Steven Blandin is an award-winning Master Photographer (M.Photog.), who leads instructional bird photography tours in the United States and around the World. Currently ranking in the top 5 professional photographers in the state of Florida, he exhibits in Art galleries across the United States. His work has been recognized many times in the most prestigious international competitions (BBC Wildlife Photographer of The Year, Nature’s Best, BTO Bird Photographer of The Year, etc…) and has been published in numerous magazines.
Artist’s Statement
“My wife introduced me to nature photography during our early dating years. My passion for wildlife photography itself was truly born during an African safari in Botswana. Since then, I have been hungry for learning more about all aspects of photography. I have watched my work flourish into creations that take me back to those encounters in all the vividness of their emotions. Bringing that eye-to-eye and intimate interaction with the wildlife subjects is what I seek in my work. I aim to present my subjects in a non-clustered environment where the viewer can only be captivated by the animal. Demonstrating the beauty and intimacy one may have with nature will hopefully lead and encourage people to preserve and protect nature, our precious home.”
Photography Degrees
MASTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY (M.Photog.) – 2018
FLORIDA DEGREE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC EXCELLENCE – 2019
Bird & Wildlife Photography Awards
2023
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Surf Runner > Gold Medal
FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS COMPETITION
TOP 10 PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
U-Turn > Merit
Flight Among The Cypress Trees > Merit
Water Landing With Style > Merit
Coming To Get You > Merit
2022
BPOTY BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Snow Storm Landing > Shortlisted & Commended Black & White
Pink Symphony > Shortlisted Bird Behavior
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Portfolio of four > Gold Medal
White on White > Merit + Image Excellence
Flying Low > Merit + Image Excellence
Fresh Catches Of The Day > Merit
Clean Profile > Merit
FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS COMPETITION
TOP 10 PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Clean Profile > Merit
Sunset Landing > Merit
White On White > Merit
Low Flight > Merit
Meeting On The Tree Tops > Merit
Take Off In Pink > Merit
Nuptial Headshot > Merit
2021
BBC WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Skilled Hunter > Final round Birds
Grassy Dispute > Final round Birds
BPOTY BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Running In The Surf > Shortlisted Bird Behavior
Early Catch > Shortlisted Bird Behavior
Grassy Dispute > Shortlisted Bird Behavior
Skilled Hunter > Shortlisted Black & White
Kilometer Bill > Shortlisted Black & White
Spoonbill Perspectives > Shortlisted Portfolio
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Portfolio of four > Gold Medal
Grassy Dispute > Merit + Image Excellence
Fishing Expert > Merit + Image Excellence
Flying Duet > Merit
Sharing Breakfast > Merit
WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY CUP
Landing Between The Waves > Selected to represent the USA in Nature Category
FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS COMPETITION
TOP 10 PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Sharing Breakfast > Merit
Wing Flap Contest > Merit
Fishing Expert > Merit
Flying Duet > Merit
2020
BBC WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Angry Bird > Final round Behavior Birds
Pink Symphony > Final round Creative Visions
NATURE’S BEST – WINDLAND SMITH RICE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Young Plumage > Semi-Final Birds
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Joining The Crowd > Accepted
Wave Breaker > Accepted
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Portfolio of four > Gold Medal
Landing Between The Waves > Merit + Loan
Out Of My Way! > Merit + Loan
Angry Bird > Merit
Breeding Colors Show-Off > Merit
WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY CUP
Wing Span > Top 10 Nature Category
FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS COMPETITION
TOP 2 PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Angry Bird > Merit
Landing Between The Waves > Merit
Out Of My Way! > Merit
Breeding Colors Show-Off > Merit
Joining The Crowd > Merit
Nuptial Present > Merit
Skimmer Skimming > Merit
2019
BBC WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Snow Storm Landing > Final round Birds
In The Alaska Wilderness > Final round Birds
BTO BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Hunters In White > Shortlisted + Commended
Fishing Games > Shortlisted
Snow Storm Flight Maneuver > Shortlisted
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Hunters In White > Accepted + Silver Medal
Young Elegance > Accepted + Honorable Mention
Pelican On The Hunt > Accepted + Honorable Mention
Fishing Games > Accepted
Tricolor Harmony > Accepted
Pink Symphony > Accepted
INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
Hunters In White > Honorable Mention
Wing Span > Honorable Mention
NATURE’S BEST – WINDLAND SMITH RICE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Wing Span > Semi-Final Birds
