Award Winning Wildlife Images With Titles
When I first created this page I was both proud that an image of mine had received an award, and concerned that there may never be another one. The original award winner was "Osprey Twins". As my skills improved, more awards followed. In those early years I simply added any new award winners at the bottom of the list. But, as the list continued to grow, viewers had to scroll through all the old awards to find the new awards. So, I decided I should feature the most recent awards first, without regard for how prestigious or mundane they may be. As a result, that first award winning image may end up at the bottom of this page forever, or I may enter it in another event where it could get back on top. Then the list got so big that it exceeded the maximum size allowed by my web page host. That required that I split the Award Winning Images in two; "Award Winning Wildlife Images With Titles" (this page) and "Award Winning Non-Wildlife Images With Titles". If you are interested in seeing what awards each image earned, and some images won several, these two pages are for you. If you are only interested in looking at the award winning photos you can go directly to the gallery: Award Winning Images/Photos Only.
So, without further ado, here are my Award Winning Wildlife Images:
Each year the worldwide Mensa Society holds a photo competition for members. Each member country is allowed to submit only 3 images. "Balance For Life" is one of the three USA finalists sent to the 2021 Mensa International competition in Europe.
We didn't win, but we did tie for second place in the World of Mensa.
There is a herd of wild horses in the Black Mountain foothills about 100 miles from my home. You might think this member of the herd is running from danger,
or is late for work, but what you see is simply "Unbridled Joy". The image of that emotion earned an Award of Merit from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs
during the Fall 2021 competition.
"Ming The Merciless" earned an Honorable Mention from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs in the March, 2021 MEID competition.
"Where's Waldo" is my favorite "Flock" image and in 2021 it received a Club Silver Medal in the "Petrus" International Exhibition in Serbia.
This image was named "Baby Falcon" when it earned an Award Of Merit from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Summer 2021 QEID competition because this beautiful Gyrfalcon was only 2 months old.
It was then rewarded with Second Place in the 2021 Year End Monochrome division where it was judged against all the other monochrome images from the past year. Since then the image name has been changed to "Turn Me Loose".
"Prey For Food" earned an Award Of Merit from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Summer 2021 QEID competition.
This "Natural Beauty" tied for high score, and an Award of Merit, from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Winter 2021 QEID Traditional competition in a field of 162 images. In case you are wondering, the bird is a Prairie Falcon.
Showing the "Hand Of Man" is usually discouraged in competition images, but the North American Nature Photography Association recognizes the importance of photographic support of conservation issues. This image of a wildlife ecologist holding a critically endangered American Condor made the elite "Top 100" images in the NANPA 2020 Showcase. This image also got an Award of Merit from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Spring 2020 QEID Altered Reality competition. And, it received the high score for the category. As a result, it was entered in the Year End competition and earned the title of "Image of the Year".
It looked to me like she was asking, "Is That All You Got For My Birthday?". The Columbia Council of Camera Clubs gave it an Award of Merit in the Fall QEID Traditional Category.
These Burrowing Owl nestlings are trying to "Sneak A Peek" at the great big world outside. This image made the North American Nature Photography Association 2020 Top 250 Showcase that attracted nearly 4000 entries. It also earned an
Honorable Mention in the "Arise To Canvas" International Exhibition in India in 2021
2020 PSA International Photo Exhibition awarded "Baby Raptor Eyes" with an Honorable Mention. In 2018 it was selected by the staff of the Peregrine Fund as the winner of the 2018 "Raptors at Risk" conservation award and was featured as the cover photo for The Peregrine Fund 2019 Calendar. The image also earned an Honorable Mention in the 2018 Photographic Society of America recognized "Raptors at Risk" international photo exhibition. Also selected as a semi-finalist in the 2018 Share The View contest.
This "Sweet 16 Portrait" reminds me of my favorite California Condor that flies freely around the north end of the Grand Canyon. She won an Award of Merit from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Spring 2020 QEID competition as well as becoming one of the Top 12 Finalists (out of 700 entries) in the 2020 Birdwatching Magazine Bird Portrait contest.
This image also won "Best of GEM State Chapter" in the 2021 Photographic Society of America Chapter Showcase competition.
"The Hunter's Eyes" saw an Award of Merit from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Winter 2020 QEID competition.
"Offering Fly Through Service" earned a PSA Honorable Mention in the 2019 PSAChina Special Theme International exhibition. It was also selected as a "Top 250" image out of 2114 entered in the 2019 "Share The View" contest.
"Extreme Preen" was selected as a "Top 250" image out of 2114 entered in the 2019 "Share The View" contest. It also earned the Bronze Medal in the Nature Section of the 2017 Raptors At Risk International Photo Exhibition. There were about 275 total entries from countries all over the world.
