Beyond the Grid Wildlife Photography Contest - June 2023
Have you been exploring the world of wildlife photography this past June? Many talented photographers had the opportunity to venture into the wild and capture spectacular moments.
In this article, we’ll reveal the winners of the second edition of Beyond the Grid, a brand-new wildlife photography contest where the community's best wildlife photographers shine beyond Instagram. It was a very tight competition with more than 60 submissions from around the world.
Whether you're an experienced wildlife photographer or just starting your journey, I hope these images from your talented peers ignite your creativity and fuel your passion. And remember to enjoy the process. Keep scrolling to see the June 2023 winners of Beyond the Grid!
If you missed the inaugural contest, you can see the May edition here.
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Why Beyond the Grid?
Although Instagram has become the most popular way to share our work, it’s not always optimized for this purpose. It also prioritizes people who can best market their work rather than produce the best photography.
That’s why Beyond the Grid aims to give visibility to more wildlife photographers outside of Instagram on a medium that better represents the fruits of our hard work.
Every month, we will shine a spotlight on the community's best wildlife photographers. Being a wildlife photographer can be challenging, but the results, as you can see from the work of the individuals below, can be absolutely breathtaking.
Participating in Beyond the Grid has many benefits:
Free entry to a wildlife photography competition
Your work is shared not only on social media, but on this website
You join a community of like-minded individuals passionate about nature
You get constructive feedback to take your photos to the next level from photographers like you
If you place within the top 5 winners, you become a judge for the next month
I am always looking to improve the quality of this competition and what participants get out of it, so keep an eye out for updates. If you have any suggestions, feel free to let me know.
Beyond the Grid - June 2023 Winners
Let’s get into the June 2023 winners of the Beyond the Grid wildlife photography contest.
The judges spent a long time evaluating each photo. Below, you will find the top five winners in order, beginning with the first place winner. All of the judges provided their feedback for each of the top five, including what they liked and what could be improved. That said, photography is very subjective, so please take any constructive criticism with a grain of salt.
But that’s not all! The judges also awarded five honourable mentions to the next highest ranked five photos. They are listed in the section after, so keep scrolling to see even more fantastic photos.
Without further ado, the overall winners of the June 2023 Beyond the Grid wildlife photography contest are…
1) Eastern chipmunk - David Trochanowski
Eastern chipmunk | Canon EOS Rebel SL2 / 200D + Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM C | ISO 3200, 1/1000, f/6.3
Why the judges loved it:
The exceptional use of depth of field, which highlighted the subject and contributed to the overall composition
The quality of focus and sharpness elevated the overall visual quality of the image.
A unique and endearing wildlife moment that evoked a warm, delicate feel resonated with the judges.
The texture of the surrounding plants added an extra layer of detail to the image.
The handling of colors, particularly the greens, which added to the aesthetic and atmosphere of the image.
This photograph was regarded as a stellar exemplification of applying learned photographic rules and techniques.
What could be improved:
Changing the shooting angle to a higher perspective to eliminate the horizon line at the back, enhancing the focus on the subject and adding depth to the shot.
Move the subjects away from the center of the frame to have a more pleasing composition
Lighten the subject on the left, thereby enhancing its visibility and impact.
2) American bullfrog - Jack Medeiros
American bullfrog | Canon R10 + Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM | ISO 100, 1/4000, f/2.8
Why the judges loved it:
The perfect timing and composition of the shot, with the sun aligning flawlessly with the frog.
Clever positioning and attention to detail with the frog peeping above the water surface providing an engaging focus while maintaining a captivating depth.
The subject isolation to focus on the frog coupled with the brilliant maintenance of highlights and shadows, created a strong yet smooth contrast within the image.
The overall tone and depth of the image, including the texture of the water and smoothness of the background.
The subtleties of the shot, especially the intrigue brought by the unusual pairing of the frog with the sunset, were hailed as key elements.
What could be improved:
Some judges suggested exploring different orientations for the shot, proposing a horizontal crop for a more complimentary view of the sunset.
A few judges expressed the desire for a slightly increased depth of field to further enrich the visual depth and complexity of the photo.
A tad more definition of the frog, as a few viewers had trouble recognizing the subject at first glance.
3) Illuminated - Justin Landreville
Red-winged blackbird | Canon R8 + Canon RF 800mm f/11 | ISO 2500, 1/640, f/11
Why the judges loved it:
The judges were taken by the elegant backlighting detail on the bird's wing, which lent an ethereal quality to the image.
The soft lighting was highlighted as a strong element, skillfully implemented to amplify the beauty of the subject.
The composition-wise is excellent, with the foreground effectively simplifying the image. This allowed viewers to focus solely on the bird, enhancing the overall impact of the subject.
The unique pose, coupled with the well-managed tones in the photograph.
The shot effectively combined wildlife behavior with photography skill.
What could be improved:
Some judges suggested lightening the bird to reveal more detail on its body.
They also proposed placing the subject slightly lower in the frame to improve visual balance.
To emphasize the bird's wing and the light passing through it, a tighter frame or crop was suggested. This would reduce unused space in the photo, potentially making the image more striking.
4) Torsade - Alexandre Lauzier
Chipping sparrow | Nikon D500 + Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR | ISO 1250, 1/1600, f/5.6
Why the judges loved it:
The depth of field and the unique moment captured of the bird with its insect.
The complimentary colors between the subject and the background.
The inclusion of a human element in the form of a fence serves as a creative frame for the bird.
