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Ouch!

While siblings nurse below, one kit fox pup demands attention the only way he knows how - by gently biting mom's face. The tender chaos of motherhood captured in a single frame. Even in the wild, kids compete for affection, and sometimes getting noticed means being a little bit bold.

Awards

Nature Photography Contest

2025

1st Place

Overall Contest Winner

Gold

Wild Portraits

Non Professional

Ouch!

While siblings nurse below, one kit fox pup demands attention the only way he knows how - by gently biting mom's face. The tender chaos of motherhood captured in a single frame. Even in the wild, kids compete for affection, and sometimes getting noticed means being a little bit bold.

About Artist

Janet Gustin

Janet Gustin - Wildlife Photographer Through her Sony camera, Janet Gustin seeks the moments when wild creatures reveal their true selves—those fleeting instances when an animal's spirit becomes visible and the distance between human and wild dissolves. Her photography aims to create a bridge of connection, inviting viewers to feel their own heartbeat align with the rhythm of the natural world. What began with a quest to witness humpback whales has evolved into a deeper journey of discovery—one that has led her to the coastal brown bears of Alaska and the wild mustangs that embody untamed freedom. Each venture into nature becomes an opportunity to witness the profound stories unfolding in God's creation, stories that often carry lessons about love, redemption, resilience, and grace. Janet finds particular joy in capturing the personality that shines through in unexpected moments: the fierce protection of a mother bear who has learned what truly matters, the quiet wisdom in an elder's gaze, the playful spirit that reminds us not to take life too seriously. These glimpses of individual character reveal that every creature has its own story, its own unique place in the greater narrative of creation. Her photography has become her passport to wonder, leading her to remote Alaskan coastlines, windswept plains where mustangs run free, and ocean waters where whales speak in songs we're only beginning to understand. The boundaries of her world have expanded with each shutter click. Places she once knew only through others' images have become real landscapes beneath her feet, each teaching her something new about both creation and herself. "I'm not just capturing images," Janet explains. "I'm collecting moments when wildlife becomes teachers, showing us lessons about trust, courage, joy, and love refined by loss. When someone connects with one of my photographs—when they feel that skip of recognition—they're experiencing something profound. That's the moment when two heartbeats align, when God's whispers in creation become suddenly, beautifully clear." Through her photography and monthly writings, Janet shares the deeper stories behind the images—the sacred moments when observation becomes revelation, when a bear's transformed motherhood or a whale's ancient song speaks truths about our own lives. Each image is an invitation to pause, observe, and recognize that we share this remarkable world with other sentient beings, each worthy of attention and respect. Whether photographing the power of coastal brown bears, the freedom of wild mustangs, or the majesty of humpback whales, she seeks to reveal the wonder and wisdom present in every corner of creation—reminding us that extraordinary moments of connection are waiting for those willing to look closely and listen deeply.

Janet Gustin

Photographic Areas of Focus

Nature, Wildlife

Location

United States of America

Interview

Janet Gustin | 2025 Nature Photography Contest | 1st Place Winner | Non-Professional

Interview

Janet Gustin | 2025 Nature Photography Contest | 1st Place Winner | Non-Professional
Honorable Mention
Nominee
Manish Mandhyan

Manish Mandhyan

Wild Portraits

Honorable Mention
Nominee
Anne-Marie Etienne

Anne-Marie Etienne

Wild Portraits

Honorable Mention +1
Nominee
Gerardo Del Villar

Gerardo Del Villar

Underwater

Bronze
Honorable Mention
Jason Marino

Jason Marino

Wild Portraits

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