Nature Photography

Editor's Pick Awards 2008

The 2008 Editor’s Pick Awards are now in the NPN history book. As with the previous 7 years of this annual recognition of nature photography excellence, the process of selecting just 24 photos out of the thousands posted every year in the NPN image critique galleries is no small task.

Eligibility

The person posting the photo must be a member of the Nature Photographers Network™ in order to have their photo initially selected as a Weekly Pick
Their membership must be current at the time the moderators make their Editor’s Pick Award selections at the end of the year
NPN staff – as listed on the staff masthead on the Front Page – are not eligible for the awards.

The Selection Process

Every week through mid-December, the NPN image critique gallery moderators select their favorite image of the week, which is then archived in the Weekly Pick Gallery. By the end of the year, 400 photos are archived - 50 from each gallery.

At year’s end (or more specifically, during the last few weeks of December), the moderators are then tasked with identifying their 5 favorite photos from the 50 they selected over the course of the year. These photos are then sent to me as the moderators’ recommendations for an Editor’s Pick Award.

The final process of selecting three photos from each gallery then falls to me. Here are the guidelines that are followed during this process:

There can be no multiple winners in any year. This means that if photos from the same photographer are selected for different galleries, I must decide which photo will be designated the winner. This year, one member had five photos recommended by the moderators!
I review all 400 weekly pick photos in the Weekly Pick gallery myself to see if any not on the moderator’s list stand out for consideration. This year, I selected two photos that I felt should make the final cut.
Out of the 24 photos that make the final cut, I designate the first, second and third place winners for each gallery. If the moderators recommend any photos for first place, their suggestion carries plenty of weight in the final decision.

Final Remarks

I wish to congratulate all members who had their photos selected as a Weekly Pick in 2008. With the level of talent posting on NPN, this is no small accomplishment!

Also, my sincere thanks to the NPN moderators for their tireless effort over the course of the year! Watching over their galleries, posting photos and comments, making the weekly picks and inspiring us with their own extraordinary nature photography, they are in very large part what makes NPN such a special place for all nature photographers.

Finally, a tip of the hat to Marsel van Oosten for his having his photography so widely acclaimed by such a talented group of fellow nature photographers! Every year we have at least one member’s work recommended over multiple galleries, but five photos over three galleries is a new record.

Once again, my congratulations to this year’s winners and to the NPN moderators for the great job they do. Without further adieu, the 2008 NPN Editor’s Pick Awards!

Note - Use the browser back button to return to this page after viewing the winning images.

Avian Gallery

First Place Winner - Northern Harriers 2 by Ron Dudley

1^st Honorable Mention - Bohemian Waxwing by May Haga

2^nd Honorable Mention - Gray-Crowned Rosy Finch by Gary Gulash