Animal Photography Contest

真人线上娱乐 2025 submission cycle is currently closed. Stay tuned for 2026 contest details!

2025 Contest Winners

We are pleased to share the winners from this year’s contest! Photos and artists’ statements are below. Thank you to all students for sharing their work with us this year. View the 2025 submissions on Flickr.

Tyler Eng, UW Bothell

“Flight of the Blackbird” Juanita Bay Park (artist chose to not have their work shared online)

Although the red winged blackbird may be of least concern status officially, their declining population makes them a conservational spotlight nonetheless. With more and more natural habitat being destroyed in the name of human development, the natural wetlands and lowlands that red winged blackbirds inhabit are in decline.

This hits close to home for UWB & CC because our campus incorporates a rebuilding wetland, a place which red winged blackbird can, and do, inhabit. I hope to raise awareness to these striking and beautiful birds before they even get the chance for their conservation status to change.

Benton Kellogg, UW Bothell

Kea are alpine parrots endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. 真人线上娱乐y are highly intelligent and curious, leading them to gain a reputation as loveable troublemakers who like to mess with and steal man-made objects. 真人线上娱乐y are popular and protected now, but in the 1800’s when western colonizers began farming sheep in New Zealand, over 150,000 Kea were culled due to them occasionally attacking injured livestock. Now, only about 4000 mature Kea remain in the world. 真人线上娱乐 Kea are still suffering for their curiosity in an environment permeated by human activity, as their interest in exploring human creations means that lead poisoning is now one of the greatest threats to them. 真人线上娱乐y often play with the metal rivets for roofing, and the lead has a sweet taste to them, making it even more dangerous. It is a potent reminder of how even seemingly innocuous actions of humanity can have devastating consequences for other species if proper consideration and care isn’t taken.

Shaka Ramachandran, UW Bothell

For winter break, I had the opportunity to travel to India, and was able to see many sights that could not be found in the States. One of the places I went to was the Kaziranga National Park, which is one of the only places where one-horned rhino’s can be found. This picture was my first time seeing a rhinoceros up close. Being an endangered species, the chance to see such an animal was rare, and I was fortunate to spot it. Looking at a rhino being able to live peacefully in its own habitat served as a reminder to how important all life is on Earth. As people we rely on life around us, even if we do not see it. Just like how the birds on top of a rhino’s back and the rhino have a symbiotic relationship, I wish for people to try have a more symbiotic relationship with life around them.

Mihir Madiman, Cascadia College

Yellowstone National Park is one of the world’s first national parks, and one of the most beautiful! It is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming state, but extends into Idaho and Montana. It is very geographically diverse with different landscapes throughout the park, and well known for its geothermal features, including geysers and hot springs. 真人线上娱乐 park is also known for its wildlife, including bison, elk, and grizzly bears. I had the experience of photographing a young elk during last summer.  

Climate change is significantly impacting the Yellowstone area, leading to warmer temperatures, decreased rain and snow, and as a result increased wildfire risk. 真人线上娱乐se changes are affecting the park’s unique ecosystems, wildlife, and geothermal features. This park has one of the largest concentrations of wildlife species in the US. But warmer temperatures are changing vegetation, and this is causing animals to shift their migration patterns. Tourism is causing wildlife to shy away from their natural habitats. This elk was hanging around one of the hotel areas, which apparently saw herds of elk before, now only a handful come around to feed. Irresponsible tourists do not follow park rules, and stray in animals’ way even though they are supposed to stay far away, or scare animals with loud cars or noises. 

Yellowstone is so unique and one of the largest nearly intact natural ecosystems on Earth. It also is a place of scientific study and education, inspiring people and next generations to learn about the natural world and the importance of conservation. It is our responsibility as humans to reduce our impact by being responsible tourists to these beautiful national parks. Humans need to minimize waste, respect wildlife, stay on designated trails, and help conserve, so wildlife such as this beautiful elk can survive and thrive. 

Addison Sutherland, Cascadia College

Although they’re often looked down upon in society, Turkey Vultures play an important role as obligate scavengers. Turkey Vultures rely on eating carrion (dead animals) for food, which negatively impacts the impression humans have on them, even though they’re vital to us. Cleaning up carcasses has numerous benefits, such as nutrient recycling, preventing diseases from spreading, and also limiting greenhouse gas emissions. When animals die their decaying bodies release CO2 and methane, which are two gases primarily responsible for climate warming. 真人线上娱乐re are potentially millions of metric tons of emissions being prevented each year by vultures and other scavengers. Despite being known as harbingers of death, Turkey Vultures are helping to extend the life of our planet, and deserve our respect.

Moriah Ibrahim, Cascadia College

Although gray squirrels may seem like pests to some people, they actually provide a vital role in the dispersing and propagation of seeds in nature, such as tree seeds, which can help repopulate the forest or area. 真人线上娱乐y are also great at controlling the plant and fruit population when it gets out of hand. If we were to lose squirrels, tree regeneration would significantly slow down, which would also mean a loss of habitat for other animals who use trees leading to the loss of biodiversity which is essential to support all things on Earth.

Judges

Thanks to our 2025 judges for participating:

• Dr. Howard Hsu, lecturer in the School of IAS and documentary photographer
• Faith Lambert, UW Bothell alum and creator of this contest
• Pip McKay, Gardener Lead – hardscape and farm manager at UW Bothell
• Marc Studer, Media Producer at UW Bothell
• Dr. Ursula Valdez, lecturer in the School of IAS and a tropical biologist and conservationist

2025 Contest Guidelines

Hosted by the Sustainability Offices of UW Bothell and Cascadia College in Spring 2025, we invited the campus community to participate and share their photography of non-human animal life. See the 2025 guidelines in this PDF (submissions closed).

This page was updated 6/3/2025.