Penticton wildlife photographer Bruce Turnbull's northern flicker photo won first place in the Backyard Habitats category of BC SPCA 2024 Wildlife-In-Focus contest.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ BC SPCA
September 26, 2024 - 6:00 AM
Two winners of the 16th annual BC SPCA 2024 Wildlife-In-Focus Photography contest are from the Okanagan, with their photos selected out of more than 500 entries.
Three photos were selected for the Backyard Habitats category featuring wild animals in back yards, three were selected for the Wild Settings category featuring animals in natural habitats, and one was selected for the People’s Choice Award.
The winners were announced, Sept. 25, in a media release from the animal protection group.
Penticton resident Bruce Turnbull’s photo of a northern flicker took first place in the Backyard Habitats category, while Kelowna’s Ashely Giovannini’s photo of a grizzly bear won second in the Wild Settings category.
“I am thrilled to have my photograph of a northern flicker feeding their young selected as the winner of the Backyard Habitats category,” Turnbull said in the release. “Wildlife photography is a passion of mine, as is studying the wildlife I photograph and learning about the challenges they face.”
Kelowna wildlife photographer Ashely Giovannini's grizzly bear photo won second place in the Wild Settings category of the BC SPCA 2024 Wildlife-In-Focus contest.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ BC SPCA
Giovannini told iNFOnews.ca their photo of two young grizzly bears was taken on the coast and marks one of their favourite wildlife encounters.
“These young bears were lounging in the sun when I noticed them, then wondered where the mom was but thankfully I was close to my vehicle,” they said. “The bears were so chill they were falling asleep with one hiding behind a tree and the other comfortable out in the open.”
Giovannini is an outdoor enthusiast and has been honing their wildlife photography skills since 2020.
According to the release, $8,426 was donated through the contest to help BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre care for injured and orphaned wild animals.
“Supporting organizations that protect and help our wildlife is very important to me and I am glad my photo helped to raise much needed funds for the organization,” Turnbull said.
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The 12 photos that received the most votes, along with the top three winners in each category, will be featured in a limited-edition Wildlife-in-Focus pack of greeting cards, while the top three winners in each category will be on a limited-edition tote available for purchase here later this year.
Go here to view all of the submitted photos including the winners.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
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