This month, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) held the official judging for its thirty third annual “Ding” Darling Amateur Nature Photography Contest. It just lately introduced the 2025 winners.
Judges chosen three winners and 7 honorable mentions out of 89 entries from 19 states and two nations. All entries had been shot on the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge complicated.
The judges included Refuge Manager Bob Gerwig, photographer Jim Bennight, and Sanibel neighborhood member and DDWS Board Member Jo Smith.
“We were absolutely inspired by the passion and talent shown in this year’s contest,” contest coordinator and DDWS Philanthropic Director Jeff Decker stated. “With over 80 gorgeous submissions from greater than 40 photographers, every picture instructed a singular story concerning the wildlife we’re working to guard.
“Our judges carefully evaluated every photo based on technical excellence, originality and the ability to truly captivate — and we were blown away by the creativity and heart behind each shot,” he added. “Thank you to all who participated.”
First place went to Tony Wagner, of Sandwich, New Hampshire, for his shot of two black-necked stilts titled “Romance on Stilts.”
In second place was Rebecca Clemens, of Sanibel, with a portrait of a white pelican titled “Fly Me to the Moon.”
Scott Becque, of Rehoboth, Delaware, took third place with “Preening,” which captures an anhinga doing simply that.
The winners obtained money awards from the DDWS: $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place. In addition, every honorable point out winner obtained a $50 award.
The honorable mentions included:
– Iris Aloia, of Sanibel, for “Ruffled Royalty”
– Frank Brinker, of Oberaegeri, Switzerland, for “Helicopter Mode”
– Kathleen Colligan, of Beach Lake, Pennsylvania, for “The Elusive Mangrove Cuckoo”
– Harrison Larkin, of Rock Hill, New York, for “Otter Yawn”
– Gail Markham, of Fort Myers, for “Chipped but not Broken Spoonbill”
– Melinda Saminski, of Manasquan, New Jersey, for “Sunset Reflections at Refuge”
n- Allen Sparks, of Cordova, Tennessee, for “Yellow-crowned Night Heron”
The successful pictures and honorable point out award entries can be on show within the refuge’s Visitor & Education Center all year long as soon as it reopens within the winter. It is presently closed for hurricane repairs.
To view the entire top-ranking entries, go to dingdarlingsociety.org/photo-contests. The web page additionally incorporates info on the 2026 contest, which is able to settle for entries from June 15 to Sept. 15.
The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel.