2019 Wildlife Calendar Photo Contest Winners
Sorting through more than 850 photos of Arizona’s amazing wildlife is a wonderful challenge for our judges. The moment has come to announce the winners!
James Stamsek’s photo of mule deer at Lost Dutchman State Park was awarded best in show and will be showcased on both the cover and in the calendar.
Stamsek, of Mesa, was at Lost Dutchman State Park with the goal of capturing a beautiful sunset and the Superstition Mountains during what photographers call the “golden hour,” the time just after the sun rises or before it sets. “The mule deer, however, were my obvious subject once I saw them,” Stamsek said. “When I shoot, I make a loose plan since the variables can change in an instant. This being a perfect example of that.”
More than 300 photographers entered this year’s wildlife photo contest. Twelve winning images are published in a full-size 2019 wildlife calendar in the November-December 2018 issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine, which is on sale for $3 at all Arizona Game and Fish Department offices.
In addition to Stamsek, the other 11 winning photographers are:
- Dominic Ambrosino, Surprise: Whiskered screech-owl
- James Capo, Oro Valley: Rufous hummingbird
- Denny Eppard, Mesa: Sonoran desert tortoise
- Lorraine Harrington, Casa Grande: Great egret
- John Kulberg, Wellton: Desert bighorn sheep
- Elaine Malott, Tucson: Chiricahua leopard frog
- Kathleen Reeder, Peoria: Wild turkey
- James Ripley, Mesa: Montezuma (Mearns’) quail
- Tam Ryan, Mesa: Cottontail rabbit
- Jeffry Scott, Tucson: Mallard, American wigeon and green-winged teal
- Bruce D. Taubert, Glendale: Javelina
The Arizona Game and Fish Department welcomes new subscribers to the state’s award-winning magazine about wildlife and outdoor recreation. The regular price is $8.50 for six issues (one year), but through Dec. 31, subscriptions are on sale for $7 for seven issues. They can be purchased online. Those who subscribe by Dec. 31 will receive the calendar issue showing this year’s winners and honorable mentions.
Given the strength and diversity of this year’s 850-plus entries, the judges singled out 20 more images from talented photographers for honorable mention. These photos also are featured in Arizona Wildlife Views magazine:
- Jim Burns, Scottsdale: Great blue heron
- Peggy Coleman, Glendale: Greater roadrunner
- Linda Cunico, Mesa: Curve-billed thrasher
- Barbara Draper, Prescott: Coyote
- Gary Flanagan, Gilbert: American dipper
- Vijay Kannan, Norwood, Mass.: Broad-billed hummingbird
- Bryan Keil, Scottsdale: Green-winged teal
- Samantha Kellogg, Mesa: Western and mountain bluebirds
- John Kulberg, Wellton: Desert bighorn sheep
- Tom Mangelsdorf, Scottsdale: Gila woodpecker
- Lisa Manifold, Twentynine Palms, Calif.: Black-throated gray warbler
- Dana Martin, Apache Junction: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep
- Chuck McHugh, Tempe: Cliff swallows
- Walker Noe, Moscow, Idaho: Elf owl
- Robert Rinsem, Chandler: White-breasted nuthatch
- Bruce D. Taubert, Glendale: Mule deer
- A O Tucker, Goodyear: Great horned owl
- Hunter Umaske, Tempe: Mule deer
- Pam Van Den Berg, Tucson: Dark-eyed (gray-headed) junco
- Tim Van Den Berg, Tucson: Redhead
