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The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin has announced the top six nature photos of the year
A rock-flanked peek at a Door County sunrise, a shot of two snuggling screech owls taken from inside a car, and a wildflower festooned with perfect dewdrops, were some of the nature photos selected as the best of the year in the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin's 11th annual nature photo contest.
This Year's Winners
Grand Prize and Landscape Category Winner: Cave by Brad Bellisle (Door County, WI)
Birds Category Winner: Screech Owls by Curt Lundeen (Milwaukee County, WI)
Flora & Fungi Category Winner: Rue Anemone with raindrops by William Petersen (La Crosse County, WI)
Insects, Amphibians & Reptiles Category Winner: Common Buckeye feeding on goldenrod by Bruce Bartel (La Crosse County, WI)
People & Other Mammals Category Winner: American Mink by Steven Thompson (Dodge County, WI)
People's Choice: River Otter by Philip Knapp (Bayfield County, WI)
About the Contest
The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin holds an annual photo contest in order to spread the word about conservation in Wisconsin, share the natural beauty of our state, and engage Wisconsin's lively community of nature photographers in conservation efforts.
In fall 2024, photographers all over Wisconsin submitted their best nature photos for the chance to win prizes such as high end binoculars and REI gift cards, and to have their photo featured on the cover of NRF's Bridges publication.
A record-breaking 770+ photos were submitted to the contest. Photos taken anywhere in Wisconsin were eligible to win.
A panel of five judges selected one winner from each contest category (Landscapes, Birds; Flora & Fungi; Insects, Amphibians & Reptiles; and People & Other Mammals) and one overall grand prize winner. A People’s Choice winner was also selected though a public vote.
Guest judges Julie Spanton (winner of the 2023 contest) and Andy Raupp (winner of the 2021 contest) joined the judges panel to help select this year's winning photos. 847 votes were cast for People's Choice in January.
Moments Captured in the Winning Photos
Brad Bellisle, who took home the grand prize with his photo of a sunrise in Door County, said, "Nature has always been the inspiration for my photography. I’ve traveled all over the state exploring the different parks, shorelines, and natural areas to try and capture nature in unique ways. For this photo, I ventured down to a rock shelf along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and by using my fisheye lens I was able to incorporate the surrounding rock as a natural frame for the early morning light rising over the lake."
Philip Knapp captured a unique shot of a river otter displaying its crayfish catch in its mouth while he was kayaking with a friend in Bayfield County. His photo was selected as this year's People's Choice winner. "I often find myself in the woods or on the water with my camera in tow. What better way to stay grounded in what really matters," said Knapp.
About The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin:
The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF) protects our state’s lands, waters, and wildlife by providing funding, leading partnerships, and connecting all people with nature. NRF invests over $1 million each year into conservation and environmental education and leads several diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts for Wisconsin’s conservation community. NRF also helps people explore the outdoors by coordinating 250+ expert-led Field Trips each year to Wisconsin’s most special places and hosts The Great Wisconsin Birdathon, the state’s largest fundraiser for bird conservation. Learn more and get involved at www.WisConservation.org.