2025 Photo Gala Winners

2025 Northwoods Wildlife Center Photo of the Year
“The Toss” by Andy Raupp

The 2025 Northwoods Wildlife Center Photo of the Year award was determined by our panel of three judges, Jim Arnold, Dean Hall and Howard Honig. The evaluated each entry into the North-American Wildlife category on a number of creative and technical criteria to determine the winning photo.

2025 Northwoods Wildlife Center Photo of the Year shows a Cedar Waxwing tossing a berry up into the air just before swallowing it.

People’s Choice Awards

People’s Choice Award voting took place at the Photo Gala public exhibition, held at the Campanile Center for the Arts on February 15, 2025. Each attendee got a ballot with the option to pick on photo from each category. and over 1200 votes were cast.

Twelve O' Clock High by Matthew Bell shows a little bird flying right at you with its wings tucked in by its side

North-American Wildlife, 1st Place: “Twelve O’ Clock High” by Matthew Bell

Snow Angel shows the imprint of a bird of prey's wings after it landed in the snow and took off again.

North-American Wildlife, 2nd Place: “Snow Angel” by Linda Johnson

A saw-whet owl looking exceptionally cute on a branch

North-American Wildlife, 3rd Place: “Saw-Whet Owl” by Steve Canali

Autumn leaves in the water with water droplets on them

Naturescapes, 1st Place: “Fall In Love” by Courtney Wright

A beautiful sunset through the trees and reflected in a serene lake

Naturescapes, 2nd Place: “Serenity and Beyond” by Stuart Whipple

looking down at a Lake Superior beach with the water frothing at the shore

Naturescapes, 3rd Place: “Lake Superior Beach” by Cynthia Wills”

A fiddle-head fern getting ready to unfurl into its full size

Bugs and Blooms, 1st Place: “Beauty of Spring” by Emilie Braunel

A wasp photographed on a window.

Bugs and Blooms, 2nd Place: “Let Me In” by Matthew Bell

A big bumble bee hovering over some beautiful flowers

Bugs and Blooms, 3rd Place: “All In A Day’s Work” by Chris Kamps

A black lab staring intently at a ball that is not in the photo

Pets, 1st Place: “Extreme Sport-Ball Concentration” by Kelly Ferguson

A dog dressed up in pink ruffles and wearing a tiara.

Pets, 2nd Place: “Pretty In Pink” by Benjamin Hansen

A perfectly sharp, black and white photo of a dog shaking the water out of its coat.

Pets, 3rd Place: “Shake It Off” by Marti Friedman

a young kid ice fishing and happy about his catch

People In Nature, 1st Place: “The Fisherman” by Eric Strand

a view from inside a Lake Superior ice cave, looking out at people around the entrance

People In Nature, 2nd Place: “Ice Cave with a View” by Stephen Bensing

a photographer perched on a cliff looking over Horseshoe Canyon.

People In Nature, 3rd Place: “Nature’s Gift to a Photographer – Horseshoe Canyon”
by Jeanine Warnke

A deer swimming across a serene body of water.

Professional, 1st Place: “Grace” by Shannon Brimmer

A great grey owl taking flight with its wings outstretched to the sides

Professional, 2nd Place: “Take Off” by Lee Dombeck

Sandhill cranes flying and gathering along the Platte river with the sun setting in the background

Professional, 3rd Place: “Sandhills on the Platte” by James Arnold

An ice skater carving elegant lines and a perfectly smooth lake against a warm sunset

Northwoods Wildlife Center Staff and Board, 1st Place: “Sunset Skate” by Carol Warden

An orb-weaver spider on it's web

Northwoods Wildlife Center Staff and Board, 2nd Place: “Silk Weaver” by Sheridan Perry

a family of herons enjoying some lunch on the grass