The Red List 2023 Photo Challenge Finalists

Welcome to the finalists of the The Red List Category of The Pangolin Photo Challenge. In this round we celebrate the rarer and sadly more endangered animals made it final selection from which we will be choosing the winner.
The Pangolin Photo Challenge is free to enter and is a great easy to showcase your own images. It is an amateur competition open to anyone around the world with a passion for wildlife photography. To learn more about how to enter please click on this link:bit.ly/49NY4lr
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[@PangolinWildlife]

So…which one is your winner? Let us know below.

[@markhilton7122]

All are very good. I particularly like the Elephant walking toward the camera and the Polar Bear trudging up the slope.

[@orcaspest]

It's difficult to choose when there are so many beautiful photos. I watched this video a few times, but if I have to choose only one, I'll go for the polar bear in the snow at 3'11

[@auraicequeen5285]

All very beautiful my absolute favorite is the sea turtle. Totally amazing 🤩

[@mariomicallef8266]

It's too hard to choose. All magnificent in their own right. A lot of photos of monkeys and apes.... I could be here for ages just looking at them, good luck to you all.The winner will be most deserved..

[@jamesmertens2731]

😮 I just watched and saw my photo scroll by! Just being a finalist is an awesome feeling 😊. Still keeping fingers crossed for the win.

[@PangolinWildlife]

Congratulations. Tough round!

[@felinefun1016]

3:34 (Sea turtle) was beautiful! While all the pictures were unique, this one was definitely my favorite. Extremely underrated too.

[@KaitlynGandara-hc9mf]

3:34 Sea Turtle is my favorite and a well taken photo of the Sea Turtle relaxing on the beach.

[@snake.io6789]

The Sea Turtle 3:34 was so Amazing.

[@PangolinWildlife]

Great shot. Emotive

[@auraicequeen5285]

All I have to say Wow my favorite one is the sea turtle. Absolutely breath taking 💜

[@user-ul6hb9nf2b]

I loved every photo! Glad I didn’t have to pick a winner. Congrats to everyone.

[@aliceperetie7184]

What a great selection of photos! Love those first two images - they're so different! Excited for the results!

[@PangolinWildlife]

Glad you like them!

[@annekronschnabl2063]

Wonderful images!! Love the cheeky look of the first gorilla and the eyes of the first elephant shot are so incredible!

[@rickyitterly6560]

Amazing photos, The elephant walking towards camera and the sea turtle.

[@TinaMcManusNorthShore]

I wouldn't want to choose. They're all gorgeous!

[@samanthapillay2028]

The POLAR BEAR IN THE SNOW IS A WINNER. It’s a picture that captures a thousand words and emotions. 🙏

[@LesleyMattuchio]

All were very well done and achingly beautiful, but for me , if I had to choose one that I would have love to have made myself, it would be the black leopard. Congratulations on all the entrants. They inspire me to do better.

[@visionsofnature9597]

I clearly prefer the first two images. Very unusual, especially the eyes of the forest elephant!

[@RolandMueller-xu8rv]

too hard too choose ... they're all great ! ! ! they all have a story ... there is the challenge of endurance of the elements ... the patience of the wait ... the many attempts and missed opportunities ... then the final capture ! ! ! New Brunswick, CANADA

[@andrewdanckwerts5908]

Hmm the first two…I’m liking a lot!

[@rerolley]

Personally, I am drawn to the cheetah @2:08. Well posed and well lit. Classic pose. Something for everyone.

[@PangolinWildlife]

Nice pick.

[@user-fb5pd2sx1c]

All amazing photos!! Love the first image of the gorilla deep in the forest. You can feel the connection and emotion in the picture. Also, like the second image of the elephant and their eyes draw you into the wild environment.

[@MJGOLDHEART]

Wow these are incredible! The Polar bear in the snow and the Leopard drinking are my favourites.

[@donnacameron-prosser120]

I agree.

[@PangolinWildlife]

Glad you like them!

[@VABrowneMDPhD]

These are all beautiful images! The intelligence and presence captured in the eyes of these amazing animals was a recurring theme that moved me. I found the jaguar low key image to be quite striking and the leopard drinking at the pond in dramatic light with a beautiful reflection was fantastic!

[@PangolinWildlife]

Both excellent photos!

[@Maralee808]

The are all outstanding images. It will be a difficult task to pick one.

[@maryjanesesto5032]

Fantastic collection, once again! I love the Leopard drinking at the waterhole (Zimanga?) with the reflection at 5:04. Congrats and cheers to all the finalists! ❣😻

[@PangolinWildlife]

Not sure its Zimanga. Lentorre in Kenya most likely

[@alisonandguywildlifephotograph]

Beautiful 👏👏👏

[@PangolinWildlife]

Thank you! 😊

[@user-xk9yx2dl9t]

Hard to pick a winner, but for me it's between 3:10 (polar bear in snow) and 4:39 (baby chimp).

[@PangolinWildlife]

Who doesn’t love a baby chimp. Its a contender for sure.

[@user-ud8ey1iz2j]

Beautifull picture of the pennant-winged nightjar! Itis very difficult to make a photo like this

[@PangolinWildlife]

It really is!

[@deborahmayson44]

So many fantastic photos are winners. Mine favorite is the leopard drinking water looking at the cameral

[@PangolinWildlife]

Lovely capture!

