Cover By Beginner Winner: Kathy Waybrant
About Kathy Waybrant
I love being in the outdoors and consider myself an avid birder. Photography and nature is a perfect mix and I have enjoyed nature photography for many years. Over the years, my hobby has become a passion and I continue to pursue more photography opportunities, develop my skills, and regularly drag my family on outings. Luckily my youngest son shares my passion in photography so needs little encouragement, and Algonquin Park, my husband’s favorite park, is one of my favorite places for photography.
Winner’s Edition | Mammals 2021
Editor in Chief: Jared Lloyd [email protected]
Managing Editor: Jamie Banjak [email protected]
Designer: Tiamera Ellen
Copyright © 2021 Journal of Wildlife Photography
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.
Letter From The Editor
Hey guys! Welcome to the very first ever Winner’s Edition of the Journal of Wildlife Photography.
Now as everybody knows, over the last year we have been running photography contests for our subscribers. At first, I put these together as a means of giving you guys something to do during the pandemic. All of our lives were changed. Travel was put on hold. Intentions were paused. And I think it goes without saying that the collective mental health of the world was a little shaky.
And so, the photography competitions were designed to help give people some sort of positive focus during that period of time in which the whole world seemed turned upside down.
Well let’s skip ahead almost a year now since the very first competition. We have done several of these. We asked for feedback, took copious amounts of notes, and we adjusted and tweaked and changed and evolved and polished these contests based upon what you, the subscribers, have told us you wanted to see.
One of the things we took to heart was the idea of showcasing all the amazing photography that you were producing and sharing with us. And thus, the winner’s addition was born!
These days, the photography competitions are broken down into two categories: beginner and advanced. In the pages of this winner’s addition, you’ll find those two categories displayed. But this is more than just the “winners” of the photography competition.
Technically speaking, that would just be two pages! Instead, what we are doing is showcasing the photography and the stories behind all of the runners-up as well!
These competitions are extremely difficult to judge. We get thousands of submissions with each competition and it takes me personally many days of sifting through and sorting out all of these photographs.
But the real challenge begins when I actually have to pick just one per category!
And given the caliber of the skill, and more importantly, the excitement and passion that people put into these contests, there really does need to be another way to commend and show off other people’s work in addition to the winners.
I hope each and every one of you will help me congratulate all of the people whose photographs grace the pages of this new supplemental issue of the Journal of Wildlife Photography.
Well done everybody!
Like everything we do, I want your feedback on this. Do you like the idea? Do you like the format? This particular photography competition was based on mammals. That was it. There really weren’t any other qualifying concepts here that had to be showcased. However, we have yet another photography competition running right now that is based upon environmental portraits, or what I like to call animalscapes.
If you want to join this next competition, make sure you hop on the official Facebook group for the Journal of Wildlife Photography and you can read all of the rules there in the announcements.
Cheers,
Jared
KATHY WAYBRANT
For a back story………..This photo was taking in Algonquin Park (Ontario’s Yellowstone), one of my favorite ‘local’ places to visit in all seasons. It was taken in the spring when the ice on the lakes and ponds was melting and the water was starting to open up. I was camping with my husband and youngest son when we spotted them in a large ponded area not too far off the main highway that runs through the park.
We crept a good distance out along the ice, as far as we could safely go, and laid quietly in the snow watching and photographing them while they dived for cattail roots and sparred with each other. After about an hour, another person came out to see them, turned out he was a park naturalist and photographer.
He told us that cattail roots are a delicacy for beavers and there is only a short window in the Spring when they are available, so we were lucky not only to spot the beavers but also to be able to watch them dive and eat the cattail roots. Quite memorable!
About Kathy Waybrant
I love being in the outdoors and consider myself an avid birder. Photography and nature is a perfect mix and I have enjoyed nature photography for many years. Over the years, my hobby has become a passion and I continue to pursue more photography opportunities, develop my skills, and regularly drag my family on outings. Luckily my youngest son shares my passion in photography so needs little encouragement, and Algonquin Park, my husband’s favorite park, is one of my favorite places for photography.
Note: Kathy is the winner featured on the cover and a runner-up of this contest.
Barb Callander
I called this photo “Shelter from the Storm”. The journey of a mother polar bear and her cubs is an inspirational example of resilience.
Just before the global pandemic locked everything down early 2020 I had the privilege to join the crew at Watchee Lodge in Wapusk National Park to photograph polar bear mom’s and cubs as they first emerged from their dens. Wapusk is home to the southern most denning sites in North America. It could be up to 9 months since this mother had her last meal having made the trek across the tundra of the sub-arctic to the denning sites.
Emerging from her den she’ll nourish and teach her cubs building their strength for the long journey back to Hudson Bay. Sharing this intimate moment with this mom and her cubs made the punishing -40C temperatures, testing both body and gear, fade as we experienced the cubs exploring their environment quick to take shelter under their mom.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 7D MarkII, EF500mm f/4, shot at f11, 1/1250, ISO 640
About Barb Callander
Barb Callander, amateur wildlife photographer based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Growing up north of the 54th parallel, Barb is passionate about photographing northern species at risk.
Cameron Sullivan
I traveled to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last October to see and photograph the elk rut. I had seen elk in Yellowstone and out west but had never seen them on the east coast or experienced the rut. I had visions of bull elk in fields bugling with plumes of their breath visible in the chilly autumn air and the locked antlers of competing bulls struggling in the tall grass. What I found was different and special. Arriving on the Oconaluftee river around dusk, I was immediately hit with the sound of the bugling from all around.
