The BLP Photographer of the Year for 2021 - our most prestigious award - is Simon Pelling.  The award criteria covers image gallery submissions, competition involvement and contributions to our organisation.

During 2021, Simon:

• Uploaded 69 images throughout the year.
• Was the key driver in the updating of our Ethics policy; member feedback about this has been excellent.
• Assisted Katie Cordes and Glenn Pure with the pre-judging work required for our important BAPA competition.
• Served as a Committee member providing valuable advice and feedback to the President and Committee.
• Has provided image feedback and personal photography mentoring support for a number of new members.
• Was an active member of the Moderator team reviewing member images for gallery selection.
• Was a consistent contributor to our website forum, answering and commenting on member posts.

Overall, Simon has actively and selflessly served members throughout 2021 and has made a significant contribution to BirdLife Photography. Congratulations Simon, and thank-you for your many hours of service.

BirdLife Photography President Tim Van Leeuwin announces Simon's award at the BirdLife Photography Biennial Conference.

The BLP Photographer of the Year - our most prestigious award - goes to Gary King.  This award is made to the member who excels against the following criteria:

• Submits at least 24 high quality images to the image galleries on the website during the calendar year,
• Participates in at least 50% of the Current Competitions organised during the calendar year,
• Actively contributes to at least one of a range of BirdLife Photography activities, events, project or resources that benefit our members.

Gary contributed 48 images, and entered all 4 competitions.  His major contribution to BLP activities was as coordinator of our Photo Competitions for 2020 (a postition he continues in for 2021); he also provided a very well worded and comprehensive summary of our 2020 Member survey which the committee found very useful for planning our activites since the survey.

Congratulations Gary, for a well-deserved award!

The BirdLife Photography Annual Award for 2019 - our most prestigious award - goes to Con Boekel.  This award is made to the member who excels against the following criteria:

• submits at least 24 high quality images to the image galleries on the website during the calendar year,
• participates in at least 50% of the Current Competitions organised during the calendar year,
• actively contributes to at least one of a range of BirdLife Photography activities, events, project or resources that benefit our members.

Con contributed 120 images (including several to the Science & Conservation gallery), entered all 4 competitions, and contributed to BLP as an image moderator and Mystery Reviewer; Con won the 2019 Tom Oliver Award with his photo essay “Bird photography for What?”

Con’s contribution to BirdLife Photography throughout 2019 was outstanding, and we thank him for his efforts.  Congratulations Con!

The award is presented as a multi-faceted crystal, with a frosted white-on-crystal BLP logo and laser inscription, in a velvet presentation case.

The BirdLife Photography Annual Award for 2017 - our most prestigious award - goes to Ian Wilson.  This award is made to the member who excels against the following criteria:

• submits at least 24 high quality images to the image galleries on the website during the calendar year,
• participates in at least 50% of the Current Competitions organised during the calendar year,
• actively contributes to at least one of a range of BirdLife Photography activities, events, project or resources that benefit our members.

Ian’s contributions, against these criteria, were as follows:

• Submitted nearly 200 images to non-competition galleries. 34 of these appeared in the “Recent Picks” sidebar.
• Entered every competition during 2016, winning the Member’s Voting award in two of six competitions for the year; many other competition entries received commended results.
• Won the Gold Medal in the Advanced Competition Photographer of the Year.
• Contributed two major technical articles to our newsletters.
• Was one of the most active contributors, both with new topics and responding to other posts, to our Forum.
• Commented on 32 images submitted to the Critique Gallery.

Ian’s contribution to BirdLife Photography throughout 2017 was truly outstanding, and we congratulate – and thank - him for his efforts.  This is the second of these Awards that Ian has won; it is a well-deserved recognition of his continued contributions to BirdLife Photography.

The award is presented as a multi-faceted crystal, with a frosted white-on-crystal BLP logo and laser inscription, in a velvet presentation case.

The BirdLife Photography Annual Award for 2018 - our most prestigious award - goes to Tim Van Leeuwen.  This award is made to the member who excels against the following criteria:

• submits at least 24 high quality images to the image galleries on the website during the calendar year,
• participates in at least 50% of the Current Competitions organised during the calendar year,
• actively contributes to at least one of a range of BirdLife Photography activities, events, project or resources that benefit our members.

Tim’s contributions, against these criteria, were as follows:

• Submitted over 100 images to non-competition galleries. 17 of these appeared in the “Recent Picks” sidebar.
• Entered every competition during 2018, winning the Member’s Voting and Mystery Reviewer's award in one of these competitions for the year; many other competition entries received commended results.
• Established our social media sites on Instagram and Facebook, and continues to manage those sites.

Tim’s contribution to BirdLife Photography throughout 2018 was truly outstanding, and we thank him for his efforts.  Congratulations Tim!

The award is presented as a multi-faceted crystal, with a frosted white-on-crystal BLP logo and laser inscription, in a velvet presentation case.

The BirdLife Photography Annual Award for 2016 - our most prestigous award - was presented to Ian Wilson at our recent Digital Photography in the Bush event at Geelong.  This award is made to the member who excels against the following criteria:

• at least 24 high quality images submitted to the image galleries through the website during the calendar year,
• participates in at least 50% of the Current Competitions organised during the calendar year,
• actively contributes to at least one of a range of BirdLife Photography activities, events, project or resources that benefit our members.

 In addition to this award, Ian also won the Gold medal for the Photo Competitions - Advanced Level category.

Ian Wilson receives the BirdLife Photography Annual Award, 2016