Purposefully exposing for the brighter parts of the image, I used the shadowy environment to create a studio-like black background for these remarkable iridescent birds. I rarely point my lens toward pigeons, but I couldn’t resist as this pair, perched under a pier, carefully groomed each other’s feathers. They thrive in a wide variety of habitats, including where few other species can: a city center. Story Behind the Shot: They may be common and non-native across most of the globe, but Rock Pigeons are amazing birds. Location: White Rock, British Columbia, CanadaĬamera: Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II USM lens 1/1600 second at f/5.

Judging criteria: technical quality, originality, artistic merit Grand Prize: Liron Gertsman

Founders of the Galbatross Project: Brooke Bateman, Stephanie Beilke, Martha Harbison, Purbita Saha, Joanna Wu.

Karine Aigner, conservation photographer.

Mick Thompson, wildlife photographer and videographer.

Rina Miele, wildlife photographer and videographer.Mike Fernandez, video producer, National Audubon Society.Marlene Pantin, partnerships manager, plants for birds, National Audubon Society.Noppadol Paothong, nature and conservation photographer.Morgan Heim, conservation photographer, filmmaker, and adventurer.Melissa Hafting, conservation photographer and youth nature educator.Preeti Desai, senior director of social media & storytelling, National Audubon Society.Sabine Meyer, photography director, National Audubon Society.The 2023 APA JudgesĪmateur, Professional, Youth, Grand, and Fisher Prizes: So while we can only feature a few standout submissions, we celebrate the stories behind all 9,000 entries to this year’s contest. That’s not an experience any artificial intelligence can replicate. In reading the stories behind each shot, it’s clear that a photographer’s journey to document these scenes, and the memories they form in doing so, are often what makes the resulting images so special to them. From behind their lenses, the creators of the photos and videos on these pages capture those meaningful moments. Birds spend their waking hours seeking to survive, thrive, and care for their families.

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