Beyond the Grid Wildlife Photography Contest- October 2023
In this article, we’ll reveal the winners of the sixth edition of Beyond the Grid, a wildlife photography contest where the community's best wildlife photographers shine beyond Instagram. It was a very tight competition with over 50 submissions from all around the world.
Keep scrolling to see the October 2023 winners!
And if you missed the previous contests, you can see the winners here.
Submit your November photos by December 17th
Did you miss submitting your October photos? No problem.
To be featured in the November contest, submit your photos via this form by Sunday, December 17th at 11:59 pm Eastern and use the tag #BTGNovember2023 on Instagram. We can't wait to see your work!
Wildlife photography tutorials
If you're getting into wildlife photography, you might find my tutorials helpful. They’re packed with wildlife photography tips and techniques to help you improve your skills.
Why Beyond the Grid?
Although Instagram has become the most popular way to share our work, it’s not always optimized for this purpose. It also prioritizes people who can best market their work rather than produce the best photography.
That’s why Beyond the Grid aims to give visibility to more wildlife photographers outside of Instagram on a medium that better represents the fruits of our hard work.
Every month, we will shine a spotlight on the community's best wildlife photographers. Being a wildlife photographer can be challenging, but the results, as you can see from the work of the individuals below, can be absolutely breathtaking.
Advantages of getting involved
Participating in Beyond the Grid has many benefits:
Free entry to a wildlife photography competition (most are usually paid).
Your work is shared not only on social media but on this website.
You join a community of like-minded individuals passionate about nature.
You get constructive feedback from photographers like you to take your photos to the next level.
The top 5 winners become a judge for the next month.
I am always looking to improve this competition for its participants, so keep an eye out for updates. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
How the winners are selected
The judges spend a long time evaluating each photo anonymously and without seeing who the photographer is using three categories:
Visual impact: how impactful the image is when you see it.
Composition: how effective the composition is to make a pleasing photo.
Technical quality: This includes everything from proper focus, sharpness, dynamic range, noise, and more. How do the technical elements affect the photo?
Visual impact is scored out of 10 and composition and technical quality out of 5. Once all the judges have submitted their scores, I sum up all their scores to get the top 10 to see if there are any ties.
If there’s a tie, I then look at which of the tied images scored the highest on visual impact to break the tie. If there’s a tie again, then I check the composition scores and technical quality if there’s yet another one. The top 5 are the month’s winners and 6-10 are the honorable mentions.
Beyond the Grid - October 2023 winners
Let’s get into the October 2023 winners of the Beyond the Grid wildlife photography contest.
You will find the top five winners and five honorable mentions in order.
The judges provided their feedback for these, including what they liked and what could be improved.
Photography is subjective, so take any constructive criticism with a grain of salt.
1) Hooded merganser - Elliott Naef
Hooded merganser | Nikon Z6 II + Sigma 150-600mm f5.6-6.3 Contemporary | ISO 1400, 1/640, f/6.3
Description:
I spent a morning at my favorite waterfowl spot lying down behind a blind. A group of Hooded Mergansers swam by me and I was able to single one out to get this shot.
Why the judges loved it:
The angle of the shot simplifies the scene and creates a soothing effect.
In this minimalist shot, the white background and foreground create an illusion of the subject floating in clouds, offering a serene, simple portrait.
The detail in the feathers makes the photo more engaging.
The clarity of the shot is remarkable. The contrast of the bird against the pale water makes it stand out beautifully.
The simplicity of this portrait is its strength. The placement of the subject within the frame is just right, capturing the essence effortlessly.
What could be improved:
Enhancing the colors of the bird could add more vibrancy to the image.
A simple composition that captures action or behavior could add more emotion.
Introducing more action or including multiple birds in the frame could elevate this shot.
Capturing interesting behavior, like an open mouth, water droplets or splash, catching food, or a wing stretch, would make this clean portrait even more engaging. It’s well captured, but these additions could take it to the next level.
