Audubon Magazine Invites Entries for 2009 Bird Photo Awards

"Go out at daybreak," advises well-known wildlife photographer Joel Sartore, a regular contributor to Audubon and National Geographic magazines. "Birds are most active at this time, and the light is nice then. I think that dawn is absolutely the best time for most bird photography."

Flame-colored Tanager, Piranga bidentata, in Costa Rica (Photo by Jerry Oldenettel)

Be quiet, says Sartore, have a good-quality long lens, and know the behavior, habits, and habitats of the birds you’re after.

This is good advice for photographers who are interested in submitting images to the 2009 Audubon Magazine Photography Awards: Birds in Focus.

The century-old bird conservation organization is holding the competition "to celebrate the beauty and diversity of birdlife through the art of photography, and to honor the exceptional work of talented professional, amateur and youth photographers from all over the United States."

Sartore is one of the judges. He is convinced that excellent photos can help to save the environment. "Photography can do a huge service in two ways," he says. "It can expose environmental problems as nothing else, and it can help get people to care. The stakes could not be higher."

Photographers entering the contest are encouraged to reveal a new angle or perspective in their work. "Think creatively," advises Audubon's design director Kevin Fisher, another of the judges. "Originality and drama rank high at Audubon. Include tight shots, such as close-ups of eyes, feathers. We welcome uncommon perspectives."

Another judge is Kim Hubbard, longtime Audubon photography editor and an accomplished photographer in her own right whose work featuring the birds of Bonaire is currently on exhibit at the Greenwich Audubon Center in Connecticut.

Finally, Steve Freligh, publisher of Nature's Best Photography, is also a judge for the 2009 awards.

Audubon will be accepting submissions until July 15 in three categories - Professional, Amateur, and Youth. Up to 10 images per entrant will be accepted.

The award winners will be announced in December and will see their work showcased within the pages of both Audubon and Nature's Best Photography magazines, as well as on their respective websites.

Prizes include:

• A journey to Peru's Tambopata National Reserve and a stay at Inkaterra Amazonica Lodge
• An ultimate birding safari to Australia's Northern Territory
• 14-day Tropical Rivers and Rainforest cruise through South America with Travel Dynamics International
• Opportunity to travel to Honduras with Audubon wildlife photographer Roy Toft as your photographer/guide
• A Nikon D80 digital SLR camera, 18-55mm NIKKOR VR lens, and a set of Nikon EDG 8x32 binoculars

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2009. All rights reserved.