February 2021 - 2

WELCOME

Another record year
for photo contest
By Robert Gagliardi, associate editor

or the third consecutive year, the Wyoming Wildlife magazine's Photo Contest set a new record for photographs entered. The 2020 contest had 3,373 photo entries, compared
to 3,335 last year. A special thank you to the 674 photographers who entered photos in the contest.
One of the toughest jobs we have at Wyoming Wildlife is to judge
the photo contest and narrow down entries to the winners, placers
and honorable mentions. However, it is a job the magazine staff and
our panel of judges enjoy and embrace. This year's judges included: Pete Arnold, photographer, Tracie Binkerd, editor of Wyoming
Wildlife, Robin Kepple, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
public information specialist, Michael Meyers from sponsor Artizen
Photo Printing in Cheyenne and Michael Smith, photographer.
Through several rounds of judging, the judges narrow down images
based on composition, rarity of the moment, printability, overall
feeling, variety, techniques, tones and colors. For a photo to move
forward to the next round, it must get the approval of the majority
of the judging panel. Once images are narrowed down, judges go
through the arduous task of ranking the images from their favorite (Photo by Parker Loew/WGFD)
to least favorite, giving points to the photos corresponding to their
rank. The judge's scores are added, and the photo with the lowest
score wins. Although judges are not always in agreement, winning
We're proud to see the photo contest continue to grow and sucselections represent the best combined view of the panel
ceed. That's why we're looking for ways to make the contest better,
Hopefully as the contest continues to progress and evolve, our along with our Calendar Photo Contest that debuted last year where
jobs picking the best photos will always be tough. We know there winning photos were displayed in our 2021 calendar. Those who
are a lot of good photographers out
participated in this past photo contest
there, and Wyoming is one of the best
were asked to complete a short survey
places in the world to capture images
to give us feedback on what worked,
WYOMING WILDLIFE MAGAZINE'S
of its wildlife and wild places.
what didn't and what could be added
ONLINE SURVEY ABOUT OUT
Speaking of photographers, it nevto make the contest better. That iner ceases to amaze me the images they
formation is invaluable to us. If you
ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST CAN
get and their stories that accompany
participated in the contest but didn't
BE FOUND AT: HTTPS://TINYURL.
them. One thing about this year's confill out the survey, please take a few
COM/WWSURVEY2020
test that makes me proud is that there
minutes to help us help you in the fuwere a handful of photos taken on cell
ture. If you're a past participant in any
phones. Yes, the technology of these
of our photo contests and have some
phones improves every day, but it proves you don't have to be a feedback, please share via email at wyomingwildlife@wyo.gov.
professional photographer or have the fanciest equipment to shoot
To say the Photo Contest and Calendar Photo Contest is a labor
quality images. Moral to this story: no matter your level of your of love for Wyoming Wildlife is an understatement. The participants
photography experience or the kind of equipment you use, you can are what make both contests what they are today. Let's set more
be recognized in this contest.
records in the future.
2 | February 2021

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February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2021