Wildlife Promise » photo contest http://blog.nwf.org The National Wildlife Federation's blog Fri, 17 May 2013 19:57:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 7 Photos That Capture A Mother’s Love http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/7-photos-that-capture-a-mothers-love/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/7-photos-that-capture-a-mothers-love/#comments Fri, 10 May 2013 20:06:24 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=80457 Read more >]]> Here at National Wildlife magazine, there is no more sure fire way to get a big response from our readers than to publish a photo that captures the bond between mother and baby. It doesn’t matter if it’s polar bears or ducks or apes—these photos touch us because they remind us that the love between a mother and baby is universal.

So, in honor of Mother’s Day this Sunday, I’m sharing some amazing photos that were past entries in the Baby Animals category of our National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Browse through our gallery of “aww”dorable baby animal entries from last year below.

The Baby Animals category is always one of our most popular, and this year is no exception. You can see this year’s exciting and touching crop of Baby Animal photos right now at the 43rd annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. You can vote for and share your favorites or even enter your own photos.

If you love taking pictures of the wild things and wild life all around us, I encourage you to enter a few photos of your own! Enter by May 15th and you’ll get to add 5 extra photos at no additional cost.

Brown bear cub gets its mother in a muzzle-lock. Photo by Michael Pollack. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest entry, Baby Animals category.

Brown bear cub gets its mother in a muzzle-lock. Photo by Michael Pollack. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest entry.

Cheetah mother and cub

An affectionate moment between a mother cheetah and her cub. Photo by Lisa Hoffner. First Place winner, Baby Animals, 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Hippo mother and calf

Hippo mother and calf in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia. Photo by Thomas Mattas. 2011 National Wildlife Photo Contest entry.

Sandhill crane chick

Sandhill crane chick peeking out of its parent’s feathers. Photo by Scott Helfrich. Second Place winner, Baby Animals, 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Polar bear mother and cubs

A polar bear cub cuddles against its mother in Wapusk National Park, Canada. Photo by Christine Haines. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Yellow-bellied marmot mother and baby.

A baby yellow-bellied marmot snuggles against its mom in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by Fi Rust. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest entry.

Humpback whale mother and calf

A humpback whale helps her calf to the surface to breathe. Photo by Mazdak Radjainia. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest entry.

All photos were entries in the Baby Animals category of the National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 43rd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest >>
]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/7-photos-that-capture-a-mothers-love/feed/ 1 Wildlife Through a Lens: Focus on Birds http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/wildlife-through-a-lens-focus-on-birds/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/wildlife-through-a-lens-focus-on-birds/#comments Fri, 03 May 2013 14:44:08 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=78650 Read more >]]> Spring is a prime season for bird photography, and we want you to feel inspired to grab your camera and snap some photos! We asked Christine Haines, one of our Flickr group members and a long-time National Wildlife Photo Contest entrant, about her experience photographing these sometimes challenging critters. She shared some of her own striking images and advice:

California Quail

California quail. Photo by Christine Haines.

Flock of Robins Plus Waxwing

Flock of American robins and a cedar waxwing. Photo by Christine Haines.

 

Be patient and take lots of photos.

“Patience and persistence are good qualities to have as a wildlife photographer.” In the 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest, Christine’s polar bear photo won an Honorable Mention, “proving that persistence pays off.”

 

Calliope Hummingbird

Calliope hummingbird. Photo by Christine Haines.

Feeding Time

Pygmy nuthatch. Photo by Christine Haines.

 

You don’t have to go far to find photo opportunities.

“Most of my bird images were taken in my backyard. Installing a bird bath with a water dripper will attract the greatest variety of birds.”

 

Runner up in The Nature Conservancy's Photo Contest

Pygmy nuthatches on a water dripper. Photo by Christine Haines.

Mt Chickadee

Mountain chickadee. Photo by Christine Haines.

 

Find your inspiration, and hone your skills with reading and practice.

Christine worked for the City of Spokane, Washington for 20 years as a traffic engineering specialist, and it was bird watching that sparked her interest in photography. “I saw the beautiful images in my bird magazines and wanted to take them, too.” She developed her skills through reading and joining a photography club.

 

House Finch

House finch. Photo by Christine Haines.

Hummer in Plum Tree

Calliope hummingbird in tree. Photo by Christine Haines.

See more of Christine’s photos on Flickr >>

Want More Nature Photography Ideas?


Visit our Nature Photography Tips Center or check out the entries in this year’s National Wildlife Photo Contest! Vote for your favorite photos and consider entering your own for a chance to win the Grand Prize — a trip for two to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada where you can see and photograph polar bears.

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/wildlife-through-a-lens-focus-on-birds/feed/ 3 Grab Your Camera: A Simple Way to Celebrate Earth Day http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/grab-your-camera-a-simple-way-to-celebrate-earth-day/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/grab-your-camera-a-simple-way-to-celebrate-earth-day/#comments Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:45:59 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=78962 Read more >]]> Here’s a simple, fun way to celebrate Earth Day… share the beauty of nature as seen through your camera lens.

Whether it’s a cheetah in Africa, a beautiful hummingbird in your own backyard, a meadow covered in wildflowers or a stunning coast, photos of the nature all around us moves us, inspires us and reminds us of all we have to protect.

Lake Superior

Lake Superior coast. Photo by Steve Perry. 2012 National Wildlife Photo Contest.

So this year we suggest you celebrate Earth Day by grabbing your camera and capturing some of the beauty around you. You don’t even have to go outside! Get seven ways to take great nature photos without leaving your house in our article How to Photograph Wildlife Through A Window, including tips on how to avoid problems with the glass, using the house as a blind and getting up close without a telephoto lens.

Of course, if you are planning to go a little farther than your own backyard, we suggest checking out these 13 stunning photos that use water to showcase the beauty of wildlife, landscapes, trees and the sky for inspiration and then get out there and enjoy the wonders of nature.

Visit our Nature Photography Tips Center for ideas and advice from pro photographers on photographing flowers, small animals, subjects in the rain, and more.

In honor of Earth Day, we invite you to join our 43rd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Entering is easy. Just snap some new photos, or choose some of your favorites from your photo albums, and share them with your fellow nature and photography enthusiasts by entering this year’s contest.

We have amazing prizes for this year’s winners, including our Grand Prize, expense paid trip to Manitoba Canada to see and photograph polar bears! Plus great prizes for the winners in seven categories and our People’s Choice award.

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/grab-your-camera-a-simple-way-to-celebrate-earth-day/feed/ 0 Photography Advice: Get Out There as Much as You Can, and Always Bring Your Camera http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/get-out-there-as-much-as-you-can-and-always-bring-your-camera/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/get-out-there-as-much-as-you-can-and-always-bring-your-camera/#comments Sun, 14 Apr 2013 19:50:29 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=78158 Read more >]]> The Youth category of the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest is one we look forward to every year. After all, connecting children with nature is a vital part of our mission. Plus, there’s a lot of talent in the 13- to 17-year-old age group! In an interview following her 2011 Youth Contest win, Jenaya Launstein offered some tips that any photographer from 8 to 88 could put to use. Here are the lessons she shared with us.

You’ve Got to Get out There Regularly

We usually go out photographing in nature a few times a week. It helps to live where I do (southwest Alberta, Canada, near Waterton Lakes National Park), as I get to photograph lots of bears (black and grizzly), deer, elk, moose, birds and other animals. I’m also a member of the Nature Photographers Network, which has really helped me grow in my abilities and skills as a photographer.

Getting the Shot You Want Can Take Hard Work and a Flexible Approach

I love photographing bears! We have lots of black bears and some grizzlies in our area, and my family takes several trips every year to other areas good for bears so we can watch and photograph them. I also really like photographing owls, and we do lots of outings trying to find some that we can photograph. My dad and I have done lots of hiking and dredging through deep snow in hopes of getting rewarded with a good photo opportunity.