2) Black-bellied plover - Quinn Diaz
Black-bellied plover | Canon 7D Mark II + Sigma 150-600 Contemporary | ISO 1000, 1/4000, f/7.1
Description:
It took me 7 different trips attempting to approach a group of plovers way out in some distant mudflats before I was able to get close enough for shots. On this particular day, the mudflats had been flooded from heavy rain and I despaired, thinking there was no way I would be able to get close enough now! I decided to see how far I could get, and before I knew it, I had walked a half mile through the shallow water and made it to the plovers before the first light. It took a while longer of scooching around on my butt before they settled enough to let me observe them foraging, and the nice light on the shallow water ended up being a blessing in disguise, giving me this nice reflection of a bird landing.
Why the judges loved it:
The tranquil water adds a magical quality with its beautiful tones and perfectly balanced colors that enhance the atmosphere.
The serenity of the water and its captivating tones are striking. The lack of a horizon line gives an ethereal feel as if the bird is in the clouds.
The bird’s interesting pose and direct gaze elevate the overall magical effect.
What could be improved:
Leaving more space at the bottom to fully capture the reflection could enhance the photo's impact, though it might slightly reduce the subject's prominence. It's a trade-off, but overall, this is a great shot.
3) Black-bellied plover at sunset - Thomas Cadilhac
Black-bellied plover | Canon 7D Mark II + Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM | ISO 400, 1/400, f/5.6
Description:
The sun was about to disappear behind the clouds when this plover landed right in front of me. This gave me a great opportunity to shoot this bird in perfect conditions for a few minutes. I tried many different shots but this one showing more of the environment is definitely my favorite.
Why the judges loved it:
The composition showcases magnificent light, drawing the viewer in.
The subject's direct gaze is soulful. The colors are beautifully balanced, creating a harmonious visual.
Achieving the right exposure in such conditions can be challenging, but this photo nails it.
The bird’s pose and layered elements take it a step further.
What could be improved:
Adjusting the highlights and possibly adding a darker gradient on the bottom right to match the bottom left's tones would create better visual balance.
Slightly brightening the bird and removing or cropping out the little plant in the bottom right corner, would draw more attention to the subject.
4) Whytecliff seal - Quinn Smilgis
Harbour seal | Canon R10 + Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM | Art | 1/1000 f/1.8 ISO 200
Description
This seal was being pestered by a group of 20+ tourists, after I told them to stop trying to touch the seal I intentionally scared the seal off. Then after a few minutes, it scrambled its way up below a small cliff away from the tourists. I then climbed down the cliff carefully and managed to capture a shot of the seal without any people in the photo.
Why the judges loved it:
The subject's engaging pose is beautifully highlighted by a pleasing depth of field, drawing the viewer in.
This photo has it all: stunning light, superb colors, and incredible details that captivate the viewer.
The dreamy blur effect from the 135 f/1.8 lens, combined with the subject's nice pose and pleasing tones, makes this shot a visual delight.
What could be improved:
A bit more space around the frame, especially at the top, could help tone down the somewhat distracting background lines.
The background is a tad busy, but its blurriness helps keep the focus on the subject.
Incorporating more elements of the seal’s environment, like trees or buildings, could add context to the scene. However, the current composition holds up well even without these details.
5) Snail in autumn foliage - Paige Savoy
Garden snail | Canon 80D + Ef-s 55-250mm ISO 400 1/500 f/5.6
Description:
A snail moving along slowly through some freshly fallen leaves. This photo shows off the wonderful colors of leaves that the season of autumn provides as well as showcasing an animal that perfectly matches the color of the leaves.
Why the judges loved it:
The diverse textures and colors of the leaves create a captivating image, drawing the viewer into the natural patterns.
Excellent composition and angle.
This image captures the essence of autumn. The editing feels natural, highlighting the well-arranged composition of the leaves.
What could be improved:
Adding slightly more contrast could enhance the overall texture and depth of the image.
While the image is near perfect, there's curiosity about whether the snail was naturally in the scene or placed there for effect.
