Máistir Nádúraí: Digiscoper of the Year!

12.17.2009

Digiscoper of the Year!

A Winning Shot!

"Jersey Digiscoper" Kevin Bolton notified me this morning via email that I'm one of ten winners of Swarovski's 2009 Digiscoper of the Year Contest! The 1st place prize went to Steve Berliner for his fabulous shot of a Pileated Woodpecker sipping from a pool of water with a nice reflection. Of the images I submitted, I thought my Eastern Towhee shot was the best, but I'm also very fond of the Sedge Wren (above) the judges selected.

Check out all the contest winners at the Digiscoper of the Year website!

Link: More Winners! (Birdchick's)

© 2009 Mike McDowell

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range rifles. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom Shop 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry.