GRAND PRIZE | Winner 2023
Photographer: Cindy Conlin
Location: Creek entering Lake Ontario, Prince Edward County, ON
Egret fluffing: On my walks in Presqu’ile Provincial Park I encountered so much beautiful wildlife, I decided to retire early and take up photography full-time. The area is a wildlife photographer’s dream. I knew that many birds flocked to this creek to fish, and I had seen a great egret there a few times, so I decided to sit by the river and try my best to photograph it. This one had just finished fishing and, perched on a branch, fluffed its feathers to dry off.
Photographer: Cindy Conlin
GRAND PRIZE | Runner-up
Photographer: Todd Clustivik
Location: Rattray Marsh, Mississauga, ON
Common Green Darner: Ontario I was sitting by the edge of the water near some lily pads at a marsh and enjoying observing these dragonflies in flight as they chased small insects that were flying low over the water.
Photographer: Todd Clustivik
Focus on Fauna | Winner
Photographer: Sonny Parker
Location: Near Thechàl Dhâl’ (Sheep Mountain), Kluane National Park and Reserve, YK
Sheep Shadows: About 10 years ago, in high school, I tried a friend’s DSLR and was instantly hooked. These days, I’m working on a Dall’s sheep photo project, documenting how they cope in harsh alpine environments that are changing rapidly due to climate change. I spent the day with this band of Dall’s sheep rams who were completely tolerant of me as they foraged for vegetation beneath an unusually deep late-winter snowpack.
Photographer: Sonny Parker
Focus on Fauna | Runner-up
Photographer: Robert Postma
Location: Hartley Bay, Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia
Kermode Bear: A Kermode bear (also known as a spirit bear) eating a freshly caught salmon happened to look up as I pressed the shutter button. I love the eye contact — it was a magical moment for me. The rainforest is simply gorgeous in this location.
Photographer: Robert Postma
Focus on Fauna | Honourable Mention
Photographer: Evan Van Zeumeren
Location: Awenda Provincial Park, near Midland, ON
Giant American Millipede: I’ve been shooting macro photography for just over three years. I couldn’t be happier than when I find myself getting up at 3:30 a.m. on summer weekends to look for insects. As a defence, giant American millipedes curl themselves to protect their vulnerable underbellies. This was helpful since I need a very still subject when working this close.
Photographer: Evan Van Zeumeren
Focus on Fauna | Honourable Mention
Photographer: Joe Rousseau
Location: Near Milton, ON
Trumpeter Swan: I was lying on the shore of a small pond under a camouflage blanket photographing waterfowl. Several swans were interested in the lump that was moving on the shore. They came so close that this image was full frame.
Photographer: Joe Rousseau
Focus on Fauna | Honorable Mention
Photographer: Kyla Black
Location: Near Fort Macleod, AB
Red Fox Kits: I noticed them in a field from the highway and pulled over. They quickly retreated to their den, so I set up my camera and waited quietly. Curiosity got the better of them; one by one, they came out and sized me up. I was able to capture this brief moment of them all looking at me before they got back to playing.
Photographer: Kyla Black
Focus on Fauna | Honourable Mention
Photographer: Geoff McDonell
Location: Richmond, BC
Anna’s Hummingbird: While I was walking along the Fraser River boardwalk, where there’s always a possibility of shorebirds and bald eagles, an Anna’s hummingbird perched on a bush along the path and “flashed” me a couple times.
Photographer: Geoff McDonell
Canadian Landscapes | Winner
Photographer: Gerhard Kaiser
Location: Lake Erie, near Port Stanley, ON
Mighty Wave: I have been photographing the natural world for more than 40 years and have been fascinated by the awesome power of the Great Lakes since I was 12 and learned about the wreck of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior in 1975. I was on my annual trek in November to photograph storm waves on Lake Erie with my friends and fellow photographers when I caught this image. I love the way, when shooting at high speed with a long lens, waves take on a fantastical appearance.
Photographer: Gerhard Kaiser
Canadian Landscapes | Runner-up
Photographer: Peter Lindsay
Location: Cornwallis, Manitoba
Prairie Creek with Tree: I photographed this tree in all seasons and weather conditions. On this morning, I arrived before the sunrise, hoping for a bit of mist off the stream and an interesting sky. I got both. Those high, wispy clouds are a bonus. This tree was felled in a storm a few years back, which brings a certain poignancy to the picture, I think.
Photographer: Peter Lindsay
Canadian Landscapes | Honourable Mention
Photographer: Jonathan Franchomme
Location: Charlevoix, QC
Cloud over the St. Lawrence: What I like most about this picture is the colours in the sky. The shape of the cloud makes me think of a cat jumping over the river.
