Wyoming's Nature, History & People Through Listeners' Eyes
Wyoming Public Media invited Wyomingites to get out and take photos of Wyoming’s beautiful scenery, people, and history. We were lucky to receive so many beautiful entries from all over Wyoming, and it was difficult for viewers to choose the best. The winning photos portray Wyoming’s rich history, natural beauty, national parks, and monuments. The winners are based on the top votes from Wyoming Public Media’s listeners and viewers. The top winners are posted below.
WYOMING NATURE:
First Place - Phil Hilson – Out of the Snow
Phil Hilson photographed this grizzly near Sleeping Giant Picnic Area the day after a snowstorm. The only other person there was a Wyoming Game and Fish large carnivore biologist. The bear was coming down the hillside, kicking up fresh snow with each step. Even sitting in his car, this was still quite an intimidating sight. The setting is Shoshone National Forest, America’s first national forest, established in 1891.
Phil Hilson is a retired violinist and orchestra teacher living in Cody, Wyoming.
Second Place - Kathleen Milks - Bison at Prairie Monarch Bison, in the golden glow of the setting spring sun
Kathy Milks is fortunate enough to be friends with the owner of Prairie Monarch Bison, where this photo was taken, and she says getting to spend time out there with the herd is an incredible gift.
Kathleen (Kathy) Milks has lived in Laramie since 1994 and loves and frequently enjoys our beautiful public lands and the wildlife we share them with. As a photographer, this is such a wonderful place to be.
Third Place - Callie Brown – Grizzly Bear Foraging
Callie Brown found this awesome grizzly in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming just before sunrise!
Callie Brown is a wildlife and landscape photographer in Gillette, Wyoming who loves to capture the beauty our state has to offer and to share all of God’s beautiful creations with anyone she can! Callie started photography in high school and grew to love it so much! Anytime she gets to be outdoors is the best day!
Fourth Place - Sandra Galipeau – Eager Beaver
A Precious Moment In Nature
This adorable young beaver takes a peaceful break with a fresh green leaf between its tiny paws. With its wet fur, curious eyes, and delicate whiskers, it shows the gentle beauty of wildlife. Beavers are constantly hard-working animals, but this moment captures a softer side of nature and reminds us that even the busiest creatures deserve a quiet moment to enjoy a little snack.
This picture was taken in the Medicine Bow area off Happy Jack Rd in May of 2025. Sandra Galipeau got interested in wildlife photography just about 3 years ago and spends all of her free time aside from her work in education and EMS out in the wild, no matter the weather conditions. That is her “therapy” and how she recharges.
WYOMING'S PEOPLE:
First Place - Phil Hilson - Casting under the Harvest Moon
The moon above the red cliffs, blue water, and a lone fisherman casting from his float tube made a scene Phil Hilson couldn’t pass up. Phil noted how fortunate he is to have places like this so close to home.
Phil Hilson, a retired violinist and orchestra teacher living in Cody, Wyoming, has been taking photographs since he was five years old. Phil took this photograph at Newton Lakes, just outside Cody.
Second Place - Rose Fry – Native Dancing
This photo of Joseph Baldwin from Fort Hall, ID was taken at the Northern Arapaho Powwow at the end of August 2026. This was the largest powwow in Wyoming this year. Rose Fry found this dancer's regalia especially interesting. He was so full of energy in his movements. The intense look on his face, together with the beading and fringe, made him especially fun to watch.
Rose is a photographer who looks for unique and interesting shots around Wyoming and the world. Native American powwows are a favorite of hers to capture, due to their bright colors and beautiful regalia worn. Everything the dancer wears has a meaning. From the feathers to the fringe.
Third Place - Tracy Enterline – In the Shadow of Giants
The photo was taken by Tracy Enterline in Clark’s Fork Canyon, a drainage from the Beartooth Mountains, near Clark, Wyoming. Tracy's husband Rory is the fly fisherman in the photo and their Golden Retriever, Josey. They love visiting and fishing in this area as the scenery is absolutely stunning. Tracy is a hobbyist professional photographer who enjoys capturing nature and wildlife. They currently reside in Montana.
Fourth Place - Charmaine Deimatier - First Science Ascent to Unknown Peak 10,952 in the Teton Range, 2026.