These roars of challenge and defiance echoing throughout the forest and valley were otherworldly and thrilling! Three bulls had harems of differing sizes in the meadow while several satellite bulls prowled the woodline that separated the meadow from the river and the large stream that merged with it. I was immediately impressed with their size and power as they charged back and forth, clashed, tore furrows in the soil, and destroyed trees in displays of frustration and strength. And that was just the first afternoon. Arriving the next morning before dawn, found the valley blanketed in fog with the defiant bugles reverberating through the misty air.
Many of the elk had retired to the fields and forest on the far side of the river (they would do this every night to escape the warmth of the sun) and they were making their way back across the river to graze in the meadow. Seeing the harems being led across the river by their bulls and the shadows of the challenging satellite bulls in the forest was a sight that I had not encountered out west. I really wanted to get a picture of a bull elk that captured the power of the river crossing in a foggy tunnel of trees! It certainly took some effort – lots of walking, watching, chasing, nearly falling in the river, and dodging tourists for a clear line of sight but I got a picture that matched the vision in my head.
It took a lot of observation to determine their movement patterns, behavior, and timing. It also took lots of chasing the source of challenging bugles, repeatedly walking the river banks to find the right parts of the river that gave the “tunnel” effect, were trafficked by the elk, had the right light at the right times. Then there was the actual photographic trial and error. It took many pictures to hone the right settings (DOF, distance from the elk, perspective, focal length, etc.).
There was also a day trip to a Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shop to pick up waders and felt lined boots once it was determined that the only way to get “the shot” was to be in the middle of the river and at water level. While it took a fraction of the time to actually take this image, the journey to be in the right place at the right time with the right settings (and the camera pointed in the right direction – don’t laugh!), was worth all the hard work, nearly falling in the river, that intimidating sideways glance of that particularly angry bull, and all the spoiled shots because Joe Tourist had to get too close with their iPhone. In reality the journey to get the shot was far more than the resulting picture.
Technical Photo Data
Lens – Nikon 200-400 ƒ4, Camera – Nikon D5, ƒstop – ƒ4, Shutter speed – 1/400 sec, ISO – 200mm
About Cameron Sullivan
I live and work in Richmond, Virginia with my wonderful family (wife, daughter, 3 dogs, cat, horse… any more animals and the city may require a permit). My career in the cyber security field keeps me huddled behind a desk in front of a wall of computer screens but I love to get outdoors whenever I can. I’ve been dabbling in photography for a little over a decade but I started really pouring passion, time, and money (much to my wife’s chagrin) into the craft about 7 years ago. Now I’m hooked and constantly looking for the next photographic adventure! Other hobbies include craft beer and bourbon, the occasional cigar, technology, and good conversation.
Jennifer Knotts O'Neill
Pictured on the page before are 2 of the Salt River Wild Mustangs playing and sparring. While this is an important part of their socialization and development as a herd, their movement is fast, unpredictable, and fascinating to watch.
My goal for the day was to capture clear, action photographs of the horses. As the scene developed, the back lit dust became an intentional component and made the shot.
Technical Photo Data
Lens – Nikon 200-400 ƒ4, Camera – Nikon D5, ƒstop – ƒ4, Shutter speed – 1/400 sec, ISO – 200mm
About Jennifer Knotts O’Neill
I am a surgeon who has specialized in breast cancer for over 21 years. Photography is my passion and I have spent dedicated time learning and trying to improve my skills over the past couple of years.
I am out nearly every weekend enjoying the Arizona landscape and wildlife. I absolutely love the “Wild West” and all it has to offer!
Shelly Kurtz
Photo was taken the morning of Sept 30th on the Chilko River in British Columbia (Canada). This fellow is “fishing” for sockeye salmon.
Technical Photo Data
Nikon D810, F5.6, 460mm
About Shelly Kurtz
I have always dabbled with photography, but approximately 2.5 years ago I purchased a D810 & lens from a local wildlife photographer who has since taken me under her wing and introduced me to the joy of wildlife photography. With her guidance (and occasional gentle push) I am starting to brave Manual Settings.
Pam Dorner
Pam Dorner
Image #1
Coastal Brown boar, (Ursus arctos), flexes his muscles. A grizzly/brown bear’s hump is actually a large muscle! They are known to dig more than any other bear species, this large muscle gives them extra power to dig for food as well as excavate their dens. On a beautiful, clear Fall day, we noticed this large boar who looked up for a minute then continued to fish and flex up and down the Brooks river in Katmai, Alaska. September is a great time to visit this bear watchers paradise with the Fall colors and surrounding waters full of fat bear contenders.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 1dxiii EF100-400mm 1/1250 sec at f/8, ISO 1250
Image #2
Coastal Brown bear cub, (Ursus arctos horribilis), looks out bravely to see if the coast was clear. We were photographing bears at Chinitna Bay in Lake Clark National Park when a large boar entered the meadow. All of a sudden, a mother bear and two cubs rushed up near the viewing area. I was amazed to learn that sometimes mother bears will move near people when a boar is present to protect her cubs. We could feel the tension in the air and stayed put not wanting to impede the mother and cubs escape in any way. We looked around not knowing if the bear family had retreated to the beach, when this little cub popped his head out of the grass. You could see the worry in his little eyes, but he bravely stood up to assess the situation. All ended well as the boar promptly left and calm was restored to the meadow.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 7D2 EF500mm 1/1600 sec at f/4, ISO 320
About Pam Dorner
Pam Dorner is an amateur wildlife and landscape photographer from New Mexico with a BBA in Marketing. Her work comprises a love of wildlife such as the coastal brown bears of Alaska as well as the allure of the Southwest landscape. Pam has won national and local awards from the National Wildlife Federation, Lake Clark National Park, New Mexico Magazine, Albuquerque the Magazine and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Pam’s work can be seen in publications such as New Mexico Magazine, Guest-life New Mexico, Albuquerque the Magazine and Overland’s New Mexico Addition.
