March 2024 Monthly Competition Winners

Subject
Pale Green Assassin Bug

Location
Denver, Colorado

Description
It's hard to read a bug's mind, but I'm pretty sure this one is hoping that a tasty fly will land on this flower.

Subject
Zebra and Oxpeckers

Location
Mara North Conservancy, Kenya

Subject
Black-crested Titmouse

Location
Laguna Seca Ranch

Description
A Black-crested Titmouse does not stay still for long and is very fast. This photo was taken at 5000 shutter speed and could probably have used more.

Subject
Pigeon Guillemots

Location
Glacier Bay, AK

Subject
Elephant taking a Mud Bath

Location
Tarangeri National Park, Tanzania

Subject
Harris's Hawks

Location
Laguna Seca Ranch

Description
The center Hawk is a male, the right Hawk is a female, and the left Hawk is an immature female.

Subject
Common Loon with Chick

Location
Interior of British Columbia

Subject
Purple-crested turaco

Location
South Africa

Subject
Grand Teton Mountains

Location
Grand Teton National Park

Subject
September Full Moon over the Rocky Mountains

Location
Moraine Meadow, Rocky Mountain National Park

Description
I was camped out in the Moraine Meadow of RMNP photographing elk when the sun went down and the September Full Moon rose over the nearby ridge.

Subject
Sunrise

Location
Caddo Lake

Subject
Sand dunes

Location
The Great Sand Dunes National Park

Description
Taken as a storm rolled in, lucky to get a shaft of light on the dunes before they were engulfed by the storm. Taken from the road before the entrance to the park.

Subject
Creative Pika

Location
Near lower Blue Lakes off Hoosier Pass.

Description
I selected the Pika only to use Stylize in Photoshop. I also did not use stylize on its eyes. The rocks are as shot.

Subject
Masai Giraffe Pair

Location
Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Description
am always fascinated by the artful-looking necking behavior between two male giraffes. It looks pretty elegant but can be forceful at times as they fight to establish dominancy for mating purposes. Masai giraffes are the largest giraffe species, making them the tallest land mammal. Populations have decreased by 40 percent in the last two decades, leaving them listed as endangered by the INCN.

Subject
Red-Headed Barbet, Male

Location
Colombia, South America

Subject
Bighorn Ram

Location
Waterton Canyon

Subject
African Cheetah

Location
Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

Description
Two subadult cheetahs nest in the grasses of the savanna before they begin to hunt. It was a cloudy day, which seemed to bring out Africa's rich colors.

Subject
Eared Grebes Mating Dance

Location
Northern Colorado

Description
A pair of eared grebes appear to be dancing on the water in their courtship ritual.

Subject
Pronghorn kid

Location
Wind Cave, SD

Subject
Virginia Creeper fall leaves with water droplets

Location
South Dakota

Description
Water droplets hanging from turning color Virginia Creeper leaves.

Subject
Scenic Reflection

Location
Portage Valley, AK

Subject
Moonset

Location
Serengeti

Description
February 2024 Serengeti Moonset

Subject
Gartered Trogon

Location
Chiapas, Mexico

Description
I wanted to show off this Gartered Trogon in a way that shows the busy jungle habitat but also the bird to best effect. I masked out most of the branches, then added the oval with a green background around it. Then added the beige-ish background inside the oval. Then put back the branches in the background, but partially transparent. Then added another tree from another image for a jungle effect, also partially transparent. It all took me a while!

Subject
Familiar Chats

Location
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

Description
I removed a messy background of branches, used Topaz Simplify and Line IV, then drew in lots of fine lines.