Most photography competitions offer a cash or equipment prize, but I’m sure many of us would trade that off for a job as a photographer with a dream organization.
That’s exactly what Newfoundland-based photographer David Sturge has won after recently being crowned the Canadian Wildlife Photographer of the Year by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS).
He now gets to work as a photographer for Canadian Geographic, RCGS’ bimonthly magazine, covering assignments across culture, environmental and travel in British Columbia.
Sturge, who’s based in Paradise, Newfoundland, and works as a provincial park ranger and wildlife guide, won the competition with a stellar portfolio of animal portraits.
Among them were a dramatic shot of a puffin holding a feather in its mouth and looking directly at the camera, as well as a photogenic fox seemingly posing for the shot.
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: David Sturge)
David Sturge image 4 settings
Canon EOS R6 II | Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM | 1/3200 sec | f/4 | ISO 640
(Image credit: David Sturge)
David Sturge image 1 settings
Canon EOS R6 II | Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM | 1/4000 sec | f/4 | ISO 400
(Image credit: David Sturge)
David Sturge image 3 settings
Canon EOS R6 II | Canon EF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS II USM | 1/2000 sec | f/7.1 | ISO 2000
(Image credit: David Sturge)
David Sturge image 2 settings
View Original
View Original
View Original
View Original
According to the organizers, the 2026 edition of the photography competition attracted more than 10,000 entries. 18 photographers in total were honored for images depicting terrestrial and aquatic animals, flora and fungi, and winged species.
Steven Marriott claimed first place in the “Terrestrial Life” category for an action freeze-frame of an American mink dashing toward his lens after catching some prey at a conservation area in Ontario.
While in the “Aquatic Life” category, winner Jean-Christophe Lemay got the judges’ vote with a mesmerizingly colorful shot of a sandworm swimming on the surface of the St. Lawrence Estuary.
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Steven Marriott)
Image 1 (Steven Marriott) settings
Nikon Z8 | Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S | 1/1000 sec | f/6.3 | ISO 2500
(Image credit: Jean-Christophe Lemay)
Image 2 (Jean-Christophe Lemay)
(Image credit: Anthony Zerafa)
Image 3 (Anthony Zerafa) settings
iPhone XR back camera | 4.25 mm (26mm in 35mm equivalent) 1/2200 sec | f/1.8 | ISO 25
(Image credit: Jon Behuniak)
Image 4 ( Jon Behuniak)
View Original
View Original
View Original
View Original
Over in the “Flora and Fungi” category, entomologist Anthony Zerafa came first with a shot of Scheuchzer’s cottongrass growing on the shore of Colour Lake on Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut.
And Saskatchewan-based biologist Jon Behuniak won the “Things with Wings” category with a macro frame of a thick-headed fly on a raspberry cane.
The Canadian Wildlife Photographer of the Year is an annual photography competition celebrating the flora and fauna within Canadian borders. Photographs must be taken in Canada by photographers who are permanent residents in the country.
Author: Alan Palazon
Source: DigitalCameraWorld
Reviewed By: Editorial Team