Brown phase black bear cub

Brown phase black bear cub in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada. Photo by Jenaya Launstein.

Probably one of the shots that was the most rewarding and difficult at the time was when we went out in a wild snowstorm and found a northern hawk owl perched in a really cool old tree, scanning the snowy meadow for something to eat. I got some pictures from the truck, and then we hiked out and tried to get into a better position. It was snowing so heavily, it was hard to focus! I forgot my monopod in the truck so my dad braced himself against a boulder and I rested my lens on his shoulder. I ended up getting several pictures of the owl perched with tons of snowflakes all around him, and even one of him as he spotted something and flew from his perch. I love the mood the snow gives the pictures. When we got back to the truck, we both looked like walking snowmen!

Northern hawk owl in snow

Northern hawk owl in the snow. Photo by Jenaya Launstein.

Always Bring Your Camera—and Shoot Lots

“Probably the best suggestion I can share for getting good pictures of wildlife is to go out as much as you can, always with your camera. The day we got the pictures of the northern hawk owl in the snow we had actually almost left the gear at home, but at the last second decided to bring it because you never know when you’re going to spot something! So take every opportunity to be in nature with your camera, and then shoot lots and choose the best pictures from your shoot once you’re home. I’m also learning how important it is to learn as much as possible about your subjects and about photography techniques.”

Just Keep Shooting—Even When Something Goes Wrong, You Could End up With a Contest-Winning Photo

My family took a trip to Banff National Park this March and my dad and I decided to get up early one morning to try and find some wildlife to photograph. We headed out into the backcountry before dawn, and spotted these two bull elk bedded down in the deep snow, covered in frost from the cold night. We hiked out for a better angle to photograph them and got lots of great photos as the light began to break over the mountains.

Bull elk, Banff National Park

Bull elk fighting in Banff National Park. 2011 National Wildlife Photo Contest Youth division winner. Photo by Jenaya Launstein.

Suddenly, they both got up and started battling! I had been shooting vertical portraits of the bigger bull with my camera and 300-mm lens with 1.4X teleconverter on my monopod, so I reached forward to switch to horizontal, but my fingers were too frozen to release the lens collar and the snow was too deep to back up quickly, so I just shot. I tried to time my pictures so both bulls fit in with their antlers as the main focus, and was really happy with the way this one turned out. You can even see a little bit of snow falling off one of their antlers!

Photography Can Promote Wildlife Conservation

Photographs of wild animals help people realize how beautiful they are and how important it is to make sure we take care of them. I know my sisters and brother and I love looking at great pictures of nature, and we have come to really appreciate different species that we never would have seen around our home. I hope that my pictures help people care more about the animals I photograph.

Enter your own photos in this year’s contest!

For more information on the National Wildlife Photo Contest, including the Youth Category, go to www.nwf.org/photocontest.

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/get-out-there-as-much-as-you-can-and-always-bring-your-camera/feed/ 0 Photo of the Day: Oxbow Bend http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/photo-of-the-day-oxbow-bend/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/photo-of-the-day-oxbow-bend/#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:05:18 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=78341 Read more >]]> Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park

Mt. Moran at Oxbox Bend in Grand Teton National Park. Photo by Dawn Wilson.

This Photo of the Day was donated by a participant in the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 43rd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.
]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/photo-of-the-day-oxbow-bend/feed/ 2 2013 National Wildlife Photo Contest Is Now Open! http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/2013-national-wildlife-photo-contest-is-now-open/ http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/2013-national-wildlife-photo-contest-is-now-open/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:54:16 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=77867 Read more >]]> Our annual photo contest started on April 1st and we’re excited for the entries to start rolling in from around the world from wildlife enthusiasts just like you. Every year, we’re humbled and impressed by the wildlife photographs entered in the contest. Take a look at some of the images that received Honorable Mentions in last year’s photo competition and find out how to enter the contest below:

Southern elephant seal pups, South Georgia Island

Two southern elephant seal pups on a South Georgia Island beach. Photo by Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott.

