NWF announces the winners of 49th annual National Wildlife Photo Contest

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
NWF announces the winners of 49th annual National Wildlife Photo Contest
BIRDS, FIRST PLACE, Ron Magill, Miami, FL — Like a costumed contortionist, a male Argus pheasant curls his ornate feathers into a cone, then peeks through the opening to impress a would-be mate. The elaborate courtship display of this Asian species is “quite rapid,” said Ron Magill, who caught the scene at Zoo Miami, which engages in global conservation. “The male runs around the female in circles, then stops right in front of her and snaps his wings into this painful-looking inverted position for a second or two to see if she’s paying attention.”

The National Wildlife Federation has announced the winners of the 49th annual National Wildlife Photo Contest.

Reflecting the glorious diversity of life on Earth — from Alaskan glaciers and Kenyan plains to serene Florida wetlands and starry Montana skies — the prestigious contest drew more than 29,700 entries from around the globe.

Among the winners was Zoo Miami’s Ron Magill who took first place in the Birds category with a photo of a male Argus pheasant at the zoo. You can see the photos of other winners at nwf.org.

“Every photographer who enters our contest is someone we think of as a ‘Nature’s Witness,’ using their passion for the natural world to create beautiful images that can inspire conservation,” said Lisa Moore, editorial director and editor-in-chief of National Wildlife magazine. “Whether they’re alone in the dark shooting the Milky Way or quietly strolling through a neighborhood to capture the beauty of a butterfly, they witness the majesty — and fragility — of nature and the world we’re all committed to protect.”

By submitting their images, each photographer also supports the National Wildlife Federation’s effort to protect wildlife species and their habitats — a mission that’s more important today than ever before.

This year’s winners hail from four different nations — Canada, Greece, Namibia and the United States — and 11 U.S. states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Montana, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin. Whether lifelong professionals or avid amateurs, all display a love of nature and an appreciation of how photography can inspire people to care about wildlife and wild lands, and to work for their protection.

In addition to the Grand Prize, the National Wildlife Federation announced first- and second-place awards in each of eight categories: Mammals, Birds, Baby Animals, Landscapes & Plants, People in Nature, Other Wildlife, Youth and Mobile — a new category for photographers capturing amazing images on mobile devices.

All nature photographers, both amateur and professional, are invited to enter the 50th annual contest, opening Jan. 13, 2021.


Connect To Your Customers & Grow Your Business

Click Here