Category: Contests

  • My Best Photos From 2020

    My Best Photos From 2020

    A Year of Patience and Precision

    I had been holding off on posting my best photos for a while. The reason? It takes considerable time and effort to capture images that are truly contest-worthy, and I’ve always felt that if I posted everything in one go, I’d soon run out of material. However, these are the photos I hold closest to my heart, and I simply couldn’t wait any longer to share them. After all, the joy of photography lies in sharing these moments with others, allowing them to experience the visual beauty I see.

    The Elegant Cattle Egret: A Breeding Season Portrait

    Summer is the breeding season for the cattle egret, and this photo was taken just minutes from home. It shows the egret in its full breeding plumage — though not quite complete, as it’s missing the characteristic breeding blush on its beak (a bluish tint that comes later). I look forward to capturing this moment again, perhaps with better lighting or composition. To get eye-level with the egret’s nest, I had to work off a ladder, and as the papyrus around the area grows taller each year, getting that perfect shot becomes more challenging.

    📌 Update: I’ve now photographed egrets in their full breeding blush! You can see the complete series and final shots in this article.

    The Silent Question of the Little Pied Cormorant

    Next up is the little pied cormorant. Although it was clearly aware of my presence, it was busy drying its wings and seemed reluctant to fly. You can almost read the silent question in its eyes: *Should I take off now?* However, he was perfectly positioned with the sun illuminating each feather, creating a rare and magical moment for a quality shot. It’s a great example of how sometimes patience and perfect lighting can make all the difference.

    The Noisy Miner: Beauty in the Chaos

    The noisy miner, often disliked for its aggressive behavior and incessant chattering, is a bird that doesn’t always win hearts. I’m not particularly fond of them either, but this one had an opportunity to hunt for nectar on a long grass-tree flower stem, and I couldn’t resist capturing it. I adjusted the white balance to create a light-filled, soft effect, which suited the image perfectly. This photo was taken in one of my favorite local parks, a place I often return to for its peace and quiet despite the noisy miner’s presence.

    Reef Egrets and the Hunt for Fish: A Noosa National Park Adventure

    During a family trip to Noosa National Park, I was fortunate enough to capture some incredible moments of reef egrets hunting for fish. The first image shows the bird catching a mudskipper — an impressive feat given the size of the fish. It’s hard to believe it all fits down the bird’s throat, but in mere seconds, it disappears. The second image captures the same bird hunting smaller fish. As the egret shakes its head to stun the fish, water droplets are suspended in mid-air, adding a dynamic element to the photo. The focus in its eyes makes this shot one of my best hunting photos to date. It’s also rare to have several images from a single session make it to the top of my year-end list!

    The Majestic Whistling Kite in Flight

    While visiting Fraser Island, I captured this stunning shot of a whistling kite in mid-flight. The deep blue sky provided a perfect backdrop, creating maximum contrast and highlighting the bird’s graceful flight. It’s clear from its posture that the kite was keeping an eye on potential prey below, adding a sense of purpose and focus to the image.

    Pied Cormorant at Tangalooma Point: A Serene Moment

    This next image shows a pied cormorant perched on a handrail near the jetty at Tangalooma Point. The bird, basking in the sun, was completely relaxed and uninterested in the humans passing by. I loved the calmness of the scene, and the vibrant blue of the ocean provided the perfect contrast for the cormorant’s black-and-white plumage.

    The Murray River Turtle: A Rainy Encounter

    One rainy morning in the same park where I photographed the noisy miner, I came across a Murray River turtle. The turtle appeared to be playing dead, not moving an inch. This gave me the perfect opportunity to capture the moment, with the rain-soaked surroundings adding a rich, saturated color palette. I imagine the rain softened the soil, allowing the turtle to lay its eggs, and after a long day of digging, it simply lacked the energy to flee. It was an extraordinary encounter, and this turtle quickly became famous for its stillness.

    Golden Headed Cisticola: Nature’s Hidden Jewel

    The golden-headed cisticola is not a bird that typically stands out — in fact, its plain appearance often makes it easy to overlook. But when I spotted this one in full breeding plumage, with its golden head and a red bug in its beak, I couldn’t resist capturing the moment. Despite its unassuming nature, this bird was clearly in full show-off mode, perched among delicate flowers in the soft light. It was a reminder that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.

    A Curious Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet at Brisbane Botanical Gardens

    Lastly, I have a photo of a scaly-breasted lorikeet taken during the gum tree flowering season at the Brisbane Botanical Gardens. Surrounded by pink bottlebrush flowers, the lorikeet looked directly at the camera with a curious expression. The soft lighting and vibrant colors made this a standout moment in my collection.

    Choosing a Favourite: A Year’s Worth of Stories

    If you asked me to choose a favorite photo from this collection, I wouldn’t be able to pick just one. Each image holds a special story, a moment of connection, or a challenge that makes it meaningful. But I’d love to hear which photo resonates most with you! Feel free to leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

    Click the link below to view my best images from 2019.

  • Looking Back: My Favourite Bird Photos from 2019

    Looking Back: My Favourite Bird Photos from 2019

    2019 feels like a lifetime ago, yet it remains one of my most rewarding years as a nature photographer. I was fortunate to travel for work—and with my camera always by my side, I found myself in the right place at the right time, more than once.

    From the wild beaches of Tasmania to the towering rainforests of Papua New Guinea, here are some highlights from that unforgettable year—images that stir strong memories, capture rare moments, and tell stories I’ll never forget.

    Tasmania Adventures – Calm, Coastal, and Close-Up

    Hooded Plover – Up Close with the Endangered

    In parts of mainland Australia, Hooded Plovers are endangered and notoriously hard to find. But in Tasmania—especially along its vast, untouched beaches—they were more common, yet just as captivating.

    I spent hours lying in the sand, camera ready, letting one bird get used to my presence. Eventually, curiosity got the better of it, and it wandered right up to me. A calm, intimate moment—exactly the kind I always hope to capture.

    Black Swan – A Peaceful Encounter in Margate

    Another memorable Tasmanian moment came in the quiet bays near Margate, where I spotted a Black Swan gliding through still water. Though the species is widespread, the setting and lighting made this image special to me—serene, minimal, and reflective in more ways than one.

    Northward Bound – Photographing Papua New Guinea

    After my time in Tasmania, I headed north to Papua New Guinea—and entered an entirely different world of birdlife. Towering trees, elusive species, and thick rainforest made every photo a challenge… and a thrill.

    Red-flanked Lorikeets – A One-Time Opportunity

    These colourful birds were not uncommon in PNG, but they almost always perched at the tops of the tallest trees—and believe me, the trees in PNG are tall! That made them difficult to photograph, until one lucky day when I found two lorikeets checking out a probable nest site at eye level. It was a rare opportunity—one I was never given again.

    This particular photo even inspired an artist to create a beautiful watercolour painting based on the scene. Moments like these remind me why I always carry my camera.

    Knob-billed Fruit Dove – A World-Class Find

    Now, this one truly was special. The Knob-billed Fruit Dove is so rarely seen that even Wikipedia uses an illustration for its species page. When I uploaded my photo to eBird, they chose it as the preview image for the species (they had to mirror it, of course, as eBird requires all birds to face right).
    You can see it here.

    At the time of my upload, I was one of only ten people in the world who had managed to photograph this elusive bird. It’s easily one of the rarest captures of my career.

    Common Kingfisher – Not So Common After All

    Although it’s common in Europe, seeing a Common Kingfisher in PNG was a dream come true for an Australian photographer like me. It took several weeks of careful tracking before I was able to snap this image. The bird foraged along the beach and was incredibly wary—there was no way to approach it directly.

    Eventually, I managed to sneak up slowly and capture a few precious frames. A challenging but incredibly rewarding experience.

    Closer to Home – Birds Around My Local Area

    Not all great photos come from remote adventures. Some of my favourite captures from 2019 were taken close to home.

    Crested Pigeon – The Rain-Soaked Park

    This Crested Pigeon was resting peacefully in one of my local parks. Recent rain had soaked the background in vibrant greens and saturated colours, giving the image a lush, painterly feel. The bird was relaxed and comfortable with my presence—it almost felt like I was part of the family for the day.

    Striated Heron – Focused and Fierce

    This final image is of a Striated Heron, totally focused on tracking fish from its perch. Its claws are tightly wrapped, muscles tense, and the messy background adds a sense of mystery and intensity to the scene. It was even chosen as Photo of the Day on eBird—a nice honour for a moment that I remember vividly.