This fledgling Burrowing Owl is trying to swallow a snake ... whole! It's siblings are amazed at the show. I entered "Bet You Can't Eat Just One" in the 2019 PSA China international Exhibition where it received a "QINSEN" Honorable Mention. No, I don't know what Qinsen is, or means, either!! The snake eater also received an Award of Merit from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Summer competition in 2019. It was also selected as a "Semi-finalist" out of 2114 entered in the 2019 "Share The View" contest.
This "Trail Blazing Bison" shows the effects of having to dig through snow with his face to find food. This image brought home an Award of Merit from the Photographic Society of America Nature Division interclub competition for 2016/2017. It was also selected as a "Semi-finalist" out of 2114 entered in the 2019 "Share The View" contest.
"Secretary Bird" won an "Award of Merit" from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs (Twice!! once as a club entry and once as an individual entry). It was also selected as a "Semi-finalist" out of 2114 entered in the 2019 "Share The View" contest.
"The Sentinel" was created as part of my 2018 Photographic Artist in Residence program for the 25th Anniversary of the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area and is in the Bureau of Land Management gallery in Celebration Park. The image was given a Judge's Choice "Best of Show" at the 2018 Western Idaho Fair as well as a second place in it's category. The Columbia Council of Camera Clubs gave it an Award of Merit in the Fall 2018 QEID competition and the Photographic Society of America awarded the image an Honorable Mention in the 2019 Winter International Interclub competition. It was also selected for the "Top 250" out of over 2,000 entries in the Share The View contest. "The Sentinel" also earned recognition from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs year end awards with a second place in the Traditional category. In 2021 The Sentinel got an Award of Merit from the "Arise To Canvas" International Exhibition in India.
The color version of "Yes Dear" (found elsewhere on this page) has won a number of awards. In the Spring of 2019 I tried the monochrome version and won an Award of Merit from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs. It then was chosen as third best image of all submitted for the year 2019 by 4Cs.
These two American Kestrels are displaying "Marital Bliss" and earned an Honorable Mention in the Summer 2019 Columbia Council of Camera Clubs quarterly competition.
This bison is "Searching For Food" in the dead of Yellowstone National Park's winter. The image earned an "Alliance of Universal Photographers" Bronze Medal in the 2019 PSA China International Exhibition.
I was trying to get photos of individual Dogbane Beetles on a milkweed flower but it was apparently mating season and the bugs were in the spirit. This image won first place in the Close-Up category at the 2012 Western Idaho Fair. Then, after a long wait, the Photographic Society of America presented it with an Honorable Mention in 2019 Interclub Nature competition.
"No Rest For the Cute" won an Award of Merit in the Photographic Society of America 2019 Inter-Club competition as well as an Award of Merit from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs May 2019 Inter-club competition.
I think "High Praise" has just started getting attention, but I have been wrong before. In it's first contest it was selected as a "Top 250" finalist out of over 2,000 entries in the annual Share The View contest.
The fellow on the left is a Bohemian Waxwing and the guy on the right is a Cedar Waxwing. Their "Lunch Date" earned an Award of Merit from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs in the spring of 2017 as well as a First Place in the Professional Birds category of the 2017 Western Idaho Fair. In 2018 it was a "Top 250" finalist in the Share the View contest.
This female American Kestrel is on her "Final Approach" to her little home in Boise. It was a semi-finalist in the 2018 Share the View contest.
This "Elk Morning Commute" taken in Yellowstone National Park earned an Honorable Mention from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs during the Fall QEID competition.
"Rising Snows" has been one of my more popular images and several people have requested mounted prints. I expect it to earn more awards.
2021: An Honorable Mention in the "Arise To Canvas" International Exhibition in India.
2018: Photographic Society of America Award of Merit in Interclub competition
2015: First Place in the Outdoor Idaho competition
2014: Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Honorable Mention
"Coat Of Many Colors" was awarded an Honorable Mention by the Photographic Society of America Nature Division Interclub competition in 2017, as well as a Top 250 Honorable Mention from the "Share The View" 2015 international photo contest.
This "Mantis At Rest" flew into my backyard and posed for about an hour. This image won an Award of Merit in the 4 C's Fall Traditional competition.
"Madison Crossing" got a perfect score and won the Silver Medal in the 2017 Photographic Society of America International Exhibition Wildlife Division that included entries from all over the world.
I met this proud "Woodland Ruler" in Grand Teton National Park. He tied for high score and won an Award of Merit from The Columbia Council of Camera Clubs summer 2017 Traditional category.
Poppa Kestrel brings Momma Kestrel some food for the chicks in "Mouse Delivery" and earned a First Place blue ribbon, as well as a Special "Shoot, Share and Conserve" award in the Professional Birds of Prey category at the 2017 W Idaho Fair.