Tosh Bodily
This was an exciting time. I have been able to see this bear known as 399 a handful of times in the past with other cubs, but when rumors and then pictures started to come out that she had 4 cubs, I needed to go and see for myself. So on Memorial Day Weekend I packed up and headed to Grand Teton National Park. As soon as I arrived, I had learned that she was recently seen, but had headed back into the trees.
So I left for a while and then headed back to the area where she was last seen. Upon returning, her and her 4 cubs were out in an open field. It was raining pretty hard, but that didn’t bother me. She wasn’t giving many good photo opportunities, and I just continued to mostly watch her for around an hour.
Then she started to move a bit and made a loop around the edge of the field and then started walking right towards me. There were many people there, and park rangers were managing the situation. No sooner had she turned in my direction which was at the time this picture was taken, the rangers told everyone to move across the street. Just as we were being told to move, I fired off a series of photographs and captured this image
It was exciting, but a bit frustrating at the same time, because as soon as decent photo taking opportunities presented themselves, we were all being told to move. I hadn’t realized just what I had captured until I had gotten back home and was pleasantly surprised.
The other cool thing about this photograph is that I was standing right in front of Tom Mangelsen’s vehicle. He was shooting from inside his vehicle at the time. I have often wondered what kind of photographs he captured as he did not have to move across the street like the rest of us.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 7D2 EF500mm 1/1600 sec at f/4, ISO 320
About Tosh Bodily
My name is Tosh Bodily. I grew up and currently live in Northern Utah. I have enjoyed travelling to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks for most of my life, and have recently decided to take up the hobby of wildlife photography. I am 39 years old, and enjoy most things outdoors. I am working on improving my photography skills as well as looking to learn the film making side and hope to start a youtube channel soon about my trips to the National Parks.
Tim Irvin
This is, by far, my favourite grizzly bear image. It speaks to me because it is completely unique from the thousands of other grizzly images I have taken.
I took it early on in my journey as a photographer, when I didn’t really know what I was doing, using gear that wasn’t very good.
Despite numerous equipment upgrades and lots of time in the field since then, I have never captured another grizzly bear image that is as moving to me as this one.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 7D2 EF500mm 1/1600 sec at f/4, ISO 320
About Tim Irvin
Tim Irvin is the Director and Head Guide at Wildlife journeys, where he leads coastal wolf and spirit bear photo expeditions in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia.
Karen Larsen Betten
This photo was taken in May of 2020. I had gone out to find the horses and when I found a small herd of them, I discovered they were a bit riled up at something and generally restless.
It was a hot, dry, sunny day and stood and watched them for awhile, trying to determine what direction they were grazing in and what the restlessness was about. While observing one end of the herd, I heard the galloping of several horses and swung over to see what was happening and tried to capture the run. Amongst the running band, there were two battle scarred black stallions that rose up and started fighting.
I was fortunate enough to capture some key moments of their encounter. Wild horse fights are brutal and it always leaves me in awe how any of them survive the kicks they take during these battles.
I submitted this photo because of how I feel looking at those stallions, their crazed eyes, scarred bodies, flying manes, a well-placed front kick, the movement of all the running horses… there’s such a story here! It’s far from the perfect capture, but this was near the start of my early attempts to use ‘manual’ settings on wildlife and I was elated that I didn’t totally botch the moment.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 7D2 EF500mm 1/1600 sec at f/4, ISO 320
About Karen Larsen Betten
I’ll be 52 years old in 2021 and I have spent most of my adult life taking ‘snapshots’. In July of 2019 I discovered that I live an hour away from a wild horse herd in Utah, and upon my first visit to them, I fell in love with them, and now spend as many Saturdays with them as possible.
I quickly discovered that “auto” settings would not work and I have spent much of the COVID-19 social distancing time studying and trying to improve my photography skills from “getting a lucky shot every now and then” to a more thoughtful approach. I’ve recently been expanding the wildlife I shoot and am also tinkering with astrophotography/nightscapes.
Mark Zagarenski
This Fall I spotted a red fox that crossed a field bordering a wooded area. I watched as it briefly hunted voles before wandering off into the night. I’ve spotted other foxes in this area before, and I planned to watch for one in the next few evenings.
It was a perfect location, one that allowed enough light to capture them if they made an appearance as the sun sets. Stepping just 5 feet into the woods at the same time of day would have made a photo almost impossible as the trees cut off so much of the setting sunlight.
A red fox has incredible hearing and can pinpoint sounds to within one degree, but it’s vision reacts mainly to movement. Knowing this, and without any real cover in the area, I laid down on the ground in an attempt to remain as still and quiet as possible in hopes that one would make an appearance and provide an opportunity for some photos.
Lucky for me this fox appeared and trotted in my direction unaware of my presence. He must have just woke up because he lazily sat and yawned mid-field before proceeding further. As I snapped a few photos he passed very close to me and stopped to stretch just as the sun highlighted the edges of his fur.
I chose this photo for several reasons–I liked the lighting and the unique pose. But also because of how that moment captures him just being natural and relaxed getting ready to start his busy night, completely unaware of the pounding of an excited heartbeat just twenty feet away.
