Gallery
These are the winning photos from 2024. Following the photos are comments taken from people judging the photos. We share with you reasons this photo won by including what the judges liked. We also give ideas for edits that might take this photo to the next level. Four of the photos have audio recordings of the winning youth telling about their experience taking the photo.
SmartPhone Category
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “Emmett got great focus in close on this flower and the dew drops add interest.”
- “The color palette is vibrant and uses complimentary colors (purple and yellow) which are pleasing to the eyes.”
- “It let’s us see a frame of something most do not even notice.”
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “This flower feels too far to the left and might be better displayed centered or closer to the right side of the frame”
- “It might be more effective to zoom back and include more flower, as this one feels a bit cut off”
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “Shaunak found a very pleasing frame and got the horizon line correct.”
- “This was taken when there were interesting skies, early in the morning, and with clouds, sky, and water reflecting the rising sun. Sunrises and sunsets tend to produce the most beautiful colors.”
- “The photo has three distinct layers with the foreground, river & mountains, and the sky. The sky is outstanding and has been give more than a third vertically to showcase that.”
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “Possibly zooming in to increase the area of water and having less foreground, a little less sky, and a bit less on the left side”
- “Increasing the color saturation & contrast in the sky to emphasize the sunrise”
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “Emmett found a unique frame that included a Zebra Jumping Spider, something not everyone notices, or will get close enough to to capture with a SmartPhone.”
- “There is mystery to this photo visually, because one must question if they are looking down on a spider or at eye level? Where does the right side fade too? It effectively creates intrigue.”
- “The spider’s eyes, the most important parts, are in focus.”
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “Coming around to face the spider would certainly be an interesting perspective or POV (point of viewing) to explore.”
- “Having the whole spider in sharp focus might be better. Wildlife photographers generally prefer to have their entire subject in focus.”
Plants, Animals, & Fungi Category
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “Emmett found an interesting species and captured it doing what it excels at: 1) feeding, 2) pollinating, & 3) faking out almost everyone as it is a bee imposter (it’s a harmless Hoverfly).”
- “The Hoverfly’s eyes and body center are in focus. “
- “The rose flower has pleasant complimentary colors.”
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “A frame suggestion would be to have the hoverfly more to the right, and include more flower on the left and above the fly. Giving the fly more room to look into above would be pleasing.”
- “Prioritize the eyes and head being the sharpest focus. Consider using a bit smaller aperture to increase the amount of the fly’s body in focus.
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “The light catching that brilliant red-orange eye really adds value to this photo.”
- “John got a clear shot (no branches in front of) of a gorgeous species found at Steigerwald.”
- “The bird is engaged with John at this moment as indicated by the head and eye position.”
- “The photo is cropped so the bird has more room in front of
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “The bird could stand to be brightened up bit to showcase the orange-brown color on the sides, make the white pop, and bring out more details of the black feathers.”
- “Increasing the depth of field (use a smaller aperture) would bring the tail and foot on the right into sharper focus.”
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “Shalaka has a great capture of one of Steigerwald’s most beautiful bird species, a female American Kestrel.”
- “The entire bird and perch are in tack sharp focus and the background blur (bokeh) is creamy smooth making her pop.”
- “The kestrel’s eye and body position show engagement with Shalaka.”
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “The bird is looking to the right, so it leaving more space on the right than the left to look into would be pleasing.”
- “This photo could be brightened overall and make it pop even more.”
Landscape Category
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “Shalaka did a great job of capturing Steigerwald’s signature view of Crown Point.”
- “Crown Point is placed at the upper right third lines’ intersection.”
- “Shalaka visited at a visually unique moment where the clouds and snow are present at the higher altitudes. Not something seen every day there.”
- “The bottom of this photo is visually consistent with the dark of the brush silhouetted against the white of the water.”
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “Possibly include just a bit more of the dark brush at the bottom and a little less sky.”
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “Having Mount Hood at the center for this frame is appropriate and balance is achieved.”
- “Capturing the reflection of the mountain adds value and the point of the peak in the reflection is vertical with the actual point above.” Logan got his horizon line correct with vertical reflections being the priority.
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “The amount of blue sky could be reduced in this frame. It adds no value unless there are interesting clouds, but not on this day.”
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “This frame is balanced by the taller mountain on the right and more cloud texture on the left.”
- “Shaunak took this photo when interesting events were happening with the clouds and snow at higher altitudes, but contrasting with the dark areas below with no snow.”
- “He got the horizon line correct and reflections are vertical.
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “Brightening the lower part of the photo a bit could bring out more detail and texture of the landscape below.”
People in Nature Category
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “S-shaped paths are pleasing to the human brain.”
- “John placed the people subjects on the left third vertical line and the path disappearance on the right third vertical line. This too is pleasing.”
- “Having the path turn a corner and disappear invites viewers to walk down it and see what’s around the corner.”
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “The amount of vignette (darkening the corners to emphasize the people and pathway) was a bit heavy-handed and makes this photo seem less natural.”
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “Shalaka’s interesting idea of showing people interacting with nature was very well executed.”
- “This photo shows her creativity and skill levels.”
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “Converting this photo to black and white might be a good option.”
Judges comments about what they liked:
- “This composition uses lines to draw the viewer into the photo.”
- “Bright conditions can be the most difficult to do photography in. Shaunak managed to make the best of the situation.”
- “The people give a nice perspective of the size of the area photographed.”
- “The horizon line is correct, so this photo doesn’t have a tilt to it.”
Judges thoughts about how to go “next level”:
- “Stepping a few steps to the right would center the path and keep a balance between the river on the right and the tree to the left.”
- “Moving from the standing position to place the camera closer to the path would make the photo more unique, as people most often take phots from the standing position. This might also help emphasize the tree height and include less sky above it.”
Vancouver Audubon 