April Sue Billings
On Sep. 19, “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) held an official judging for its 32nd annual “Ding” Darling Amateur Nature Photography Contest. It recently announced the 2024 winners.
Judges selected three winners and nine honorable mentions out of 81 entries from 15 states and two countries. All photograph entries were shot at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge complex. Judges included a refuge staffer, photographer/artist, and member of the Sanibel community.
“Despite the decrease in refuge visitors from Hurricane Ian’s ongoing after-effects, the contest generated much excitement and nostalgia among photographers and our judges,” said April Boehnen, DDWS manager of events, marketing, and communication and contest coordinator. “The photographers found our resilient wildlife and enduring beauty once again.”
First place went to Wayne Kliewer from Clinton, N.J., for his portrait of a roseate spoonbill titled “Pretty in Pink.” Mark Martens, contest judge and senior advertising account executive for Breeze Newspapers, commented: “The composition is wonderful, the spoonbill’s expression is contemplative, and the wonderful blurred reflection finishes off this beautiful photo.”
In second place was Conrad Peloquin from Walnut Creek, Cal., with a photograph of flamingos titled “Anyone Know Where We Are Going?”
“Pink flamingos in flight is an incredible sight,” judge Elizabeth Simler, a member of the community and refuge volunteer, said. “The blue, blue water as a backdrop for their gorgeousness makes this photo vibrant. I hope to see these visitors come back often to the refuge.”
April Sue Billings from Taneytown, Md., took third place with “I Hide Nothing!” Judge and “Ding” Darling Urban Refuge Ranger Yvette Carrasco explained her choice: “The osprey is showing us how resilient they are, like Sanibel Island.”
The three winners received cash awards from DDWS – $300 for first place, $225 for second, and $175 for third. Each honorable mention winner, listed below, received a $25 award, which reflects a refund of the contest entry fee.
The winning photographs and honorable mention award entries will be on display in the “Ding” Darling Visitor & Education Center throughout the year. It is currently closed for hurricane repairs, however.
To view all top-ranking entries, visit dingdarlingsociety.org/photo-contests. The page also contains information for entering the photo contest in 2025. The deadline for submissions will be Sep. 15, 2025.
HONORABLE MENTIONS (in alphabetical order):
Iris Aloia, Sanibel, Fla. – “Mr. Halloween”
Scott Becque, Rehoboth Beach, Del. – “Gotcha”
Kathleen Colligan, Beach Lake, Penn. – “Flamboyant Flamingos”
Heidi Dirkse, Wolverine, Mich. – “Changing Colors”
- Nicholas Linsmayer, Sanibel, Fla. – “My Very Lucky Day”
Sara McVey, Sanibel, Fla. – “I Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty”
Vince Thomalla, Marshfield, Wisc. – “Beats Me?”
Ben Vanos, Petoskey, Mich. – Spoonbill Stretch
Gretchen Wilson, Amherst, N.H. – “Doing the Dew”
ABOUT DDWS
As a non-profit 501(c)3 organization, DDWS works to support J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge’s mission of conservation, wildlife and habitat protection, research, and public education through charitable donations and Refuge Nature Shop profits. To support DDWS and the refuge with a tax-deductible gift, visit dingdarlingsociety.org or Ann-Marie Wildman at 239-789-8991 or [email protected].
