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.
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