Although to summit this relatively unknown and unnamed mountain behind Mt. Moran with no known trail has been a personal and difficult quest of Charmaine's for nine years, this timed photo belongs to the entire expedition team. After selecting fellow backcountry comrades, the final ascent over extreme terrain and her success rests on the shoulders of us all. Supported by Grand Teton National Park, it was the first scientific ascent to Peak 10,952, and all team members are worth mentioning. Charmaine Delmatier, Scott Mathews, Reed and Kershaw Finlay, Cameron Eddy, Mike Kintgen, and Emily Skiver.
Charmaine Delmatier has had a life-long career as a Botanist and Naturalist and has dedicated her life as a Scientific Researcher documenting remote areas of the western United States including Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, California, Idaho, Washington, and Colorado. As a resident of Wyoming, she is co-author of the Wyoming Rare Plant Field Guide, She was State Botanist of Texas for the U.S. Department of Interior, President of the Wyoming Native Plant Society, and has served over 20 years as a Wildland Firefighter and now is on the Alpine Fire and Rescue Department. A Research Associate for the Department of Botany at University of Wyoming, Brigham Young University, and Western Wyoming College, she has completed several research projects for Grand Teton National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest. She enjoys extreme backcountry research and actively partners with Rocky Mountain Herbarium, Desert Botanical Garden, Denver Botanic Gardens, and San Diego Botanic Garden.
WYOMING'S HISTORY:
First Place - Alan Bruce – Through the Window
A lucky moment exploring an old barn in Laramie, Wyoming, where the darkness inside perfectly frames a tiny bird catching the daylight through a distant window.
Alan Bruce photographs the wild nature and rich history of Wyoming. His work focuses on beautiful landscapes, local wildlife, and old, historic buildings. Through these images, Alan wants to preserve the quiet stories of the American West and show how nature and the past connect
Second Place - Michael Trapani – Wolf Mine Shaft House
— A Legacy of Wyoming's Mining Past
High in Wyoming's Absaroka Mountains, near the historic ghost town of Kirwin, stands a weathered wooden structure that tells a story of ambition, hardship, and perseverance.
Once a thriving mining community of approximately 200 residents, Kirwin was built on the promise of mineral riches. That dream was largely shattered in 1907 when a devastating avalanche claimed three lives and accelerated the town's decline. Decades later, in 1942, Charles F. Wolf began a new chapter of exploration by sinking the shaft that bears his name.
Today, the Wolf Mine Shaft House remains a striking reminder of the people who pursued opportunity in one of Wyoming's most unforgiving mountain environments.
When Michael Tarpani photographed this structure, he was drawn to more than its weathered timbers and remarkable architecture. He saw a connection to the people who had worked these mountains and the history they left behind.
Michael chose black and white to strip away the distractions of color and allow the textures, shadows, and craftsmanship of the building to tell their own story. Every weathered board and darkened opening seems to hold an echo of another time.
His intention was not simply to document an old mining structure, but to preserve a small piece of Wyoming's history through photography.
Michael Trapani is a photographer based in Cody, Wyoming, whose work focuses on wildlife, landscapes, astrophotography, and the history of the American West. Through Mike Trapani Photography, he seeks to capture more than beautiful scenes—he strives to create photographs that tell stories, evoke emotion, and preserve the remarkable character of the places he explores.
Third Place - Rose Fry – A Very Cool Old Building
This photo was taken during the Tour de Wyoming bicycle tour in July in the small town of Deaver, Wyoming. Rose Fry saw this building and loved it. The cyclist road by and she snapped the photo. Such a cool building with dramatic colors. Rose enjoys finding unique photos around Wyoming and the world. This is one of them.
Fourth Place - Dorina Kemper – Wyoming Black and White History
Dorina Kemper captured this photograph while out driving in Wyoming. Though she can’t recall the exact location, the vintage cars and open road reminded her of the state’s rich history. Through her photographs, Dorina hopes to share that sense of wonder and connection to the places around us.
Dorina Kemper is a self-taught Wyoming photographer who loves finding beauty in everyday moments. She's drawn to nature, open landscapes, and scenes that tell a story.
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View other wonderful 2026 WPM Photo Contest Entries
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Wyoming Public Media Photo Contest Winners from Years Past
Wyoming Public Media has sponsored the "Wyoming Through Listeners' Eyes" photo contest annually since 2012. To explore some of the winners from previous years, visit our Photo Contest Winners Archive page.