Technical Photo Data
1/800 sec f / 2.8 200mm ISO 1600
Equipment: Canon 90D, Canon 70-200mm 2.8 IS
About Mark Zagarenski
Living in New England I spend a lot of my free time exploring the forests, ponds, and mountains that we have here in the northeast. This year I purchased a camera and added photography as a way to complement my outdoor time. The pictures allow me to capture and share the variety of wildlife moments that I experience.
Jay Goldman
It had been unusually quiet all morning at the watering hole at Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana. Then, majestically, the dominant male lion of the region made his grand entrance.
On his approach to the watering hole the lion stopped to mark his territory before sauntering up to the pool. As he drank his fill it seemed as though he was peering straight into our eyes, and he looked away from us only long enough to survey the area. When he had filled his belly he sauntered off, marked his territory once again, and then disappeared. And with that, the ‘locals’ returned to the watering hole.
I chose this photo for the contest because it captured the intensity we felt as the lion peered directly into our eyes. You can see both the curiosity and the wariness in his eyes while he assesses us, and you can just feel how alert and ready he is to pounce at any time. It was an amazing experience that we will never forget.
Technical Photo Data
Canon EOS 77D
Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens
About Jay Goldman
Happily married since 1978 and a father of two beautiful young women, I sold my business and retired in 2018 after a 40+ year career in third party transportation logistics. I’m an avid scuba diver and I love traveling, fishing and the outdoors, and just recently took up photography (above and below the water) as a new hobby.
Susanne Taunton
This picture was taken on my first trip to Botswana and is what inspired me to pursue wildlife photography as more than a hobby. I booked a trip on Pangolin Photo Safaris, and with my basic photo class and rented camera and lens, set off to see the Chobe River.
After an afternoon of amazing animal sightings, we were ready for our sundowners. Then, as the sun was setting an elephant meandered in front of us over to an island, so close to our boat! Our amazing boat driver positioned us perfectly with the sun setting behind the elephant.
The silhouette was beautiful as the elephant kept rolling up his trunk to munch on his dinner. I focused, held my breath, and kept clicking every time his trunk rolled up. It was a truly magical moment to capture and it is still my favorite photo.
Technical Photo Data
Canon, Sigma lens 150-600mm, ISO 1250, 150 mm, f 8.0, 1/640 sec
About Susanne Taunton
A vacation to the Chobe River, Botswana in 2016 turned what was a love for wildlife photography into a passion. Since then I have continued to work to improve my photography skills, focusing all types of wildlife, but with a special love for Africa. I have so much more to learn and I am loving the journey. As my day job, I am a Marketing Manager at UPS. I am based in Smyrna, Ga. with my 2 dogs, Enzo and Maggie, and my husband, Jon, who is the best at spotting animals in the African bush. We love to travel, camp, and cookout over an open fire.
Jennifer Jenson
When headed out to sea from Dana Point Harbor, CA there was still a shroud of fog covering everything. I wondered how I would ever get enough light to photography anything. Out on the Pacific with the dolphins and whales is always a first stop for me when I am in Southern California, there is something magical about being in their presence.
This was the first time I had my new camera and lens with me it was such a challenge to balance that extra 10 pounds on rolling seas trying to get a shot in focus before the star of the show disappeared beneath the surface of the water again. Lucky for me, Long-beaked Common Dolphins truly are the sweethearts of the sea and they kept coming back to give me another chance.
As the sun broke through the clouds and the dolphins flew through the water towards me I finally got into a rhythm with them of trying to anticipate where they were going and lead my camera ahead of them to catch a quick shot as they surfaced. This will always be one of my favorite images I have captured for multiple reasons…my love of the subject matter and the lessons learned out on the ocean that day.
Technical Photo Data
Image Title: Dolphin Time. Nikkon D500 with a Nikkor 200-500mm lens at 200mm, 1/2000, f/9, ISO 800, Handheld
About Jennifer Jenson
I’ve been taking pictures all my life but it was not until a couple of years ago that I took a Community Education class to learn what all those buttons on my camera were for and how to begin to use it correctly. I am so in awe of the beauty to be found in this incredible planet Heavenly Father created for us. Wildlife and natural beauty make my soul sing. With camera in hand I treasure the moments I spend with such amazing creations.
Sharing that joy with others through photography brightens my day.
Bob Schafer
In July of 2010, after a foggy morning our ship, the NG Explorer, made its way into the sunshine and flat calm waters of the Wahlenbergfjord in Svalbard Norway. Off in the distance a mom and her two cubs wandered across the melting sea ice as our ship slowly approached.
From a distance they checked us out and decided that we weren’t all that interesting and then wandered off deeper into the ice pack. At the time I photographed the bears I was relatively early in my photographic journey and (sadly) still shooting in JPEG. It remains one of my favorite photos.
The amazing thing about this image and the polar bear image that was the contest winner is that they were taken at the exact same spot and about 15 mins apart. An absolutely incredible day.
Technical Photo Data
Camera Pentax K20D,Lens Tamron AF 70-300mm F4-5.6 LD
Focal Length 220.0 mm (330.0 mm in 35mm),Aperture f/9
Exposure Time 0.00156s (1/640),ISO 100
Date Taken: 2010-07-15 15:34:01
Location: 79°45’51.9999″ N 21°18’57.8001″ E Wahlenbergfjorden, Nordaustlandet;, Svalbard, Norway
About Bob Schafer
I am a retired engineer who, along with my partner Susan, love to travel and photograph in the wild places both locally near our home in Southeastern PA and around the world. The list of places we want to visit only grows after each trip.
