Winners of the 2026 Bird House Photo Contest
Thank you to everyone who participated in our annual photo contest! This year we recieved over 270 photos and each was better than the last. The photos were so good judges had a hard time deciding the winners. Also thank you to everyone who came in to the store to vote for the Customer’s Choice voting!
Meet the judges of this years contest:
Carrie Ann Grippo-Pike
As a teen using my father’s film camera, it piqued my interest how the fleeting autumn leaf was preserved forever in my photo… and the rest was history… I was hooked on photography! I have been a professional nature, wildlife, landscape, and fine art photographer for almost 35 years now, with my work published in children’s books and magazines. I received a B.F.A. in Photography at Suny Brockport College and Visual Studies here in Rochester, New York. After college I worked full-time as a photojournalist at the Daily Messenger for 14 years, where I was honored to win the NY Press Association First Place Newspaper Photographer of the Year!
Upon leaving the newspaper, I opened my photography business and online store
“Shoot for the Moon Images” selling my photos as digital products to fellow
photographers as well as my whimsical, fairytale-like art on greeting cards and canvas prints, which are sold at all the major retail stores! In fact, my local bird, wildlife, nature and fine art photos are currently available for sale as greeting cards at The Bird House!! I love capturing images people may never get to view, whether right here in Western New York or as I travel across the USA and Canada. I find photographing birds and wildlife to be a peaceful experience and personally rewarding for myself and the viewers!
Living in Rochester (Greece), NY with my husband Gary, my camera and I are visited daily by a host of birds and wildlife I photograph in our woodsy, overgrown apple orchard backyard! My unique connection to animals has earned me the nickname “Snow White” as I show you a magical way to look at ordinary things!
I am honored and delighted to be one of the new judges in the 2026 Bird House photo contest! I have been an entrant and a judge in many competitions! As a judge, I love being inspired by the work of others, and helping recognize the very best images that caught my eye and warmed my heart! Every photo has a story and I am looking forward
to seeing yours!
You can view my work on my website!:
http://www.shootforthemoonimages.com
Tom Kredo
I'm a native of Detroit, Michigan, but have been calling Rochester my home for the past 30 years. I live with my wife Cindy and our kitten "Boots" and enjoy grandparenting. My current passion is birding and creative images, coupled with a life-long interest exploring how images invoke thoughts and feelings. Some of my images can be viewed at Image City Gallery in the upcoming 2026 Christmas show. I've enjoyed participating in the Bird House competition in the past, and am looking forward to seeing all the fantastic images on display. You can see some of my images at www.flickr.com/photos/tomkredo.
Aaron Winters
I’ve been an avid photographer since retiring in 2010. The free time allowed me to get out and really get to know my gear, my area, and other photographers. A good friend and excellent photog once said to me “If you want to get better, Shoot, Shoot, Shoot!” You learn to see what makes you enjoy a photograph and helps set them apart from the snapshots. The Bird House Photo Contest has provided and excellent platform to see what others are shooting and to display your work. I’ve won a couple and judged several and am delighted to be a participant, and be able to see the growth in both quality and size of the contest. Aaron Winters: aaronwintersphotography.com
