Photography

The 2022 ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Photography Awards: Top 12 Videos
January 25, 2023 — Check out this fantastic footage of birds in the wild, and discover the backstory behind each video.
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The 2022 ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Photography Awards: Top 100
July 13, 2022 — Moments of delight and awe abound in this collection of standout bird photography. Scroll through and learn the story behind each shot.
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Shey Smith (left) and Tatyana Soto (right)
How Bird Photographers Shey Smith and Tatyana Soto Developed Their Passion
July 11, 2022 — Smith and Soto talked with us about all things bird photography, including how they took the leap to chase after their passion.
EDIB at ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ
A photographer sits on a sandy beach, her lens balanced on one knee, photographing birds in the distance.
How to Sandproof Your Gear for Beachfront Photography
July 08, 2022 — The beach can be a photographer’s dream—or worst nightmare. Tame unruly sand and salt spray with these pro tips and key tools.
Clockwise in a grid from top left: a Greater Prairie-Chicken portrait; two White-tailed Kites exchange a vole; a White-tailed Ptarmigan in a mountain landscape; a group of Northern Shovelers; two Common Ravens grooming; a Black­-bellied Whistling-­Duck looking inside a hollowed ­out palm.
The 2022 ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Photography Awards: Winners and Honorable Mentions
July 07, 2022 — A fledgling raptor learning to hunt. Grouse aiming to impress. Two grebes vying for a meal. This year’s winners caught amazing moments.
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A bright yellow Prothonotary Warbler emerges from a cavity in a mossy cypress knee, a woody structure that grows near the base of a cypress tree.
To Protect Her Subjects, a Photographer Chooses Patience Over Playback
April 08, 2022 — Kelley Luikey wants birders and shutterbugs to recognize that playing recorded songs can stress vulnerable birds.
Behind the Shot
A Common Merganser parent stands on a rock with six small youngsters, looking at the photographer out of its periphery. The female’s cinnamon head and feather crest, and the pale ruddy heads of the still-downy chicks, pop in the glow of the morning light.
Make Some Time for These Adorable and Awkward Baby Bird Photos
March 03, 2022 — Here are 15 of our favorite shots featuring chicks from the 2021 ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Photography Awards.
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Why Photographers Should Reconsider Using Playback in the Field
January 25, 2022 — Playing audio clips of songs and calls is a common tool for getting better shots, but it can also be detrimental to birds and their chicks.
Ethics
Four birds sit near or in a patch of water. Three birds are out of focus; all three birds are dull red or orange. The one bird in focus, in the foreground and facing to the right, has a yellow body, light brown wings, and a small dark-brown eye. It’s dark gray bill is thick and the upper and lower portions taper to sharp points. These point cross over one another slightly.
Our Favorite Female Bird Shots From the 2021 ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Photography Awards
December 20, 2021 — This stunning collection celebrates the beauty and ingenuity of 15 birds that do not often get the spotlight.
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Standing in profile close to the camera, a bright red Northern Cardinal spreads the feathers on its wing so that each individual feather is visible. Snow is on the ground, and is lightly falling against a dark night sky.
These Scrappy Photos Capture the Action-Packed World Beneath a Bird Feeder
December 16, 2021 — A photographer pursues common yard wildlife from a different perspective.
Behind the Shot