Jim Floyd
Advanced Winner: Jim Floyd
The polar bear photo was taken off the bow of the National Geographic Explorer. When the captain announced the single polar bear sighting everyone bolted for the port bow side of the ship and jockeyed for position. I almost got knocked unconscious by a woman trying to mount a 600mm lens to her tripod, elbowing everyone around her to get to the front. But I managed to get off some nice shots of the bear and its reflection, resting and then jumping the ice flows. As you can see, the light was perfect and sun low in the sky around 8:30 pm. Did not have to do a lot of post processing.
About
I started late as a photographer (mid 60’s) because my boss made it impossible to take a week off without a hysterical description of how my company fell apart while I was gone. I had a high stress investment job so when I retired I looked for something that would keep me outdoors with nature and teach me to be patient. Forest Ranger was out of the question so I decided on photography, less dangerous. I began by taking photo workshops and learning one button at a time and photoshop one tool at at a time. Slow learner. Gradually went from “all auto” point and shoot photographer to an all manual shooter as my confidence improved. All I really wanted starting out was a nice shot of a grizzly or polar bear. After thousands of images and numerous trios I have branched out into landscape, infrared, and especially time lapse, and night photography.
I find peace and comfort being alone at night and able to really “hear” the true sounds of nature. Every new facet of photography you are exposed to adds to your ability to see the light. Covid has slowed me down but I will make up for it as the world goes back on its axis. Jared had the best details on learning how to focus and sharpness so I signed on.
Note: Jim graced the cover of the Winter 2021 issue of the Journal of Wildlife Photography.
Amy Perlman
This image was taken in the summer of 2018 during a 10- day cruise in the high arctic around the Norwegian Archipelago of Svalbard. I boarded a zodiac from our small ship with my photo group and guide. We were moving along the shoreline near the island of Storoya and saw a blue-white iceberg in the distance with several walrus resting on top.
This scene really popped since the bright iceberg was floating alone against a darker grayish blue sky as a backdrop. We were able to drift for sometime watching and photographing the herd. All at once, the herd began to dive off the iceberg in all directions, leaving this mom who appeared to be coaxing her hesitant calf to follow the others into the water.
The next several frames I shot show the calf plunging into the water and the mom leaning over looking down after. For me, this image captured the strong bond between this mother and calf while reminding of the extreme peril that they and many other species face as our planet warms and the sea ice continues to recede.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 5D Mark IV
Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM @ 100mm
About Amy Perlman
I enjoy wildlife, landscape and travel photography. For the past several years I have concentrated on photographing species and habitat that are threatened with a goal toward inspiring conservation.
Debby THomas
Seeing a jaguar in the wild was a ‘bucket list’ wish of mine. Reading up on jaguar, the Pantanal in Brazil seemed to offer a small possibility for sightings at the time. The Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland. It can expand during the rainy season to cover about 77,000 square miles.
We went to the Pantanal with a birding guide since my husband is an avid birder. The weather was hot to the point of passing out and the birding slow and long. I was starting to regret going on this particular trip when we finally arrived at the river destination. The end of the ‘road’. You have to retrace your steps to return from the trip. Our guide had a small old aluminum boat with a faulty motor so any photography had to be taken with the boat vibrating. If he turned off the motor it may not be possible to restart and we may be stranded somewhere on the river..
The river curves like a snake. You couldn’t see what was around any bend. We wound through dense jungle like vegetation getting deeper into the wilderness. On the last day we rounded another bend like all the others. Laying on a large downed tree was a jaguar looking straight at us. I wasn’t even sure of my settings, I was in shock and just started shooting. I was so excited to have such an incredible experience. Her legs and head were dangling over the log as she rested. She raised her head to look at us. After mutual stares at each other for a minute we went on so as not to disturb her rest. I submitted this image because it was a special moment for me. I hoped others could connect to it.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 1D Mark IV 1/800 second @ f/7.1,ISO 1,000.
Canon 100-400mm lens @ 400mm
About Debby Thomas
A former horse trainer/instructor, Debby now uses her intuitive sense for animals to portray their individual personalities through her artwork and photography. Debby’s equine, canine and wildlife work is in private collections worldwide and has won numerous awards in National and International Juried competitions and exhibits.
www.AnimalArtAndPhotography.com
http://animalartandphotography.zenfolio.com/
https://www.facebook.com/DebbyThomasArtAndPhotography
Anthony Goldman
I was on a photographic safari with my wife and another couple that we have travelled together on numerous african safaris. On this particular day we were in the Tarangire National Park in Tanzania, East Africa.
We were viewing a large herd of Zebra in the late afternoon setting sun and as we drove past the herd I specifically noticed the dust from the moving herd on the other side of the road to where we headed and I envisaged this photo produced and made the ranger turn around and go back and was able to capture the Zebra silhouetted into the dust and the setting sun -I had pictured this photo in my head and was able to complete it by going back!!
Technical Photo Data
Camera Canon 1dx
Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens at 78mm
Exif data f/2.8 1.1000s iso 100.4
About Anthony Goldman
I am 68 years old and a cardiologist who practiced for 45 years and just retired at the end of 2020. I grew up in South Africa where I developed a love of wildlife but have spent the last 36 years in the United States. I am a serious amateur wildlife photographer with a special interest in the big cats of Africa especially leopards and birds from all over the world.
