AWARD WINNERS

FIRST PRIZE - Macro/Other Category in the 2024 Share the View International Nature Photography Contest UNDERWATER DANCERS - Beautiful, graceful mobula rays swimming in the Sea of Cortez are an impressive and breathtaking sight underwater with their m

FIRST PRIZE - Macro/Other Category in the 2024 Share the View International Nature Photography Contest UNDERWATER DANCERS - Beautiful, graceful mobula rays swimming in the Sea of Cortez are an impressive and breathtaking sight underwater with their massive aggregations. (Baja California Sur, Mexico)

FIRST PLACE - Nature/Amateur Category in the 2024 Monochrome Awards International Black and White Photography Contest FISH BALLOON - While looking for marine megafauna in the Sea of Cortez, our group spotted what appeared to be a large bait ball of f

FIRST PLACE - Nature/Amateur Category in the 2024 Monochrome Awards International Black and White Photography Contest FISH BALLOON - While looking for marine megafauna in the Sea of Cortez, our group spotted what appeared to be a large bait ball of fish. Upon closer inspection, the ball of fish was determined to be balloonfish. Balloonfish have a defensive mechanism where they can fill up with water or air into a spherical shape with protruding spines. Adults are usually solitary, but I later learned that juveniles may form aggregations. Their collective round formation reminds me of a single balloonfish in their defensive state. I really love how these little fish came together to form such a beautiful, artistic sight with their reflection at the surface of the water and the sun’s rays surrounding them. (Baja California Sur, Mexico)

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR - Featured image in the 2025 The Nature Photography Contest MOBULA ROCKET – Mobula rays exhibit stunning acrobatics when jumping out of the water. They suddenly burst out of the sea like a rocket and become airborne, eventua

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR - Featured image in the 2025 The Nature Photography Contest MOBULA ROCKET – Mobula rays exhibit stunning acrobatics when jumping out of the water. They suddenly burst out of the sea like a rocket and become airborne, eventually landing back in the sea in a belly flop or flipping onto their backs. It’s not known exactly why they do this, but theories include communication, ridding of parasites, part of a mating ritual, or just because they are happy. (Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur, Mexico)

WINNER of the SPECIAL AWARD: NATIONAL PARKS AND REFUGES in the 2024 Share the View International Nature Photography Contest SNACK TIME - A young mountain gorilla munching on vegetation in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

WINNER of the SPECIAL AWARD: NATIONAL PARKS AND REFUGES in the 2024 Share the View International Nature Photography Contest SNACK TIME - A young mountain gorilla munching on vegetation in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

TOP 31/JUDGE'S CHOICE - Macro, Micro, and All Other Wildlife Category in the 2026 North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Showcase Competition GENTLE GLIDER - A giant oceanic manta ray with attached remora swimming in the Sea of Cortez,

TOP 31/JUDGE'S CHOICE - Macro, Micro, and All Other Wildlife Category in the 2026 North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Showcase Competition GENTLE GLIDER - A giant oceanic manta ray with attached remora swimming in the Sea of Cortez, Baja California Sur, Mexico. The manta ray and the remora have a mutualistic relationship where each provides benefits to the other.

THIRD PLACE - The Best of 2025 Challenge in the 2025 Pangolin Photo Challenge ORCA FAMILY – A family of orcas swimming in the waters of the Sea of Cortez. While recently exploring the Sea of Cortez in Baja California Sur, Mexico, I saw many fascinati

THIRD PLACE - The Best of 2025 Challenge in the 2025 Pangolin Photo Challenge ORCA FAMILY – A family of orcas swimming in the waters of the Sea of Cortez. While recently exploring the Sea of Cortez in Baja California Sur, Mexico, I saw many fascinating creatures. On the very last day, I finally encountered the superstars of the sea – orcas. Swimming with this family of beautiful, magnificent, and intelligent creatures was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

WINNER OF THE SPECIAL AWARD: OCEAN LIFE in the 2025 Share the View International Nature Photography Contest; FINALIST in the 2026 Siena International Photo Awards; TOP 250 in the 2026 North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Showcase Com

WINNER OF THE SPECIAL AWARD: OCEAN LIFE in the 2025 Share the View International Nature Photography Contest; FINALIST in the 2026 Siena International Photo Awards; TOP 250 in the 2026 North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Showcase Competition ORCAS IN SUNBEAMS – While recently exploring the Sea of Cortez in Baja California Sur, Mexico, I saw many fascinating creatures. On the very last day, I finally encountered the superstars of the sea – orcas. Swimming with this family of beautiful, magnificent, and intelligent creatures showered in sunbeams was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

WINNER - Monochrome Wildlife Challenge in the 2025 Pangolin Photo Challenge; TOP 250 in the 2025 Share the View International Nature Photography Contest; TOP 250 in the 2026 North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Showcase Competition L

WINNER - Monochrome Wildlife Challenge in the 2025 Pangolin Photo Challenge; TOP 250 in the 2025 Share the View International Nature Photography Contest; TOP 250 in the 2026 North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Showcase Competition LION KINGS – Two male lions from a single pride on top of a high kopje in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. As the sun began to set, these two lions began to wake and vocalize with the third male member of the pride on another rock below. I captured these two as they stood overlooking their domain.

FINALIST in the 2026 Remembering Wildlife photo contest: Remembering Giraffes GIRAFFES AT SUNSET – A sunset encounter with Masai giraffes (Giraffa tippelskirchi) wading in a lake with flamingoes in the background. We stood on top of our vehicles to

FINALIST in the 2026 Remembering Wildlife photo contest: Remembering Giraffes GIRAFFES AT SUNSET – A sunset encounter with Masai giraffes (Giraffa tippelskirchi) wading in a lake with flamingoes in the background. We stood on top of our vehicles to get the dark giraffe silhouettes against the light background of the lake. (Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania)

FINALIST in the 2026 Remembering Wildlife photo contest: Remembering Giraffes STORM GAZING – As the sun set on another day in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, a herd of Masai giraffes (Giraffa tippelskirchi) were mingling around in a lak

FINALIST in the 2026 Remembering Wildlife photo contest: Remembering Giraffes STORM GAZING – As the sun set on another day in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, a herd of Masai giraffes (Giraffa tippelskirchi) were mingling around in a lake full of flamingoes in the background. This shot required climbing on top of the vehicle to place the silhouettes of the giraffes against the lighter tone of the water so that they would be fully visible. The giraffe on the left appears to be gazing at the rainstorm in the distance.

TOP 250 - 2025 North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Showcase Competition POOL PARTY – During the month of March 2024, countless numbers of zebras and wildebeest descended upon a lake in Ndutu, in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of T

TOP 250 - 2025 North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) Showcase Competition POOL PARTY – During the month of March 2024, countless numbers of zebras and wildebeest descended upon a lake in Ndutu, in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania. Although zebras are most visible in this photo, there were plenty of wildebeest participating in the “pool party”. It was an amazing and gregarious scene to witness, including the extremely vocal zebras.