10 Aug 2026 32nd Annual Photo Contest Winners
BEST-IN-SHOW
Palm Coast, FL
Great egret (Ardea alba) pair
equipment: Nikon Z9, 100-400 lens
Comments and compliments by Greg Lepera, 2026 Photo Contest Judge:
Bobby van Mierop’s best-in-show winning image is of a great egret pair passing a stick for nesting. The soft, even lighting is gorgeous, the clean and flowing composition of the birds’ necks and wings leads the viewer’s eye into and through the image, the curves of the necks and wings are mirrored in the shape of the twig, and the freezing of an intimate moment between the two birds is delicate, engaging, subtle, and dynamic all at once.
I’d like to thank the Alligator Farm for the pleasure, privilege, and honor of judging this year’s photo contest. The quality of the best images in the Alligator Farm’s contest is simply outstanding, there were many dozens of entries that could easily have been chosen as winners due to their artistic and technical excellence. The decisions here were not easy and often came down to very small details or through eliminating the many wonderful images that captured similar scenes.
I really love to see how the Alligator Farm’s rookery has continued to grow. In the 80s, we knew the rookery was special, but other than the occasional local birding group that came to visit, it received little attention. That all changed when my late friend, nature photographer John Netherton, came to visit. He publicized the rookery nationally in his photography books, wrote articles about it in Outdoor Photographer magazine (he was a contributing editor with a regular column), and finally asked to do our first rookery photo workshops in 1990. He told me that once we started the workshops, that things would never be the same, that photographers would knock down the doors to get in. Boy, was he right. I think he’d be pleased to see how many folks still come to visit the birds, and how the Alligator Farm’s continued commitment to the rookery and the guest experience there have contributed to its growth and sustained interest.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
William Miller
Gainesville, FL
Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres) basking
IUCN RedList- VULNERABLE
Gainesville, FL
Cerro Azul Galapagos tortoise (Chelonoidis vicina) devouring timothy hay
IUCN RedList- ENDANGERED
Maralee Park
St. Augustine, FL
Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) territorial display towards Anhinga pair (Anhinga anhinga)
Florida state-listed Imperiled Species (spoonbill)
Orlando, FL
Great egret (Ardea alba) preening
Sharon Younce
Powhatan, VA
American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) yawn
Palm Coast, FL
Great egret (Ardea alba) chicks
Jane Bederka
Ponce Inlet, FL
Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) bathing
Florida state-listed Imperiled Species
Rockville, MD
Great egret (Ardea alba) landing
Catherine Schwartz
Charlotte, NC
Roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) adult with chicks
Florida state-listed Imperiled Species
With hundreds of photo contest submissions each year, we are continually amazed by the creativity, passion, and talent captured in every entry. We are especially grateful to Greg for lending his expertise as this year’s judge. His deep knowledge and appreciation of natural Florida and exotic wildlife, historical perspective, and exceptional photography skills make him a wonderful part of the contest.
Every year, these photographs remind us just how much beauty exists in the native and exotic wildlife that call our park home. We are incredibly impressed by the creativity of our participants and grateful to everyone who takes the time to share their unique perspective with us. Thank you for helping us celebrate the incredible wildlife that makes the Alligator Farm such a special place.