 

Panther chameleon snagging prey

A panther chameleon snags prey with its tongue in Andasibe, Madagascar. Photo by Simone Sbaraglia.

 

Humpback whale cow with her calf

A humpback whale mother with her calf in the southern Pacific Ocean. Photo by Mazdak Radjainia.

 

Sunset over Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

Sunset over Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. Photo by Durand Johnson.

 

Orchard orb weaver spider

An orchard orb weaver spider on its web in Pennsylvania. Photo by Carolyn Derstine.

 

Prairie dog and bull snake

A prairie dog escapes a bull snake’s strike in Lake Pueblo State Park. Photo by Ronald Drummond.

 

Red tajinaste and the Milky Way

Red tajinaste under the Milky Way. Photo by Francisco Mingorance.

 

Polar bear cubs and mother, Wapuski National Park, Canada

Two polar bear cubs try to wake up their sleeping mother in Wapuski National Park (Canada). Photo by Christine Haines. 

We can’t wait to see the photos you’ve got in store for us this year! Not only is the National Wildlife Photo Contest a lot of fun, it also helps raise awareness and fund our mission to protect wildlife and wild places. Come join us — enter your photos for a chance to win great prizes and publication in our award winning magazine. And don’t forget to come back and vote for your favorites! You can view this year’s entries here.

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/2013-national-wildlife-photo-contest-is-now-open/feed/ 0 Photo of the Day: Kingfisher Courtship http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/photo-of-the-day-kingfisher-courtship/ http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/photo-of-the-day-kingfisher-courtship/#comments Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:30:29 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=63512 Read more >]]> Common kingfisher pair, Szutsao Wildlife Refuge, Taiwan

A male common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) offers a fish to a female as part of their courtship ritual. This pair was photographed in Szutsao Wildlife Refuge in Taiwan by Minshong Huang.

Photo Contest BadgeThis Photo of the Day was donated by a participant in the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 42nd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.

 
 

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/photo-of-the-day-kingfisher-courtship/feed/ 0 Photo of the Day: Junk in the Trunk http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/photo-of-the-day-junk-in-the-trunk/ http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/photo-of-the-day-junk-in-the-trunk/#comments Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:00:12 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=62361 Read more >]]> Elephants in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

Four elephants lounge by a watering hole in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. Photo by Lars Edwards.

Photo Contest BadgeThis Photo of the Day was donated by a participant in the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 42nd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.

 

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/photo-of-the-day-junk-in-the-trunk/feed/ 0 Photo of the Day: Flying High http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/photo-of-the-day-flying-high/ http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/photo-of-the-day-flying-high/#comments Wed, 04 Jul 2012 16:17:24 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=62790 Read more >]]> Bald eagle, Homer, Alaska

A bald eagle soars through the skies of Homer, Alaska after a successful fishing trip. Photo by Mike Criss.

Photo Contest BadgeThis Photo of the Day was donated by a participant in the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 42nd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.

 

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/photo-of-the-day-flying-high/feed/ 0 Photo of the Day: You Jump, I Jump http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/photo-of-the-day-you-jump-i-jump/ http://blog.nwf.org/2012/07/photo-of-the-day-you-jump-i-jump/#comments Tue, 03 Jul 2012 13:34:47 +0000 Rachel Stemen http://blog.nwf.org/?p=62352 Read more >]]> Mountain goat kids; Arapaho National Forest, Colorado

Mountain goat kids playing together in Arapaho National Forest, Colorado. Photo by Donna Dannen.

Photo Contest BadgeThis Photo of the Day was donated by a participant in the annual National Wildlife Photo Contest. See more photos or sign up for the 42nd Annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.

 

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