PHOENIX, Ariz. -(Ammoland.com)- Pamela Parker of Mesa took the best-in-show photo this year. Her image captures an unforgettable moment and beauty of our state bird — and proves that when preparation, practice and skill meet opportunity, wildlife photographers can show us the natural world in a unique and powerful way.
Parker, who also earned an honorable mention this year for a special moment in time of a black-tailed jackrabbit, is among many Arizona photographers who study wildlife behavior to improve their work. To everyone who entered: Thank you for your dedication to wildlife and photography.
About 250 photographers entered this year’s contest. Thirteen winning images are published in a full-size 2018 wildlife calendar in the November–December 2017 issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine.
In addition to Parker, the other 12 winning photographers are:
- Eric Heaton, Gilbert: bull elk & harem
- Bob Reisinger, Tempe: drake gadwall
- Donal Hill, Flagstaff: Abert’s squirrel
- Gary Michael Flanagan, Gilbert: great blue heron
- Kathy Ritter, Happy Jack: white-tailed deer
- Timothy Cota, Mesa: brown vine snake
- Greg Collins, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep
- Peggy Kniffin, Chandler: burrowing owl
- Joshua Esquivel, Sedona: rufous hummingbirds
- Bryan Keil, Scottsdale: green heron
- Tam Ryan, Mesa: coyotes
- Bruce D. Taubert, Glendale: badger
Interested in buying a 2017 wildlife calendar? Arizona Game and Fish welcomes new subscribers to Arizona’s award-winning magazine about wildlife and outdoor recreation. The regular price is $8.50 for six issues (one year), but through Dec. 31, subscriptions are on sale at $7 for seven issues. People who subscribe by Dec. 31 will be sure to receive the calendar issue. The calendar issue is also sold at all Game and Fish offices for $3 starting in mid-November. Or, print an order form to mail in.
Given the strength and diversity of this year’s 600-plus entries, the judges singled out 38 more images from 32 talented photographers for honorable mention.
These are also featured in Arizona Wildlife Views magazine:
- Stephanie Rainey, Lakeside: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep
- Scott Madaras, Peoria: gray foxes
- Elaine Malott, Tucson (3): bobcat, broad-tailed hummingbird, western diamond-backed rattlesnake
- Michael Cravens, Tempe: desert night lizard
- Sue Cullumber, Chandler: black-tailed jackrabbit
- Marleigh Freyenhagen, Sonoita: coyote
- David March, Mesa (2): great blue heron, American avocet
- Barry Lutz, Flagstaff: cactus wren
- Timothy Cota, Mesa: bobcat
- Rob Monsipapa, Mesa: rufous hummingbird
- Craig Miller, Payson: bull elk
- Keri Boothe, Flagstaff: mallard
- Tom Mangelsdorf, Scottsdale: gila woodpecker
- Mark Herrick, Tucson: rock squirrel
- Jack Sheldon, Mesa: great blue heron
- Peggy Kniffin, Chandler (2): northern shoveler, pied-billed grebe
- Jim Ripley, Mesa: pronghorn sheep
- Lee Marcus, Chandler: vermillion flycatcher
- Pamela Parker, Mesa: black-tailed jackrabbit
- Susan Beebe, Tucson: wood duck
- Julie Curtis, Golden Valley: black-tailed jackrabbit
- Mark Thomas, Sedona: mallard
- Todd Yampol, Chandler: snowy and great egrets
- A. O. Tucker, Goodyear: great horned owl
- Lisa Manifold, Twentynine Palms, Calif. (2): hermit thrush, great horned owl
- Matt Blankenship, Gilbert: northern pintail
- John Kulbert, Wellton: sharp-shinned hawk
- Antonios Printezis, Gilbert: desert bighorn sheep
- Joanne Caruth, Tucson: cow elk
- Bryan Holliday, Buckeye: yellow-rumped warbler
- Jeffrey Perry, Phoenix: least bittern
- Bruce D. Taubert, Glendale (2): Harris’s hawks, kit foxes