Cornell University Lab of Ornithology awarded "Fresh Lizard Delivery" an Honorable Mention in the 2017 Nestwatch contest.
"Air Mouse" earned an Honorable Mention in the 2017 Raptors At Risk International Photo Exhibition, Projected Image Section.
"Looking Back At You" was awarded an Award of Merit by the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs during the 2017 Winter individual open competition.
"Whoo Dat?" earned an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Outdoor Idaho photo contest.
This "Killdeer Family" got an Award of Merit and tied for second highest score in the Summer 2016 4C's Traditional Images category.
Zoos are both good and bad in my estimation. It's hard not to feel some sympathy for the animals in small cages for life. The Boise zoo, like most, is well intentioned and a popular place for families to visit. But, still the small cages! There is one cage of monkeys that is located directly adjacent to a shaded rest area for visitors with picnic benches. The poor monkeys are stuck in the cage watching people eat all sorts of food. I was struck by one monkey that climbed up on the cage to get as close to the food as possible and the result was "Monkey Feet". The image won an Honorable Mention from the Photographic Society of America Council's Challenge 2015.
"Nose Dive" won Second Place in the 2016 Boise Camera Cub End Of Year Sports and Action category. No, it is not a Photoshop product. It was pure luck that I caught this gull diving for dinner at just this critical moment.
"Tsunami" Received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Boise Camera Cub End Of Year Nature category.
This "High Key Coyote" was captured during my first snowmobile trip to Yellowstone. It won an Award of Merit from the Photographic Society of America Nature Division 2015-16 Contest.
"At Rest" earned an Award of Merit in the Fall 2015 Columbia Council of Camera Clubs quarterly individual competition as well as an Honorable Mention in the 4Cs November 2015 Club competition.
This is "Why They Are Called Wood Ducks" and it was an August Winner in the "Outdoor Idaho - Iconic Idaho Photo Contest". It was also featured as the cover of the ADA County Parks and Waterways Magazine "Currents".
This pelican from Cabo San Lucas came in a "Plain Brown Wrapper" and won an Award of Merit from the Traditional Division of the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs as well as a Top 250 Honorable Mention from the "Share The View" 2015 international photo contest.
"Trumpeter Thrash" was taken in Yellowstone National Park and is the first image of mine to win an award from an "International Exhibition". It got an Honorable Mention from PSA-MET (New York) Exhibition. In addition, "Trumpeter Thrash" got an Award of Merit from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs in the Traditional Division in Summer of 2015 and won First Place in the Action Category of the 2015 Boise Camera Club Annual Awards. "Share The View" international photo contest 2015 awarded it a Top 250 Honorable Mention and the 2015 Western Idaho Fair awarded it a Third Place in the Honored Citizens Bird Category.
"Sugar Shack" is a composite of about 6 different images and was sweet enough to win First Place in the Creative Category of the 2015 Boise Camera Club Annual Awards Competition. It also won an Award of Merit in the Creative Division from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs for Spring of 2015. At the 2015 Western Idaho Fair in got First Place in the Insect class.
The Boise Camera Club Annual Awards competition was held on a good day for "Great Hair Day" as it won First Place in the Portrait category and then went on to win Best Of Show for a color projected image at the same event. The Columbia Council of Camera Clubs awarded it an Award of Merit for Spring 2015.
It takes a "Good Glove" to withstand the sharp talons of this Eurasian Eagle Owl, and the photo was good enough to earn an Honorable Mention from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs May 2015 electronic image competition. This image was also featured in the 2016 Peregrine Fund calendar.
I was lucky to locate this "Big Horn Ram In Tall Grass" near the Yellowstone River while searching for big game. The Photographic Society of America recognized the image with an Honorable Mention in the 2014 - 2015 Season Contest.
A Black Necked Stilt ruffles it's feathers and squats over a nest full of eggs in "Nesting Ritual" which was awarded an Honorable Mention by the Photographic Society of America 2014-2015 Season Contest.
"A Busy Day At LAX" is a composite of 6 different images stitched and blended together in Photoshop. It got an Honorable Mention in the Creative category of the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Winter 2015 individual electronic image competition.
This pelican is "Singing On A Rock By The Bay" near Cabo San Lucas and earned an Honorable Mention from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Winter 2015 individual electronic image competition.
Stare Down" won First Place in the "Up Close" category at the 2014 Western Idaho Fair. The image also received an Honorable Mention in the Boise Camera Club 2015 Annual Awards Competition in the Nature Category, and it was one of the "Top 250 Highly Commended" images in the 2014 "Share The View" international photo contest.
"Red Tail Cleared For Landing" is a stitched composite of three images and was given an Honorable Mention by the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs summer 2014 QEID competition. In 2016 it earned a second place ribbon in the Professional "Birds of Prey" category at the western Idaho Fair.
