Reader Submitted Photo Contest Winners: Pets & Wildlife

It’s time to get wild. In our first reader-submitted photo contest, we wanted to showcase the natural beauty of the Granite State. In our second, we wanted to take our readers into the wild and see the animals that live in those beautiful places. In our Pet & Wildlife reader-submitted photo contest, we asked you to send us your best shot
of New Hampshire’s furrier residents.

Our talented photographers — Jenn Bakos, Brittany Grimes and Jared Charney— took on the difficult task of judging submissions, which included more than 300 photos of animals living in the wild, and in our homes. 

All of our winning photos and honorable mentions have captured breathtaking images of our wildlife and of our pets. Along with being featured in print, our winners received a cash prize (1st place: $500; 2nd place: $300; 3rd place: $200, plus our Editor’s Pick/Cover cover: $500). All winners and honorable mentions will also receive a one-year subscription to New Hampshire Magazine. 

Congratulations!

Wildlife, 1st Place Winner, Shirley Reed
From Portsmouth, NH| Shot with: Canon RF 100-500 mm lens | Taken in Seabrook, NH @outaboutred

“I watched the beautiful snowy owl perched on top of the birdhouse in the Seabrook marsh. As the sun was setting, I started to pack up to return home when the owl suddenly took flight. I had a brief moment to capture its flight sequence, and I did a composite to show the beauty of its flight. Another amazing example of wildlife here on the Seacoast. It makes it worthwhile to get out of your home to explore even in winter months to see the beauty of wildlife outside your door.”

Wildlife, 2nd Place Winner, Jonathan Waage
From New London, NH Shot with: Canon EOS R5, 100-500 mm lens |Taken in New London, NH
naturalreflections.smugmug.com

“This was one of those lucky moments! (I was) in a friend’s backyard photographing a butterfly, when a hummingbird showed up in the same plane.”

Wildlife, 3rd Place winner, Corey McKean from Littleton, NH | Shot with: Nikon D850 | Taken in the White Mountains, NH | @coreyjmckean

“Fox kits pause from playing to pose for a picture! This was an early morning where I got to sit and watch this family of foxes in their natural habitat for nearly an hour. Take the time to witness nature — it’s truly incredible!”

Pets, 1st Place Winner, Sally Gunn from Hampstead, NH | Shot with: iPhone 13 Pro Max | Taken in Hampstead

“Funny and loving ginger kitty brothers. They are about 1 and 1/2 years old and were adopted 4 months prior to this photo being taken. If their photo is chosen for a prize, the money will be donated to the cat shelter which hosted them prior to our adopting them, so more cats can find their forever homes.”

Pets, 2nd Place Winner, Nina Warden from Concord, NH | Shot with: Nikon Z6
Taken at Turee Pond in Bow, NH  @ninavwarden

“My flat coated retriever, Vigo, was in his element! He was leaping for joy, ready to retrieve anything and everything — sticks, toys, you name it. His drive to swim and fetch is incredible as it is unstoppable, and he doesn’t just run — he flies through the air, as captured in this moment. It was one of those perfect days where the energy was high, and the water was calling!”

Pets, 3rd Place Winner, Brett Marden from New Boston, NH | Shot with: Canon Power Shot s100 | Taken in New Boston, NH

“After visiting the grocery store, we often reuse the empty bags for recyclables. Kitty Mikey likes to jump into the empty bags to make sure all his treats have been accounted for — he doesn’t want his snacks to get mixed up with the trash! Mikey is our dumpster-diving kitty!”

Wildlife, Honorable Mention, Arthur Coy from Webster, NH, Shot with: Sony A7iii, Taken in: Boscawen, NH at Beaver Dam Brook | @arthurcoy.jpg

“I was driving to Concord, and I saw this beaver sitting on the ice. He was still there when I grabbed my camera, and we had a little photoshoot. After about 15 minutes, he jumped in the water for a swim, and then he climbed back onto the ice where he shook himself off.”

Pets, Honorable Mention, Jill Crane from Contoocook, NH | Taken in Contoocook | @crane913

“Morgan and Jethro are featured in the photo — I am their Auntie Jill and have been caring for them for almost 12 years! I totally took advantage of beautiful dogs and a beautiful foggy day. We wandered around until I found the exact location I was searching for. It just shows that even the simplest of places can show the true beauty of NH.”

Wildlife, Honorable Mention, Alan Evans from Somersworth, NH | Shot with: Canon 7D with a Tamron 28-300 mm lens | Taken at Red Oak Hill in Epping, NH | @awevans

“I was taking a walk one evening, and there she was looking at me!”

Pets, Honorable Mention , Jack McCrossan from Groton, Mass. Shot with: iPhone 13, Taken at Ossipee Lake
@uniquelynewengland

“This photo of Annie (left) and Linda (right) was taken near the entrance to the Ossipee Lake channel leading from Broad Bay to the main lake. It was Annie’s first time in a boat and she loved it.”

Wildlife, Honorable Mention, Andrea Dicunzolo from Pelham, NH | Shot with: Canon 760D with Sigma 150-600 mm lens, Taken in: Pelham, NH | @andrea_dicunzolo

“This was my first time seeing an owl, and they now reside in the land behind my house!”

Wildlife, Honorable Mention, George Carmichael from Rindge, NH | Shot with: Sony A1 camera paired with the Sony 600 mm f/4 GM OSS G  Master lens | Taken in Pittsburg, NH | @geo_carmichael

“A family of river otters swimming at First Connecticut Lake.”

About our Judges:

Jenn Bakos is a Portsmouth-based photographer whose work often appears in the pages of New Hampshire Magazine. She loves to document and capture the special moments in life, and she specializes in food, product, lifestyle, editorial and brand photography. Check out more of her work at jennbakosphoto.com and instagram.com/jennbakosphoto.

Jared Charney is a north-of-Boston photographer specializing in editorial and portrait photography. He can often be found drinking coffee wherever there’s a good pour. His work can be viewed at jaredcharney.com

Brittany Grimes received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Art at the University at Albany, NY, after finding her love for photography at 14. She married a NH native in 2019 and now mainly works for the Union Leader and Mark Lawrence Photographers, but does freelance and weddings on the side. brittanygregory.org