A friend recently sent me a link to The Nature Conservancy’s annual photo contest and suggested I enter. I have never entered a photography competition, although I really enjoy wildlife, nature, and landscape photography. I also really enjoy looking at the winners of Nature photography competitions. One of the best is the ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’ contest put on by the Natural History Museum in London. The photos are truly spectacular (see here). Below are a few of my favorites.
The wildlife photos I find most interesting are those that capture rare natural history phenomenon – for example, a little-known form of parental care, an unexpected behavioral interaction between two different species, or hunting behavior.
In my own photography I use modest equipment (primarily a compact digital camera). However, I do spend a lot of time outdoors observing nature, and as a result occasionally see interesting natural history phenomena that I am able to photograph. In that spirit, I decided to compile some of my own favorite photos. Below I chose four from each of 3 categories: Wildlife, Landscapes, and Human-Wildlife interactions. I provide a brief caption indicating the subject matter and location.
Wildlife
A male green iguana (Iguana iguana) bobs his head as a warning. Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.A. African rock python (Python sebae) constricting a shorebird (family Scolopacidae). Gaza Province, Limpopo river drainage, Mozambique. An acrobatic mating pair of emerald-eyed tree frogs (Boana crepitans). Simla Research Station, Trinidad.A male peacock (Pavo cristatus) spreads and waves his impressive plumage. Key Biscayne, Florida, U.S.A.
Landscapes
The mighty Colorado River from Spanish Bottom. Canyonlands National Park, Utah, U.S.A.The Grand Canyon covered in snow. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, U.S.A.A spectacular sunset at Sycamore Highlands Park in Riverside, California, U.S.A.Wide-angle shot of Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, U.S.A.
Human-wildlife interactions
A brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) stretches while waiting for an easy meal on a fishing pier. Miami, Florida, U.S.A.A captive Harris’s hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) perched on stocks by Cardiff Castle, Wales.Brown water snake (Nerodia taxispilota) stuck in plastic erosion-control netting. After taking a few photos I carefully cut the netting and freed the snake. Everglades National Park, Florida, U.S.A.A racoon (Procyon lotor) strolls along a crowded beach in broad daylight. Normally nocturnal, this individual apparently learned that beach-goers often leave food unattended, providing an easy meal. Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica.
Reason and Nature 