Beyond the Grid - Honourable mentions
6) Oystercatcher and the wave - Hayden Barnett
African oystercatcher | Canon 90D + Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II | ISO 1250, 1/2000, f/5.6
Description:
While photographing seagulls flying between the waves in Table View, Cape Town, I caught sight of this African oystercatcher resting on a rock. I love their distinct red eyes, a natural focal point. I was also struck by how beautiful the sunset light was illuminating the waves crashing on the bird's temporary home.
7) Guardian of the valley - Carson Hughes
Elk | Canon 90D + Tamron 150-600mm G2 ISO 2500, 1/500, f/5 (205 mm)
Description:
It was a cold morning in Cataloochee Valley, North Carolina. This was my last morning here and I was dying to get a shot of this beautiful bull in the fog. As we got to the valley, a thick layer of fog covered the area. I saw that if I got in this one area I could get this foggy background right behind him and after around 25 minutes of waiting, he stood up and I got this photo!
8) Le grand bleu - Alexandre Lauzier
Great blue heron | Nikon D500 + Nikkor 200-500 | ISO 1600, 1/640, f/5.6
Description:
I was sneaking toward this great blue heron that evening. We were going upstream in parallel, jumping rocks and enjoying the scent of red pine needles. With its different colors, the majestic bird blended so well with its environment.
9) Golden-crowned kinglet - Krista Chappell
Golden-crowned kinglet | Sony A7III + Sony 200-600mm | f5.6-6.3
Description
I enjoyed photographing these tiny, speedy birds this fall. I didn't notice it was a little snack until I went to edit!
10) Golden-crowned kinglet - Krista Chappell
Golden-crowned kinglet | Sony a7iii + Sony 200-600mm
Description
I loved the way the leaves framed the bird and the golden glow of the early morning sun behind it.
Meet the Beyond the Grid judges
Every month, the Beyond the Grid’s top five winners become judges for the following month. Thank you to our September 2023 winners, Karim, Rain, Ulysse, James, and Marc-André for their participation as judges in this contest.
We look forward to welcoming you back as participants and hopefully judges in the future!
Karim Bouzidi Idrissi
Karim Bouzidi Idrissi is a wildlife photographer based in QC, Canada. He has an insatiable curiosity for biology and a passion for birds and ornithology. His approach to photography consists of learning as much as he can about birds to ID them by ear, predict their behavior, or where to find them. Karim enjoys long walks in the wilderness but also waits for long periods of time to observe wildlife from a stationary position.
Karim’s gear:
Rain Saulnier
Rain is a wildlife photographer and bird-watcher from rural Ontario. Growing up, Rain had a strong connection to nature. However, it wasn't until moving to Calgary that he developed a deep appreciation for birds. Rain is passionate about capturing detailed bird images that showcase behavior and their natural surroundings.
Rain’s gear:
Ulysse Brault-Champion
From Otterburn Park, Québec, Ulysse developed an interest in birds at 10. His passion for photography blossomed as he delved deeper into learning about birds and wildlife. Ulysse continues to evolve in wildlife photography, driven by his technique, style, and profound connection with fauna.
Ulysse’s gear:
James Bachand
James is a 13-year-old wildlife photographer from Laurentides, Quebec. He started photography during the pandemic as a pastime but it’s become much more than that. He loves exploring new areas for wildlife and finding ways to make his shots stand out.
James’ gear:
Marc-André Galipeau
Marc-André is a Quebecois wildlife photographer who has been passionately practicing his craft since 2017. Beyond capturing the beauty of Quebec’s animals, he is deeply committed to conservation, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of preserving wildlife through his impactful photos.
Marc-André’s gear:
Thank you to all the participants!
With over 50 photos from wildlife photographers from the community, the sixth Beyond the Grid wildlife photography contest is in the books!
Thanks to all participants for showcasing their incredible work this month.
Submit your best wildlife photos of November
To be featured in the November issue, submit your photos via this form by Sunday, December 17th at 11:59 pm Eastern and use the tag #BTGNovember2023 on Instagram.
Want to become a better wildlife photographer?
If you are interested in learning more about the technical and artistic side of photography to take your photos to the next level, check out these awesome tutorials that can help you take amazing wildlife photos!