Karl Chiang
In the temperate rainforest of British Columbia even in the daytime the light is low. I was on a rare workshop that allowed this rare viewing. I had already been shooting for 2 days prior to this and was finally not completely overwhelmed with emotion at the sensory overload of the bears catching salmon.
In fact, I did not even pick this picture to enter in a contest initially thinking that an action shot of fish and salmon would be more captivating. I was wrong. A year later when I was looking for a picture to post in the Journal of Wildlife Contest for Mammals, I came across this picture.
The second time around I fell in love with it and kicked myself for passing it up. Why? I think I was initially biased and when I relooked at it critically I realized the “simple” beauty of the composition. It yelled out to me a classic tale of a rare, beautiful bear in its classic environment
It was walking slowly through the forest like a “Spirit” with a perfect body pose with one paw out in a diagonal orientation. I just fell in love with it this time. I guess it is better late than never, and teaches me to come back to old photos.
Technical Photo Data
I am a Nikonian and this photo was taken with a D5 and 180-400mm f4 lens at 180mm and f4 with Auto ISO 2800, 1/400 second processed in LR only.
About Karl Chiang
I am a full-time Interventional Radiologist in Greenville, NC with a serious nature photography hobby. I have taken workshops with Jared before as well. I am split between landscapes and wildlife as I love both facets of Nature Photography.
Lisa Allard
Lisa Allard
Image #1
Moose in the Alpen Glow Sunrise
This inlet in Northern, NH is my favorite place to see moose, deer, waterfowl and listen to coyotes. I was in my kayak before dark and this beautiful Bull Moose still in Velvet was already out feasting on the vegetation.
I positioned myself very quietly behind some tall grass and clicked away as my heart was stuck in my throat the entire time. He hung around for about half an hour as the sun was rising. I was able to capture the moose in many different shades of light, then another kayaker showed up and he headed out of sight.
Technical Photo Data
Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600 at 500 mm, 1/500 f6.3, ISO 200
Image #2
Breakfast with two moose at sunrise
I’ve spent many hours kayaking at this inlet in Northern, NH. This particular morning, I was photographing a pair of loons and a great blue heron when suddenly, not one, but TWO moose come marching into the water. A young male and a female.
Thankfully I was close enough to the edge of the trees and they never saw me. I was so close to them that I had to put down my camera with my telephoto lens so I could capture the entire scene with my cell phone (I didn’t dare take the time to switch lenses).
The entire scene before me included two loons, these two moose, the heron, fog and a beautiful sunrise!
Technical Photo Data
Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600 at 150 mm, 1/200 f/5, ISO 220
About Lisa Allard
My passion in life is to find and capture beauty all around me whether it’s nature, wildlife, animals or people. My full time job is banking but maybe someday it will be sharing my photography, full time, in some shape or form. I am from Northern New Hampshire and now live in Central Vermont. I have yet to be bored with capturing New England. My husband has taught me a great deal about wildlife and nature and has fostered my sense of adventure and courageousness to explore.
Kenneth Mahar
I call this “GODS LIGHT.” We were in a vehicle that was stationary waiting for these two giraffe to approach us as they were walking in our direction. It was near the end of the day in Tanzania when we saw several giraffes in the distance approaching us. We turned off the engine and waited for them to approach us.
Within 15 minutes these two giraffes got very close to us. The light was changing often when all of a sudden the clouds separated and the suns glow illuminated these two giraffes. I couldn’t have asked for a better capture.
It pays to be patient when shooting wildlife, having your camera’s settings ready for the ambient lighting situations, correct ISO to capture sudden movement, along with shutter.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 5D Mark IV, 100-400 with 1.4 teleconverter, Image captured at 270mm, ISO 400, 1/200 sec, Aperture Priority
About Ken Mahar
Ken has spent the later part of his life in pursuit of beauty through nature. As a commercial painter for over 35 years, his appreciation for color, structure, texture and lighting has led him to photography in which he fully embraces. Throughout the years as a painter, he has documented his work with the camera, now he captures the work that nature has accomplished. His photography encompasses a myriad of interests from landscape/seascape, portraiture, structural/architectural, travel, macro, abstract, and where his passion truly lies, wildlife photography. Ken thoroughly enjoys being out in nature witnessing what it has to offer, from vast vistas to the wonderful wildlife in it. His intent is to capture an image with minimal impact on wildlife and the environment. What stirs his soul, is to view, capture, and share these images for the world to see.
He may be contacted through his website, Ken-Mahar-Photos.com
Jenny Loren
It was late afternoon and an extremely cold -41 degrees on the last day of our polar bear den trip. We saw one mother and her cubs on the second day of our seven day trip but, we were really hoping to get another sighting in before we had to leave. I was so excited to hear that a mother and her cubs were seen making their way to Hudson Bay. We knew that if they stopped to rest we’d likely be able to see them.
We finally heard that they settled in and we were then able to move in at a distance to see them. After getting out of our snow vehicle and setting up to shoot I was frozen. But it wasn’t because of the frigid cold temperature, it was the surreal scene laid out before me. It felt like I was in a dream.
I was awakened by the sounds of camera shutters going off and came back to reality. The cubs were very active and playing around, even though mom was trying to rest. She had a gentle way with her cubs. The love between mom and cubs was what I had hoped to capture. My focus was to wait for those tender moments and not just firing off like a machine gun.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 1DX Mark ll, 600mm f/4 lS ll, Canon tc 1.4 lll, 1/800, f/8 ISO 1600, spot metering
About Jenny Loren
Since I was a child, I have been obsessed with bears. So when I took up wildlife photography six years ago, bears became my passion. I have been fortunate to photograph polars from the ground as well as black bears, spirit bears and my all time favorite the brown coastal bears of Alaska.
