2026 Pets & Wildlife Photo Contest Winners

AFTER A MONTH of accepting submissions, followed by careful deliberation by our judging panel, we are finally ready to announce the winners of our Pets & Wildlife Photo Contest. While we love the scenery that our beautiful state has to offer, the great outdoors wouldn’t be the same without the animals who call it home — including the animals who live in our homes. From birds that soar above the tree lines to dogs who know their angles, the winning photographs have captured it all. Photographers Jenn Bakos, Joe Klementovich and Jared Charney reviewed more than 100 submissions. Thanks to everyone who participated. Along with being featured in print, our winners received a cash prize (1st place: $500; 2nd place: $300; 3rd place: $200), and all winners and honorable mentions received a one-year subscription to New Hampshire Magazine.

PETS, 1st Place winner: Laurie LaPorte From Henniker, NH | Shot with: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III. | Taken in Henniker laurielaporte.com | @laurielaportephotos

“Our pup Tilly is our rescue Labrador, and she has gone from being a scared little pup to such a happy country dog. I love capturing her beauty whenever she’s out running in our fields with our kids, rolling in puddles, frolicking in the snow, or just enjoying the wind in her face (as seen here).”

WILDLIFE, 1st Place winner: Mike Azevedo from Portsmouth, NH | Shot with: Canon 1D Mark IV | Taken at Umbagog State Park, Errol | vedo-photo.com | @_vedophoto_

WILDLIFE, 2nd Place winner: Jared Plante from Rochester, NH | Taken in Rochester | jaredplantephotography.com | @jjplante12

“I’ve been looking in this tree hole over the past year, waiting for an owl to make it a home. As I passed by on Sunday morning, I looked up as
I always do, and I saw a large body nestled away keeping warm. Thinking it was an owl, I ran home to grab my camera to take a closer look. When I arrived back, I could see a tiny face in the back and instantly recognized it was not an owl at all, it was a raccoon. As I prepped my camera, I could tell that little face was curious of my presence. Peeking through the viewfinder, I could see in its tired eyes that we both were watching each other. Lo and behold, a second head turned and peeked out the bottom of the hole. What a surprise, twins resting and keeping warm.”

PETS, 2nd Place winner: Fawn Langerman| From North Conway| Shot with: iPhone 15 Pro Max | Taken on Stinson Mountain in Rumney| @ Bikecamphikegirl

“This photo was taken on the summit of Stinson Mountain, in Rumney, NH. Stinson is one of the ’52 With A View’ hikes and we had a really nice day for this hike. Echo is a 2+ year old rescue dog — she is a cattle dog and Australian shepherd mix. She is a great hiker and we have been enjoying many of the White Mountains hikes since she came to live with me in September 2024.”

WILDLIFE 3rd Place Winner: Stephen DeFelice| From Canaan|  Shot with: Canon EOS Rebel T7|  Taken at CanField Farm in Canaan, NH| @ stevie_defelice

“On an early morning outing, I was capturing some of the last remaining songbirds that were finishing off the sunflowers before migrating. I followed this female goldfinch for about an hour before the conditions aligned to capture this shot.”

PETS, 3rd Place winner: Darla Bruno from Lebanon, NH | Taken in Contoocook | darlabrunophotography.com

“Gotcha! High-flying pooch competing in the Dock Dogs competition at the Hopkinton State Fair.”

WILDLIFE Honorable Mention: Arthur Coy from Webster, NH| Shot with: Sony A7III| Taken in Boscawen| @arthurcoy.jpg

“I started taking my camera to work with me in case I saw any animals, and my first trip with the camera, I saw these young bucks grazing.”

PETS, Honorable Mention: Valerie Reifke from Loudon NH | Shot with: Canon Rebel DSLR model T6S and Canon 70-200 mm lens | Taken in Loudon| flickr.com/photos/203083716@N02 | @ hesakeepersmom

“This dark and handsome animal saw me from across the snowy field photographing another. He came charging over like he was trying to tell me this was his pasture.”

PETS, Honorable Mention: Keith Richardson from Salem, NH | Shot with: Fujifilm X-T20 and XF55-200 mm lens | Taken in Londonderry

PETS, Honorable Mention, Carol Stone from Canterbury, NH| Shot with: Pixel 8| Taken in Canterbury

“This is 4-month-old brothers Remington and Kirby looking well-adjusted after being transported from a shelter in Miami.”

WILDLIFE Honorable Mention, Michael Hubley from Londonderry, NH | Shot with: Nikon D500, 200-500 mm lens @ 5.6, ISO-2500, shutter 1/400 | Taken at Odiorne Point State Park, Rye | MichaelHubley.com

“I was exploring Odiorne Point S.P. one afternoon. I reached the end of a path and saw a marsh with bluebirds across the road. After watching them fly from branch to branch, this photo was my favorite of the day with the perfect pose and background.”

WILDLIFE, Honorable Mention, William Holmes from Littleton, NH | Shot with: Canon 77D with a Sigma 18-300 mm lens Taken in Littleton | wmholmesphoto

“We have a few crocuses in our garden, and when they bloomed, a few dozen honey bees descended, with several bees vying for the opportunity to visit each bloom.”