[@jillpoleskie4032]

Also the leopard drinking at the water hole

[@bennievivier3982]

So many excellent images - My choice will be the Puffin (4:26), Cheetah (3:19) and the Rhino (4:14)

[@Fribi1978]

Truly wonderful selection of images 😍, however my fingers are crossed for my hubbys image (Cheetah at 2:08) 🤞🏻🥰

[@PangolinWildlife]

Good luck!!

[@ChloeMcCormack-kj8ik]

What incredible sightings the first two images are so unique! The forest elephant, so ethereal so unusual! Those are my favourites by far!

[@PangolinWildlife]

Glad you like them!

[@user-rf1bz1op3o]

They are all great but it is the black panther for me.

[@PangolinWildlife]

A popular choice

[@jimphilpott902]

I vote for the Golden Lion Tamarin between (4:18-22). The potential danger of an animal like this, as seen in its impressive set of teeth, informs humanity of the aggression of our times. Though small it can defend its ground if threatened. We animals must learn how to get along.

[@PangolinWildlife]

Well said!

[@Nitro5454]

They ae great. I liked the black Panther with the glowing eyes

[@PangolinWildlife]

Striking isnt it?

[@dylanlizette]

superb photos again showing how freaking good some people are - they say you need 10 000 hours to become good at anything....some here are well into 100 000, just so good! winner must be polar bear in the snow though

[@PangolinWildlife]

Nice choice. Lets see on Sunday

[@nataliekata1373]

Very tough competition but I think it would be the Polar Bear trudging uphill through the snow.

[@PangolinWildlife]

Nice choice

[@jillpoleskie4032]

I am forever mesmerized by the eyes of the mountain gorillas

[@PangolinWildlife]

Stunning shot!

[@pennygrimes8425]

So hard to choose, think my favourites are very moving first image of the gorilla, the gorilla at 2:56, the regal elephant at 4:50, the wise chimpanzee at 2:31 and the baby gorilla at 1:50 - was I meant to select just one!?

[@PangolinWildlife]

Hedge your bets…why not!!

[@chirodrone59]

There are some excellent photos in this portfolio, however it is clear that a large number have been heavily adapted in post production, which regrettably takes away the skill of getting a great shot. Personally, I feel that post production editing should not be allowed at all in a photographic competition. The current position that it can be to some extent blurs the edges somewhat, (apologies for the pun!). Ultimately, it is a photographic competition, not an editing competition. Thus, it should focus on the photographers skill with his photographic ability, to include all the things that make photography a great challenge. Also over 90% of the photos in the short list are taken in Africa. Not many of us have the privilege of living out there and thus having such amazing subject matter to photograph. If this is supposed to be a competition open to anyone internationally, then there should be better representation of photos from other parts of the world. Otherwise, have an African centric competition and a Rest of The World competition, then many more of us would have a purpose of entering our photos. After all a wonderful close up of a Robin is not going to compete with a similar shot of a monkey is it? All of that said, the two stand out shots are both black and white, one of the profile of the rhino and one a head and neck shot of the turtle!

[@PangolinWildlife]

This year we have an Out of Africa challenge for shots not taken on the continent…hope you will enter.

[@chirodrone59]

Thank you for your reply. However, I note with interest that you did not comment on the main issue within my message, which related to post production editing, which regrettably presumes that you are allowing the editing to enhance the photo way beyond the actual real skill base, which is the art of taking a good photo in the first place. Improving a photo in post production editing is mostly about time spend the the various editing software one has. It has very little to do with the photographers inherent skill in getting a great photo in the first place. Such a shame as this is a slippery slope towards AI generated imagery and thus totally negates someone bothering to buy a good camera or a good lens and learning the art of taking a good shot and in particular good lighting.

[@DaveBone894]

All fantastic photos and congratulations to all entrants , I just think it's a great shame that it is always an 'exotic' species that wins ? Photographers spend just as much effort taking excellent pics in there local surroundings and hopefully get as much pleasure ! Most people cannot afford a safari and a photo of a robin is never going to do well !! Just a thought ? ps I did enter as I was lucky enough to photo some Sea Eagles .

[@lisaschwerdt6447]

black panther for sure; climbing polar bear for second place

[@PangolinWildlife]

Interesting. Lets see on Sunday

[@milantenbosch]

what is the bird at 4:06?

[@Kalisto1999]

Would say pennant-winged nightjar

[@maryjanesesto5032]

Looks like a Pennant-winged Nightjar....

[@PangolinWildlife]

Yes. Pennant winged nightjar….stunning.

[@donaldmcvee9371]

What "Red List" did you use? Categories and species?

[@PangolinWildlife]

The IUCN red list

[@victorsoaresphotography]

4:38 Chimp for me ...

[@PangolinWildlife]

Nice choice

[@daxatrivedi3437]

Tiger in twilight.

[@PangolinWildlife]

Nice choice!

[@markarchibald3873]

Many fantastic images! Well done to those photographers. However, I was a bit surprised to see photos that have gone beyond the acceptable "enhancement" of using post-processing software to over-processing the image. A few are clearly over processed and manipulated beyond what we would see with the naked eye. I was hoping the judges wouldn't be swayed by the 'smoke and mirrors' of post-processing regarding those photos making it into the 'red list'. That being said, there were still many photos processed in a realistic fashion which emphasized the moment rather than the processing.

[@PangolinWildlife]

The judges will indeed take that into consideration in this final rounds

[@snake.io6789]

Photography is an Artform there is no Wrong or Right.