James Capo
The sun was just rising, and I was making my way toward a spot that I knew was used as a wildlife corridor. I had seen javelina and coyote a number of times as they made their way out of the brushy wash, but only once had I seen a bobcat here before. The four-legged critters were frequent travelers through the area, I knew, but actual sightings of them were less common. More likely, in this morning golden hour, I was expecting to photograph the birds of the Southern Arizona desert near my home in Tucson as they became active after the long night. Quail, cactus wren, vermilion flycatcher, gila woodpecker, roadrunner, or the Cooper’s hawk that nested in the area, would make up my most likely subjects on this morning.
But as I was walking quietly, scanning the area in the early morning, almost magical light, I caught some motion in the brush directly in front of me. I stopped to watch a beautiful bobcat casually step into the clear—watching me, but completely calm, confident and essentially unconcerned by my arrival in his territory—with the distant sun just breaking the horizon behind him streaming golden light through the leaves and brush and framing his fur with rim light.
I knelt down slowly, wondering if getting eye level with a bobcat not many yards away was the smartest thing to do. I was in the wide open. Would he run away, and I’d lose the shot—or pounce? But he was undisturbed by my movement, his ears rotating one side or the other to check his surroundings, as he surveyed the open ground between us and from side to side. I began to click off frame after frame, and he soon began to walk along the edge of the woods giving me this wonderful rim-lit profile image. I couldn’t believe my good fortune to be in this magical moment, with a beautiful, wild, relaxed cat, and perfect light.
We spent what seemed like 10 minutes together as I watched him stretch, drink from a small puddle, scratch a tree, and watch the birds. But the time stamp on my images showed it was only a little over three minutes in total, and then he disappeared back into the underbrush. It was only three wonderful minutes, but the images from the encounter let me share and relive that time forever. Capturing wonderful moments is why I love photography.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 6D Mark II. Tamron 150-600G2 at 600mm. 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 8000.
About James Capo
My love of photography began early in my teens (well back in the film era), when my older brothers built a darkroom in our basement. The first time I watched a photo emerge from a blank sheet of photo paper so enthralled me, I forgot to move the sheet from the developing tray to the stop bath. I watched until the photo went nearly black! Today I enjoy shooting nature and landscape images, and working in the digital darkroom, to share the magic of capturing moments of meaning and beauty.
Tom Cowan
The photograph was taken in Costa Rica. I was there for my son’s destination wedding and was staying at a villa in the southwest area of Costa Rica that was in the jungle.
I asked the caretaker of the villa where I might get some bird and wildlife opportunities. She stated that there was a sloth on the premises and that she was pregnant.
A sloth spends much of their time in the trees but will come down to give birth. I was told the pregnant sloth had come down a couple days ago and might be giving birth. A couple days later I saw a sloth climbing a tree but could not see a baby. It was not until she cleared the lower branches that I saw the baby. By this time, she was high up in the tree, so I went to a 2nd floor balcony to get the shot you see.
I live in the Pacific Northwest of the USA and our mammals are completely different from those in Costa Rica. One of my goals was to photograph a sloth and getting one with a baby on her chest was a bonus.
I submitted it because of the subject, a “mother and child shortly after birth”, and I felt the photo was well composed. And let’s face it, sloths are cool!
Technical Photo Data
Canon 7D with the Canon 100-400 lens. Shot at 400 mm, 320 ISO, f/5.6, 1/200s. The photograph was post processed in Camera Raw, Photoshop and Topaz Studio and Luminar.
About Tom Cowan
I was a professional photographer for 25 years specializing in wedding, portrait, and then sports photography. I now shoot for the simple pleasure of being in nature and capturing its beauty.
Rhonda Thompson
I love shooting the stallions so much action and emotions!
The mane so tells the story of the horses… My my thoughts are WOW What a amazing Animal who has survived the harsh world amazing!
Technical Photo Data
I shoot a Sony I9 shutter speed 2000 Iso 1200 and f stop around f8
About Rhonda Thompson
I love to photograph and loving even more the wild horses!
Deji Odetoyinbo
The photography conditions at peak of the migration season in Kenya’s Maasai Mara vary from intense to insane. Tourist vehicles swarm impatiently; forced by stern rangers to remain two or three hundred meters from the slopes which overlook the river bank. On the opposite shore, thousands of wildebeest and zebra mill. Occasionally, an individual (or two, or ten) makes a tentative foray to the water’s edge. What happens next is entirely unpredictable. The grazers may repeatedly nose the water but decline to plunge; further bloating the hot dust with the tension of the tourist’s unfulfilled expectations. On this particular day, in obedience to signals completely inaudible and invisible to human senses, one wildbeest flew into the river triggering escalating pandemonium on both banks. Another couple of hundred beasts exploded into the crocodile-infested boil and commenced their frantic splash to the far bank.
According to park rules, vehicles may approach the banks once a wildebeest hits the water. Their dive ignited a furious sprint by scores of safari trucks racing to the claim choicest spots at the very edge of the steep slope overlooking the river. My companions and I twisted,turned and nearly tumbled as we struggled to secure our equipment and keep our bodies within the jostling jalopy. Somehow, incredibly during the mad melee, our driver had managed to park us in a spot which was probably the best compromise of safety, proximity and topography. Our lenses swivelled the instant he came to a halt. I abandoned my carefully-rehearsed autofocus strategies and pre-visualised compositions. I twirled my settings, snapped a series, chimped and corrected exposure in furious succession. I cursed my own faith in shooting in manual reasoning that aperture-priority would’ve permitted swifter adaptation to the scene’s changing exposure demands.