The bird's pose and unobstructed view of the insects in its beak.
The symmetrical composition and geometry created by the fence lines.
What could be improved:
Shift the bird further to the left to provide more space for it to look into, reducing the amount of negative space behind it.
Slightly lighten the bird's face to enhance its visibility.
The fence seems to overpower the bird in the image, so reduce the fence's saturation to shift the focus back to the subject.
A minor critique was made about the lighting, suggesting it appears to be significantly adjusted in post-processing. However, the judges acknowledged the final edit was carried out skillfully.
5) Black-crowned night heron - Adam Kunsken
Black-crowned night heron | Sony A7IV + Sony 200-600mm | ISO 2500, 1/640, f/6.3
Why the judges loved it:
The composition and low angle of the photograph, with the subject being effectively isolated.
The thoughtful inclusion of the environment, providing a natural habitat backdrop.
A successful reflection shot, combined with a well-framed foreground and framing the bird between branches, enhanced the overall visual appeal of the image.
The pleasing overall green and marshy tones, along with the high-tier composition.
What could be improved:
Adjusting the white balance to counteract the bird's yellow appearance, reduce color casting, and counterbalance the perceived warm/green hues.
Shifting the bird a bit more to the right, compared to the leaves, was also proposed as a potential improvement.
Compose the shot to place the reflection line in the middle of the photo to enhance symmetry.
A slightly higher shooting angle and a crop that places the bird more on the right.
Honourable mentions
6) Eastern cottontail - Tiffany Tang
Eastern cottontail | Sony A7III + Tamron 150-500mm F/5-6.7 Di III VC VXD | ISO 4000, 1/400, f/6.7
7) Slaughter beach - Alex Busato
Horseshoe crab and semipalmated sandpipers | Nikon D850 + Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 | ISO 640, 1/1250, f/6 @ 450mm
8) Song sparrow - Alex Forester
Song sparrow | Nikon Z8 + Nikon Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S | ISO 2200, 1/200, f/5.6
9) By day - Jill Finney
Black firefly / soldier beetle | Canon R6 + Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM | ISO 3200, 1/400, f/5.6
10) Common yellowthroat - Krista Chappell
Common yellowthroat | Sony A7III + Sony 200-600mm | ISO 5000, 1/125, f/6.3 @ 600mm
Wildlife photography tutorials
If you're getting into wildlife photography, you might find my tutorials helpful. They’re packed with wildlife photography tips and techniques to help you improve your skills.
Meet the Beyond the Grid judges
Beyond the Grid monthly top five winners get the chance to become judges for the following month. Thank you to our May 2023 winners Carl, Mark, Matt, Karim, and Kyle for their participation as judges in the June contest.
We look forward to welcoming you back as participants and hopefully judges in the future!
Click here to see the May 2023 contest and their winning photos.
Carl Pawlowski
Carl Pawlowski is an outdoorsman and photographer that seeks both wild places and wildlife. Some of his favorite subjects are urban white-tailed deer bucks during the rut and shorebirds along Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. When not shooting wildlife, Carl focuses on landscape and adventure-style photography, with astrophotography being a favorite.
Carl’s gear:
Mark Bernards
Mark Bernards is an award-winning wildlife and conservation photographer in Ottawa, Canada, and member of the Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective. Photography began as something he did for himself to appreciate his wildlife encounters and experiences in nature in a new light, but he has grown to love using it to inspire others to protect the species we share the planet with. Mark’s favorite images tell a story, such as interesting behavior, an animal interacting with its natural environment, and human and urban activity’s impact on wildlife.
Mark’s gear:
Matt Parish
Matt Parish is an amateur wildlife photographer based in Ontario, Canada. He's on a mission to showcase intimate, detailed images of animals from his own unique perspective. Matt’s also passionate about getting most value out of his gear at an affordable price, which is why he’s proud to use Canon’s budget-friendly cameras and lenses.
Matt’s gear:
Karim Bouzidi Idrissi
Karim Bouzidi Idrissi is a wildlife photographer based in QC, Canada. He has an insatiable curiosity for biology, and a passion for birds and ornithology. His approach to photography consists of learning as much as he can about birds to ID them by ear, predict their behavior or where to find them. Karim enjoys long walks in the wilderness, but also waiting for long periods of times to observe wildlife from a stationary position.
Karim’s gear:
Kyle Boehm
Kyle has been into birds since he was a small child. Every day when his father came home from work, they would discuss what cool birds they had seen that day and the locations they had seen them in. This passion stuck with him throughout his life. When not wandering outdoors, Kyle works as an IT Professional at a credit union. Until 3 years ago, he never thought he'd be lugging a camera around with him daily. But a different hobby got him interested in taking pictures, and once he learned about telephoto lenses, it was off to the races.
Kyle’s gear:
Thank you to all our participants!
With five engaging and high-quality photos from wildlife photographers from the community, the second-ever Beyond the Grid wildlife photography contest is in the books!
Thanks to all participants for showcasing their incredible work this month.
Submit your best wildlife photos for July
Missed submitting your June photos? No problem.
To be featured in the July issue, submit your photos here by Sunday, August 6 at 11:59 pm Eastern or use the tag #BTGJuly2023 on Instagram. We can't wait to see your work!
Remember, the best wildlife photographers are passionate about their subjects. So, find something you love and let that guide your photography throughout June.
Want to become a better wildlife photographer?
If you are interested in learning more about the technical and artistic side of photography to take your photos to the next level, check out these awesome tutorials that can help you take amazing wildlife photos!