"Tough Sleddin" was shot during a winter snowmobile trek in Yellowstone NP and was given an Award of Merit by the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs in the March 2014 Electronic Image Division.
During the fall of 2013 the Photographic Society of America added a NATURE division to their competition format for member clubs. The Boise Camera Club was permitted to enter 6 images, all from different members, and my image of a Coyote hunting in the snow at Yellowstone National Park was included. The image got a score of 13 out of a possible 15 which earned an "HONOR" award.
We are all but over-run by Canada Geese here in Idaho, but they can be really beautiful in flight. This image of a small flock of Canadian honkers taking off from a local lake got an Honorable Mention in the 2013 Idaho Statesman Outdoor Idaho Photo Contest and Third Place in Color Panorama at the 2013 Western Idaho Fair. It is one of my favorite images.
I had been searching for Bald Eagles with little success for months when a friend told me about sightings not far from my home. I found a nesting pair and got a group of nice images you can see in my American Bald Eagles gallery. This image got a perfect score of 27 in Boise Camera Club review so I entered it in the Summer 2013 QEID competition of the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs where it tied for top score in the Traditional category and got an Award of Merit. The Photographic Society of America Projected Image Division gave it an Award of Merit in November of 2013. This eagle also landed in First Place in the Seniors category at the 2013 Western Idaho Fair and got an Honorable Mention in the Idaho Statesman 2013 Outdoor Idaho Photo Contest
I went on an early morning fishing trip with my brother, Dean. He didn't catch anything but this osprey did. The composite of 6 images won an Honorable Mention in the 2012 Boise Camera Club End of the Year competition in the Creative category. The very yellow overcast was caused by major forest fires burning in the area.
Because I am an old guy now I can enter the "Seniors" category. This image won second place at the 2012 Western Idaho Fair.
"Osprey Twins" was my first winner. The "twins" won an "Award of Merit" from The Photographic Society of America; an "Award of Merit" from the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs and an "Honorable Mention" in the Idaho Statesman 2010 Idaho Outdoor Photo Contest. This image was recognized in the "Top 250" Audubon Society of Greater Denver 2012 "Share The View" international competition.
This "Idaho Toad" was captured and photographed in my backyard. The image has been recognized in both color and black and white. The color version got "Honorable Mention" in the 2011 Idaho Outdoor Photo Contest and was featured in full color on the front page of the Idaho Statesman when the contest winners were announced. "Second Place - Monochrome" was awarded to the black and white version at the Boise Camera Club 2011 Year End Awards.
Zoo Boise has a very special little butterfly exhibit during the summer months. This photo of a Monarch butterfly from the zoo exhibit, titled "Eye Spy", won "First Place" in the Close-Up category at the 2011 Western Idaho Fair. I know; it's a good thing that the judges don't award prizes based on the creativity of image names!
This lion portrait, titled "Yes Dear", is my most successful image so far. It was taken at the San Diego Zoo wild animal park in Southern California while on vacation in 2011. To date this image has won:
Boise Camera Club 2011 Year End Awards "Best of Show"
Columbia Council of Camera Clubs "Award of Merit"
Western Idaho Fair "First Place: Animals"
Boise Camera Club 2011 Year End Awards "Projected Image-Specific: First Place"
Photographic Society of America "Honorable Mention"
2014 Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Summer QEID "Award of Merit"
I caught this Snowy Egret catching lunch while on vacation in Northern California in 2011 and named the image "Fly Fishing". The Columbia Council of Camera Clubs gave it an "Award of Merit" which qualified the image for over all year end award consideration where it received an "Honorable Mention". "Fly Fishing" also earned an "Honorable Mention" during the Boise Camera Club 2011 Year End Awards competition.
This Grizzly Bear is featured at the Grizzly Bear and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. I couldn't resist naming the image "Cocaine? What Cocaine?" and it won an "Honorable Mention" from the Photographic Society of America International Club Image Competition.
On a trip to Northern California I chased down this Great Egret and named the photo "Feather Light". The Columbia Council of Camera Clubs gave it an "Award of Merit" and then, during the year end finals, it was awarded Third Place over all. This image was recognized in the "Top 250" Audubon Society of Greater Denver 2012 "Share The View" international competition.
Wood ducks are some of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen. This portrait of a dominant male earned a perfect score (27, my first ever!), during a Boise Camera Club Projection Night and was forwarded to the April 2013 Columbia Council of Camera Clubs Regional Competition where it was awarded an Honorable Mention. The image got an Honorable Mention in the 2013 Idaho Statesman "Outdoor Idaho" photo contest as well as a "Top 250" award in the "Share The View" International Photo Contest.