Photographer: Jonathan Franchomme
Canadian Landscapes | Honourable Mention
Photographer: Denise Hoffgaard
Location: Kootenay National Park, BC
Wildfire Smoke: The picture depicts the aftermath of a wildfire, captured early morning. No more raging fire, just remnants: wispy smoke blankets the ground and trees like a shroud, and burnt tree trunks resemble mere sticks.
Photographer: Denise Hoffgaard
Finding Flora | Winner
Photographer: Brittany Crossman
Location: Along the Shediac River, New Brunswick
Bloodroot: Bloodroot is one of the first wildflowers to bloom in the spring. They are a signal of nice weather to come. I was out fishing with my boyfriend when we came across a bunch in full bloom. It was my first time seeing one.
Photographer: Brittany Crossman
Finding Flora | Runner-up
Photographer: Warren K. Lowe
Location: Near Pressy Lake, British Columbia
Fireweed: Hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest were wiped out by the horrendous 2017 South Cariboo Elephant Hill wildfire in B.C. Years later, the effects are still starkly visible. However, the resurgence of the understorey is the first step to regrowth. I wanted to capture the hope of better things to come.
Photographer: Warren K. Lowe
Finding Flora | Honourable Mention
Photographer: Jillian Taylor
Location: Wheatley, ON
Budding Cone Flower
Photographer: Jillian Taylor
Connecting with Nature | Winner
Photographer: Peter O’Hara
Location: Athabasca Glacier, Alberta
Climbing to the Stars: Two ice-climbing friends of mine, Adam Keirle and Thomas Garchinski, ascend a frozen waterfall inside an ice cave. A team effort, we shot during the nighttime to allow the headlamps to light up the cave. I had the climbers “freeze” for two seconds as I took the picture to allow as much light in as possible to illuminate the ice cave and their suspended figures.
Photographer: Peter O’Hara
Connecting with Nature | Runner-up
Photographer: Jill Taylor
Location: A sea cave near Torbay, NL
Lion’s Mane Jellyfish: The North Atlantic Ocean is absolutely beautiful, and I am grateful for every breath taken or held while in it. This photo contains some of the things I care most about: the ocean, my dive partner and wildlife.
Photographer: Jill Taylor
Connecting with Nature | Honourable Mention
Photographer: Heidi Mote
Location: Near Cranberry Portage, Twin Lakes, MB
Canoe Sunrise: I love how the photo just gives a sense of calm, peaceful tranquility, and the colours look like they are painted across the sky.
Photographer: Heidi Mote
Connecting with Nature | Honourable Mention
Photographer: Barb Callander
Location: Black Duck Bay, Balsam Lake, ON
Kayaking in the Kawarthas: It was a calm, clear morning, so I decided to launch my drone to get this different perspective. As a novice pilot, I found it daunting to launch from a kayak.
Photographer: Barb Callander
Urban Interaction | Winner
Photographer: Mathieu Labrosse
Location: L’île Saint-Bernard, Châteauguay, QC
Ermine : I like the combination of urban and animal elements in this composition and the way the light highlights the ermine. Something about it reminded me of the film Ratatouille.
Photographer: Mathieu Labrosse
Urban Interaction | Runner-up
Photographer: Liam Brennan
Location: Vancouver, BC
Night Skyline with Heron: To achieve this image, I lay down along the beach as the sun set, waiting in the hope of lining up a shot that included both great blue heron and city skyline. Miraculously, one heron remained still for a few seconds right in front of my lens, which allowed me to create this image. It shows a resilient, charismatic animal finding a way to survive in one of Canada’s most populated areas.
Photographer: Liam Brennan
Urban Interaction | Honourable Mention
Photographer: Brenda Doherty
Location: ON
Photographer: Brenda Doherty
Humour
Photographer: Joe Wilson
Location: Kristina Kiss Park, Kanata, ON
Photographer: Joe Wilson
Humour
Photographer: Philippe Henry
Location: Wapizagonke, Mauricie National Park, QC
I began photographing mergansers at the beginning of 2023. For several weeks, I followed this family in my canoe after the babies were born. I wanted to document their behaviour. Here, the mother has her head underwater searching for a fish or frog. One of the babies climbed onto her back and fiercely defended his position. All of its siblings had to swim along while he held his comfortable position - until she dove and he had to return once more to swim. I liked the baby's determination. For the photo, I really like the composition with the reflection in the water and harmonious colours.
Photographer: Philippe Henry
Humour
Photographer: Jim Chung
Location: East Don Parkland Trail, Toronto, ON
Photographer: Jim Chung
Humour
Photographer: Norrie Franko
Location: Jasper National Park, AB
Photographer: Norrie Franko
Humour
Photographer: Edward Busby
Location: West Coast of Hudson Bay,Churchill, MB
Photographer: Edward Busby
Humour
Photographer: Cindy Blacklock
Location: Sackville, NB
Photographer: Cindy Blacklock