Thank you to everyone who entered this month. Your participation builds a strong, supportive community where photographers learn from each other and sharpen their craft with every contest and critique.