July 2023

Wildlife Photo Contest Winners

Theme: "Sun-Kissed Wildlife"

Below are the winners and runners-up of our monthly wildlife photo contest. Thanks to all who entered and congratulations to our winners.
Click each image to view full screen.

Advanced Category Winner

“Morning Glow” By: Donna Feledichuk

Advanced Category Runners-up

“Coming Through” By: Deborah Albert

Beginner Category Winner

“Contemplation” By: Mark Jacobson

Beginner Category Runners-up

“Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park” By: Christine Bisaha

Meet The Judges

Ruth Hoyt

Ruth is a full-time professional nature photographer, writer, public speaker, workshop leader, coach, and consultant with 30+ years’ experience teaching nature photography.

She enthusiastically works with photographers from all skill levels, ages, and walks of life, including youths from 8-18 years, US Veterans, artists’ groups, people with disabilities, and other specialized groups.

Ruth writes for the Journal of Wildlife Photography and manages its monthly photo contest.

A Certified Interpretive Guide and Certified Texas Master Naturalist, Ruth is best known for her Texas bird and wildlife photography and professional guiding services on private south Texas ranches, Costa Rica, and numerous other locations.

Esperanza S. Chapa

Esperanza is a professional graphic artist, designer and nature photographer from McAllen, Texas. She began her love affair with art during her childhood summers on her family’s ranch in Guanajuato, Mexico.

She completed her Bachelor of Visual Arts degree from the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in 1993 using the first version of Photoshop! Since then, her work has helped her clients earn national recognition and numerous, prestigious awards year after year.

Esperanza has taken the Texas Master Naturalist training and served on the boards of various nature-related organizations in the Rio Grande Valley.

Lance Krueger

Lance is one of the top whitetail deer photographers in the world. His coverage of wildlife, hunting, fishing and especially whitetail deer over the last 35+ years includes more states and provinces than any other professional photographer, and he has photographed whitetails doing EVERYTHING they do!

He has had thousands of photos published on the covers and inside the national hunting and fishing magazines.

He is a Contributing Photographer for both Field & Stream and Outdoor Life magazines and his photos have been published in Sports Afield, Petersen’s Bowhunting, Gamekeepers, Deer & Deer Hunting, Buckmasters, Whitetail Journal, Bowhunting World, and many more.

As a lifelong student of hunting, fishing, and wildlife behavior, showing his subjects in an accurate light is a hallmark of Lance’s work.

Therefore, he is able to capture the awesome behavior and action of these incredible animals, bringing his subjects to life through his published photos, social media, and Masterclasses.