    The Hard Lesson

    I was planning to include more photos in this post, but as I was going through my hard drive… it decided to pack it in. I’m still hopeful that the images aren’t lost and can be recovered, but if there’s one takeaway—it’s the importance of backing up your photos. A lesson learned the hard way.

    I’d love to hear which photo or story resonated with you the most. Let me know in the comments below—and thank you for taking the time to revisit 2019 with me.

  • Crossing the Line: My First Year Competing in International Wildlife Photography Contests 🏆

    Crossing the Line: My First Year Competing in International Wildlife Photography Contests 🏆

    Until 2024, I believed I was “just an amateur” — someone who took photos for the love of wildlife but never quite dared to think they were on par with the images that win international photography contests. I used to draw a mental line between “my photos” and “their photos” — the ones you see on magazine covers or award sites. This year, that line blurred. Or rather, it disappeared.

    The Leap Into the Competitive World

    This was the first year I submitted my work to international photo contests. It meant stepping far outside my comfort zone. Each contest came with its own set of submission rules — whether it was about the maximum age of the photo, allowed editing levels, or color accuracy. Learning these details felt like navigating a new language.

    One of the trickiest gray areas I encountered was understanding the limits of editing, particularly the acceptable degree of object removal. What counts as a “minor” object? A distracting branch? A blade of grass across the subject’s eye? Every contest seems to have its own interpretation. That’s part of the learning curve I’m still riding.

    A Shift in Mindset

    I owe a huge thank you to Sergey Puponin. He was the one who first looked at my work and said, “You belong there.” Without his encouragement, I might never have taken that first step. But I did — and I realized something powerful. I’m not just submitting to the world’s top photography contests. I am part of them now.

    This shift in mindset is deeply validating. It takes time to fully accept that your creative ideas are not only enough but can be embraced by international judges, respected peers, and upcoming photographers who might one day look to my work as a benchmark.

    Highlights from My First Year of Contests

    Here’s a quick look at how my first year in the contest scene unfolded:

    🐦 35AWARDS Theme Contest: Wildlife – Birds

    This was the very first contest I entered. Out of 4,269 photographers from 114 countries, I placed 12th. It was an incredible feeling — not just being among the top results, but knowing I was judged alongside such a diverse and talented global crowd. To view the best photos, visit the following link.

    🦋 35AWARDS Theme Contest: Winged Insects

    This time, I reached the Top 1% of 3,941 participants with a total of 14,815 submissions. My photos didn’t get lost in the crowd — they stood out, and that meant everything to me. To view the best photos, visit the following link.

    🌿 Nature Photography Contest 2024

    Here, my photo passed the preselection phase — an important step that filters out AI-generated images, overly edited work, and other non-compliant entries. Only winners are published, so I don’t know my final standing, but making it through preselection in a high-caliber contest is an accomplishment I’m proud of.

    🐦 Birdlife Australia Photography Awards 2024

    A photo series I submitted here was previously featured in my blog >>link<<. As a testament to the unique narrative captured in these moments, I submitted this series of images to Birdlife Australia for their annual wildlife photography competition. The sequence of the Osprey and the Silver Gull, with its mix of humor, elegance, and raw survival instincts, seemed to resonate with the judges. I was thrilled to learn that the series had made it to the final round of judging. While it ultimately didn’t win, the recognition itself was a rewarding acknowledgment of the story the images told. Below is a screen copy of the email I received from Birdlife Australia:

    I reached the final round of judging — again, an impressive milestone given the competition.

    David Stowe won in the portfolio category, but the feedback I got was humbling and reinforced my passion for wildlife photography. Sometimes, the joy isn’t just in winning, but in sharing a story that resonates with others — and in this case, even the journey to the final round was a victory in its own right. That said, next time, I’ll be back to claim my prize!

    🦜 Bird Photographer of the Year (BPOTY) 2025

    This is perhaps the most prestigious bird photography contest in the world. It takes six months to review entries. While I won’t know my ranking until November 2025, I was thrilled to receive a request for the RAW file of one of my submissions — a promising sign that it stood out.

    🌍 10th 35AWARDS International Photography Award

    This was the highlight of my year. Out of 112,771 photographers who submitted nearly 473,000 photos, I was selected among the Top 50 Wildlife Photographers of the Year.

