Nature in the Frame
Reflections of Nature, the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s photo contest, is back, bigger and better than ever. Plus: Outdoor tips from our pros
The Canadian Wildlife Federation’s annual Reflections of Nature photo contest is here again — bigger and better than ever with more submissions and more selections featured in our pages Plus: How to capture nature with your phone; and three Canadian pros share advice and hacks for getting the best shot you can
IT HAS BEEN A STRESSFUL YEAR OF COVID LOCKdowns and unprecedented turmoil and upset. People everywhere were looking for ways to cope, de-stress and try to be healthy. In the absence of a nice meal with friends or a fun night out to a movie, play or concert, and once Zooming had lost its charm, more Canadians than ever turned to the outdoors — and we took our cameras.
Here at Canadian Wildlife magazine, we see the results, not only in these fabulous finalists but also in the total number of entries received by CWF, with an 80 per cent increase over last year’s numbers (which were already best-ever).
The Canadian Wildlife Federation has long been a supporter of outdoor shutterbugs with its longstanding Reflections of Nature annual contest. CWF also has Photo Club contests, in which monthly winners are chosen by online voting. The top images adorn our website and appear in this magazine throughout the year. To learn more, visit the CWF website.
Now to this year’s gallery. The photos in these pages are drawn from 6,552 submissions taken by photographers in every province and territory of Canada. The exceptional images in these pages were chosen as the winners and runners-up in one of five categories. A great many more other wonderful photos were also deserving of celebration.
To all who submitted their work, we thank you for sharing your images and we congratulate you for your efforts behind the viewfinder. To all of you who did not send us your photos, work on the 2021 contest starts now. We look forward to seeing your best stuff, perhaps in these pages one year from now.
I was photographing sea lions when I noticed one of them pick up a sea star off the bottom, swim to the surface and drop it. Then it would try to catch the star before it hit the bottom. It did this a few times, and I was lucky to capture the moment. I love the position of the sea lion and the sea star in the water column. Ryan Miller | Campbell River, B.C.
GRAND PRIZE | Winner The Photo
Near Rouyn-noranda, Que. Technical details
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Ef100-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 500, ƒ/5.6, 1/6400s
My objective this day was to capture the first moments of the courtship display of the red-necked grebe. This species is rare but can be found in this region of Quebec. Only once was I able to observe one. The beauty of this bird is legendary. Their courtship display seems to me one of the most beautiful things that nature can offer. Their courtship song sounds like strange giggling. During my third morning observing them, I was surrounded by seven grebe couples, and their symphony carried me away — it was one of those moments out of time. With this image, I hope to make people feel this icy morning filled with life and warmth. The birds’ visible breaths — their song — form a heart as if to formalize their union. Jean-simon Bégin | Pont-rouge, Que.
LANDSCAPE | Runner-up The Photo
Big Dipper over Cameron Falls, Waterton National Park, Alta. Technical details
Canon EOS 6D Mark II with 24-70mm lens @ 24mm, ISO 1250, ƒ/2.8, 13s
The sunset colours had faded from the sky by the time we decided to go to the falls. While getting set up and obtaining focus, a star appeared just above the falls and I thought, ‘OK, this was worth it.’ I wanted to include an interesting foreground element and decided upon including a long exposure of the water flowing through the rocks. After taking the shot, I saw the Big Dipper appear on the screen of my camera and was pleasantly surprised! Tyler Martin | Vernon, B.C.
CONNECTING WITH NATURE Winner The Photo
Chute-aux-galets, Saint-david-defalardeau, Que.
As soon as I got there, I was blown away by the light dancing in the misty fog caused by the waterfall. The day, which had started badly, was transformed into something extraordinary. This is a self-portrait — I set up my tripod and set the self-timer. The sunlight was filtering through the mist, constantly changing. I love the nuances of the light and the purity of the freshly fallen snow. The fact that it is a self-portrait makes it that much more special for me. Jean Tanguay | Jonquière, Que
IS THAT A CAMERA IN YOUR POCKET?
Here's how to get the most out of your PHONE when shooting nature
Pay attention to time of day. Phone cameras have less flexibility when it comes to managing light, so time it right.
Stand up for excellent photos in low light: get a handy small tripod. Also, some phone cases with photography in mind come with wrist straps, which can be invaluable in the moment.
The beauty of digital is that you can take many images to get the right one. Consider burst mode for action shots.
Compose your image. It’s easy to forget to be mindful of photo structure when shooting with a phone. Think “rule of thirds.”
Understand your equipment: on many phones, you can manually focus, set exposures and use specialized settings to get the best shot.
Add an external clip-on lens – telephoto, wide-angle and macro variants – and take your smartphone to the next level.
FLORA | Runner-up
The Photo Frost
Technical details Pentax K-3, DA 55-300mm lens @ 300 mm, ISO 800, ƒ/14, 1/3200s
The morning I captured this image, I was out for a cross-country ski. The size and the beauty of the hoar frost crystals, which had developed on the stalk of a yellow salsify over a February night, were remarkable. I ended up prone on the snow in order to capture the image from a low angle, which enhanced the reflected sunlight within the crystals and created a nice dark background for the image so as to really highlight the beauty of the moment.
Chris Wenger | Kamloops, B.C.
FAUNA | Runner-up
The Photo Northern pygmy owl, near Chilliwack, B.C.
Technical details Nikon D850, 500 lens with 1.4x Teleconverter, Auto ISO (800), ƒ/6.3, 1/800s
I was on back roads exploring the mountain ranges, specifically looking for northern pygmy owls in an area where I had seen them in the past. After a few hours of searching, I saw this one perched near the logging road I was on. I took photos before he disappeared into a large clearcut. He looks to be giving me the glare but was actually searching for prey. I really like the background and how this tiny owl’s weight put a bend in the branch. It shows a great connection between me and my subject that I was lucky enough to capture before he was gone.
Anthony Bucci | Port Mcneill, B.C.
CONNECTING WITH NATURE | Runner-up
The Photo Cleveland Dam, North Vancouver, looking north to the two peaks known as “the Lions”
Technical details Sony Alpha a7 III, 70-300mm lens, ISO 100, ƒ/13, 1/50s
I decided to go photograph the Lions as it was the first nice sunny day after weeks of drenching rain. When two strangers wandered into frame, ipad in hand, I snapped many shots. Afterward, I introduced myself. Doug and Eileen were out enjoying the view as I was. The reason I love this photo is it combines the modern and the traditional with an elegant, elderly couple holding a modern ipad, capturing their own photo of the spectacular eternal beauty of the mountains. Beautiful.
Gerald Cassel | North Vancouver, B.C.
URBAN WILDLIFE | Runner-up
The Photo Fox kits
One day, I was out photographing a vixen fox with her five kits just about 300 feet from our home. As I was watching, these two ran into an eight-inch pipe. Then they stuck their heads out to see what I was doing. I took a quick shot, and they were gone.
Larry Kirtley | Blind River, Ont.
FLORA | Winner
The Photo Fair Lake, Vancouver Island
Technical details Canon 7D, 70-200mm lens @ 180mm, ISO 100, ƒ/6.3, 1/15s
My girlfriend (now wife) and I had gone to shoot this amazingly resilient Douglas Fir at sunset without much to show for it. I’d had nothing to take it up that extra notch. I wanted a splash of colour, as well as another solitary natural feature to accompany the lonely tree in the middle of its quiet lake. We came back the next morning at dawn, and I got my wish — a bird landed on it. The American robin didn’t stay long, just enough time for it to face me and complete the shot.
Shayne Kaye | Victoria, B.C.