Catch Me If You Can > Semi-Final Birds
Dirty Landing > Semi-Final Birds
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Portfolio of four > Platinum Medal
Hunters In White > Merit + Loan
Skilled Hunter > Merit + Loan
Wing Span > Merit+ Loan
Skimmers Skimming > Merit
Qualified to represent team USA at the 2020 WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY CUP
FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS COMPETITION
End of September
2018
BBC WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Snow Storm Landing > Final round Birds
Reach For The Sky > Final round Birds
BTO BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Fresh Out Of The Ocean > Shortlisted + Commended
Twilight Blur > Shortlisted + Commended
Over The Mangrove Trees > Shortlisted + Commended
Pink Symphony > Shortlisted
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Angry Bird > Accepted + Honorable Mention
Kilometer Mouth > Accepted + Honorable Mention
Skimmer Skimming > Accepted
Tiny Flap Over The Ocean > Accepted
Spoonbill Fresca > Accepted
Sky Games B&W > Accepted
Wing Span B&W > Accepted
NATURE’S BEST – WINDLAND SMITH RICE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Reach For The Sky > Semi-Final Birds
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Portfolio of four > Gold Medal
Snow Storm Landing > Merit + Loan
Fresh Out Of The Ocean > Merit + Loan
Pursuit In The Sky > Merit
Courtship Rituals > Merit
FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS COMPETITION
TOP 5 PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Snow Storm Landing > Merit & Distinguished
Pursuit In The Sky > Merit & Distinguished
Pink Symphony > Merit
Fresh Out Of The Ocean > Merit
Courtship Rituals > Merit
Reach For The Sky > Merit
2017
BBC WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Reach For The Sky > People’s Choice Award Nominee
Aerial Harassment > Final round Birds
Hunter In White > Final round Birds
Vampire Wings > Final round Black & White
NATURE’S BEST – WINDLAND SMITH RICE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Pink Symphony > Semi-Final Birds
Reach For The Sky > Semi-Final Birds
Spoonbill Landing > Semi-Final Birds
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Portfolio of four > Gold Medal
Morning Reflections > Merit + Loan
Tilted Run > Merit + Loan
Pink Symphony > Merit
Tilted Landing > Merit
FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS COMPETITION
TOP 10 PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Bathing Chaos > Merit & Distinguished
Morning Reflections > Merit & Distinguished
Twilight Blur > Merit
Tilted Run > Merit
Bird’s Talk > Merit
Feather Elegance > Merit
2016
BBC WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Reach For The Sky > Final round Birds
Wings Up > Final round Birds
Wings Up Style > Final round Black & White
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Portfolio of four > Silver Medal
Over The Mangrove Trees > Merit + Loan
Hunter’s Wings > Merit
On The Hunt > Merit
Pelican’s Elegance > Merit
ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
Pink Landing On Blue > Acceptance
FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS COMPETITION
TOP 10 PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Bird’s Talk > Merit
On The Hunt > Merit
Sunset Landing > Merit
Pink Turning Over Blue > Merit
White On White > Merit
Pelican’s Elegance > Merit
Sushi Quonch > Merit
OCEAN STATE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
Bird’s Talk > Highly Mentioned
Pink Turning Over Blue > Acceptance
Tiny Flap Over The Water > Acceptance
Wings Up > Acceptance
2015
BBC WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Vampire Wings > Final round Birds
In The Summer Landscape > Final round Mammals
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Portfolio of four > Silver Medal
Pink Landing On Blue > Merit + Loan
Shaking Water Drops Away > Merit
Speeding At Low Altitude > Merit
Landing Lesson > Merit
FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS COMPETITION
TOP 5 PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Follow My Eyes > 1st place Wild Animals & Merit
Speeding At Low Altitude > 2nd place Wild Animals & Merit
Pink Landing On Blue > Merit
Flying In The Water > Merit
Flash Of Pink > Merit
PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Pink Landing On Blue > Acceptance
Speeding At Low Altitude > Acceptance
Early Catch > Acceptance
2014
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AMERICA COMPETITION
Portfolio of four > Gold Medal
Flying In The Water > Merit + Loan
Follow My Eyes > Merit + Loan
Flash Of Pink > Merit
Courtship Flight > Merit
INTERNATIONAL COLOR AWARDS
Flash Of Pink > Honorable Mention in Wildlife
Smelling The Light > Nominee in Wildlife
S4C INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Pink Landing On Blue > Acceptance
Follow My Eyes > Acceptance
SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Flash Of Pink > Acceptance
Tilted Landing > Acceptance
Sleeping On A Cloud > Acceptance
Courtship Flight > Acceptance
Flying In The Water > Acceptance
2013
FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS COMPETITION
TOP 6 PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
Tilted Landing > Merit + 1st place Wildlife
Courtship Flight > Merit
Red On The Rocks > Merit
Incoming > Merit