    That number still blows my mind. To be ranked so highly among thousands of breathtaking images is a surreal, deeply affirming experience. It tells me that every moment spent in nature, every early morning, and every patient hour waiting for a perfect shot — it all matters. It all adds up. To view the best photos, visit the following link.

    Looking Forward

    Next year, I’ll continue submitting, learning, and pushing myself to grow. Wildlife photography is an endless pursuit — a mix of gear, technique, patience, and the unpredictable magic of being at the right place at the right time.

    To anyone out there wondering whether their work is “good enough” — let this be a nudge. Take the step. Submit. Learn. Improve. Someone out there might be waiting to see your perspective on the world.

    And who knows? Maybe soon you’ll be among them — or rather, us.

  • The Osprey’s Feast: A Dance of Desperation and Elegance 🦅

    The Osprey’s Feast: A Dance of Desperation and Elegance 🦅

    In the quiet, overcast light of a coastal afternoon, I was drawn into a scene that would blur the lines between frustration, persistence, and pride — a story unfolding not just through the lens, but through a series of powerful moments captured in real time.

    It all began with the Osprey, perched majestically on a jagged rock, its talons firmly clutching a fresh catch. The fish, still glistening despite the overcast sky, shimmered in the bird’s grip. The bird’s stance was composed, almost regal, against the calm, muted backdrop of the sea. The Osprey stood as the epitome of strength and self-possession, its eyes alert, its feathers rippling slightly in the cool afternoon breeze.

    But tranquility, as often is the case in nature, was fleeting.

    Next photo captures the tension as the Silver Gull made its presence known. Positioned just in front of the Osprey, the gull’s boldness was apparent — a smaller bird with no respect for the majesty of its larger counterpart. It wasn’t merely curious; it had its eyes fixed on the Osprey’s prize. The scene now had two players, each with its own intent: the Osprey, proud and protective of its catch, and the gull, driven by hunger and the instinct to snatch any opportunity it could.

    And then came the turning point. In a swift and unexpected motion, the gull launched forward and bit the Osprey’s tail. The Osprey recoiled in shock, momentarily stunned by the boldness of the attack. Its reaction was one of confusion and disbelief. For a fleeting moment, the Osprey seemed caught between instinct and restraint. But as the gull retreated, the Osprey remained frozen — unable to respond until it had finished its meal. Its talons remained firmly clutching the fish, its body tense with the knowledge that its victory was far from secure.

    The moment stretched on, and, the Osprey finally resumed eating. It took its time, as if deliberating over the next step. The fish, now stripped of its scales, was consumed in measured bites, the tail lingering as the final piece. With a quick, decisive motion, the Osprey swallowed the last of its prize, tail and all. There was no further conflict. The bird had claimed what was rightfully its own — and with that, the drama seemed to fade as quickly as it had come.

    But the story wasn’t over yet.

    In the next photo, we see the Osprey, its meal now complete, slowly descended into the ocean. The waves were small and gentle, not a dramatic splash but a quiet ripple of water that lapped against its feet. The Osprey waded into the ocean, taking its time to wash off the remnants of the meal, as if to cleanse itself after the tension of the moment. The soft, rippling water mirrored the calm that had returned, and the bird’s form, glistening in the dull light, seemed at peace after the brief storm.

    Finally, in the last photo, the Silver Gull is captured in a stark, high-key portrait. Dull sky matched the tones of the gull’s feathers — almost blending into the background, as if the bird itself were becoming one with the overcast atmosphere. Only the sharp red of its legs and the tip of its black tail stood out against the haze. The gull’s bill, too, was vividly highlighted in contrast to the subdued surroundings. In this image, the gull’s presence is faint, almost dissolving into the background, yet its persistence remains clear. The bill, the red legs, and the subtle blackness of its tail are all that remain of its earlier, brave — albeit failed — attempt to claim the Osprey’s fish.

    This series, told through six frames, is a testament to the unpredictable beauty of wildlife encounters. It’s a story of instinct, pride, and the balance between predator and opportunist. The overcast light, far from diminishing the drama, deepened it — providing a perfect canvas for the quiet intensity of nature’s rituals. From the initial, stoic pride of the Osprey to the gull’s audacious act of defiance, and finally, the resolution in the soft waves of the ocean, this sequence captures the rhythm of survival in all its raw, unrefined glory.

    What began as a moment of frustration turned into a tale of character — of patience, persistence, and the delicate balance that exists between creatures, even in the shadow of defeat.