A bee hangs upside down from the densely packed seeds of a flower.

1ST PLACE

Bee Amidst the HarvestValerie Wells

"I captured this native bee in my backyard in Bosque Farms as it hung on the expired blooms of a sunflower. I loved the spikiness, which seemed to lend itself to a defensive gesture by the plant toward the bee. For me, macro photography offers up a whole new world in which to view the nature New Mexico has such an abundance of, and it forces me as a photographer to alter my perception of space by focusing on such tiny creatures and viewing them in new perspectives. While I love landscape and night photography, I have an innate fascination with insects that goes back to childhood, and I don't have to travel far to see them." —Valerie Wells

A coyote stands on a log, looking up and to the left, framed between two trees.

2ND PLACE

Pondering SpringEldon Vita

"I took this photo in the Corrales Bosque Preserve, in Albuquerque. We were standing in a little clearing, waiting to spot a woodpecker that had been calling in the canopy area of the bosque. While looking around, my wife pointed out a coyote walking around the edge of the clearing. We waited for a while, completely silent, as our host moved slowly around the area. It stood on a fallen cottonwood and glanced around a little bit. I was able to capture that moment, since I had been following it with my camera since we realized it was with us. Eventually, after sniffing the air for a short time, the coyote walked away and left us with this amazing photograph. It always fills me with joy when animals join us on our photography trips, hikes, or even just regular walks.—Eldon Vita

Extreme close-up of a bumblebee covered in pollen.

3RD PLACE

Prepare for TakeoffHarrison Root

"I often bring my camera to the Arroyo de Los Chamisos Trail near my home in Santa Fe in hopes of capturing the small wildlife of the area. I love photographing the different pollinators doing their job around the arroyo. While crouching to observe some dried flower buds, I happened to notice a stirring bee with bright green eyes and urgently tried to focus my shot. This waking bee stayed still long enough for me to capture two images before flying away to collect more pollen. I was delighted to see him staring back at me with his piercing green eyes on my camera. Macro photography reminds me that nature is all around us; we just sometimes have to look down (and closely) to see it." —Harrison Root

A black and white photo of a horse and foal nuzzling under a stormy sky.

HONORABLE MENTION

Gallop of AffectionRachel Rose

"Just outside Elida, while storm chasing toward Clovis, I turned down a dirt road and came upon a mama horse and her frisky foal. I managed to snap a few shots before a fierce gust swept across the field, filling the air with swirling sand. As I drove away, I glanced in my rearview mirror and watched the horses disappear like silhouettes into the dusty haze." —Rachel Rose

 

A flock of birds are silhouetted against a bright full moon.

HONORABLE MENTION

Cranes Against the Moon, Douglas Coombs

"This photo was taken on November 16, 2023, at the Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex with a Canon R5 mirrorless camera and a Canon 600mm f/4 lens. Photographer friends and I often try to get a good shot of cranes against a full or nearly full moon. It is not often we get a good one; the cranes are in focus, positioned well, and the moon is well illuminated and not blown out. We are very fortunate to have this complex and Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico." —Douglas Coombs

SEE FOR YOURSELF

For the ninth consecutive year, Tularosa Basin Gallery of Photography, in Carrizozo, will host an exhibition featuring the winners. The opening weekend, January 25–26, includes artist appearances and refreshments. As the largest photo gallery in the state, Tularosa Basin Gallery features the work of more than 40 New Mexico photographers. The gallery is open Friday through Sunday and by appointment.