I tried to slow my racing heart and trembling fingers (yay, IS!) forcing myself to dissect the pandemonium, seek out individuals and anticipate and capture their moves. The oinking and braying of the beasts mignled with the frantic chatter from nearby trucks and the high frame-rate staccato from the shutters of the cameras in our truck. “Pick one, damn you. pick one!” I urged myself as I struggled to choose between the croc locking on his target, the inelegant cascade of wildebeests falling down the slopes and the balletic soar of super gnus who attempted to span 100 metres of river in a single bound. About a minute into the melee, I finally began to really slow down and find my groove. I started to like what I reviewed in my LCD, I shot fewer shots and made better exposures. Then, just as suddenly, after maybe 6 or 7 minutes, the whole thing was over.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 1D X Mark II + Canon EF 500mm f/4 IS II; 1/1250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, 500 mm
About Deji Odetoyinbo
I’m a pet veterinarian in Toronto, Ontario. When I’m not caring for poodles and Siamese cats in my busy urban practice, I love to travel to rural Africa to immerse myself in its matchless wildlife experience. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed wildlife viewing in other locations but to nothing matches the diversity and numbers of wildlife in many African destinations.
Joy Taylor
We finished our 10-day safari in Tanzania and took a bush plane to Rwanda to go Gorilla trekking. I am still amazed that I was with these magnificent Gorillas. With a little over a thousand population Mountain Gorillas are on the endangered list. We stayed at a lodge close to Volcanoes National Park. Early the next morning our group of 8 were driven to the Park.
There are 10 habituated Gorilla groups. Each Gorilla family has a name, and the guides and trackers know everything about the family. We chose the Sabyinyo family which was “supposed” to be an easy but turned into an intermediate trek.
Gihishanwitsi is the leader of the Sabyinyo family. He is one the largest Silverbacks and weighs around 486 pounds. There were 2 females, two babies (3 and 4 months old) and 2 juveniles. And there was Gihishanwitsi’s brother who the guides called “Big Ben”. He is the only known bald Silverback Gorilla. He is an outcast from the family but stays as close as Gihishanwitsi will allow him. My first photo was of bald Big Ben.
The early morning trek started cool and crisp with elevation of about 7500 feet and the thought that within an hour we would encounter the Sabyinyo family. But they did not make it easy to join them. Usually, they stay on the lower part of the mountain BUT today they decided to go to the top, feed in the crater and take a rest on the edge of the crater. Less than an hour turned into over two. The higher we climbed the narrower the path, with our guide making a path with his machete through the dense bamboo and vines. We climbed through mud (trying to suck our shoes off), wearing gloves so the thistles would not devour our hands and shedding layers of clothing. One thing in our favor is that it did not rain while we were on the mountain.
As I said earlier the first Gorilla, we encountered was Big Ben sitting all by himself not far from the family but not close enough to be part. The family had trampled down bamboo and vines making themselves a “room” in the rainforest.
Gihishanwitsi made himself comfortable on his stomach with his chin resting on his huge hand. Here I am sitting against a solid bamboo wall in Rwanda with nothing separating me from a magnificent Silverback Mountain Gorilla looking straight into my eyes. I felt a connection to him. Like this moment in time was meant be. Even now when I look at the photo, I feel we are looking inside each other trying to read each other’s thoughts. His eyes show intelligence, confidence and peace. I grabbed my camera and began taking photos. Gihishanwitsi laid on his stomach for a little while looking at me and then flipped over on his back and went to sleep.
Gihishanwitsi slept the most with the rest of the family sleeping off and on. At times, the family was nearly on top of each other as they slept. The mothers nursed their babies and were very loving and attentive to them.
I do not know if any experience could top spending one incredible hour with this family. People have asked me if I was ever afraid. Honestly, I never felt any fear. The family was very caring toward each other. Rwanda is working hard to preserve these amazing Mountain Gorillas.
Technical Photo Data
Canon 5D Mark IV. Lens Canon 24-70. ISO 250 f/7.1, 1/125 sec 77mm
About Joy Taylor
Born and raised in Texas. 2016 I was using a Canon Power Shot SX210IS and decided I wanted to learn photography. (I had no idea there is so much to learn and continue to learn forever) In 2017 I bought a Rebel kit with lens. Then upgraded to a Canon 5D Mark IV in 2018. So now photography has become a passion. Always looking for those special moments and places to capture the beauty of nature and animals that Father God has given us.
Sandra Belitza-Vazquez
I took this photograph during a visit to my county botanical garden. I went specifically to capture hummingbirds, but after photographing the only hummingbird I saw that day, I noticed a rustling in the grass directly in front of me.
Suddenly, and I mean suddenly, these two adorable chipmunks stood up and looked around, not bothered in the least by my presence only a few feet away. One laid his paw on the other and began nuzzling its cheek.
I immediately snapped the image and a few more before they separated. Their show of tenderness overjoyed me, and although I managed to get a few photographs of the hummingbird, my images of these adorable chipmunks made my day.
I submitted this image to the contest because it was a joyful moment that I wanted to share with your readers.
Technical Photo Data
Olympus OMD EMI-MarkII 40-150mm F2.8 Pro lens + MC1.4 teleconverter. ISO 1600 1/2500 sec at F4.5 210mm.
Sandra Belitza-Vazquez