Winter can be a challenging time for photographers. The days are short, there’s often not much color, and snow can look bland or too bright. But many of our photo contest entrants rose to the challenge and created beautiful wintery scenes.

2011 Photo Contest Entry © Jacob Mosser

2013 Photo Contest Entry © Kelsey Stevens

2013 Photo Contest Entry © Rich Bowes

2014 Photo Contest Entry © Paul Mozell

2012 Photo Contest Entry © Karen Driscoll

Some of the entries to our photo contest were taken at just the right place and at just the right time. Here are some of our favorites from past contests.

Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between the greater yellowlegs and lesser yellowlegs, two related shorebirds. Helpfully, these birds lined up for a size comparison.

2011 Photo Contest Entry © William Wrobel

A female ruby-throated hummingbird gets eye-to-eye with a swallowtail butterfly.

2013 Photo Contest Entry © Donald Arthur

This gray tree frog is avoiding predators by sitting as still as a statue.

2011 Photo Contest Entry © Dayna Comeau

A great blue heron and a great egret strike elegant poses side by side.

2013 Photo Contest Entry © Al Caldarelli

When a ruby-throated hummingbird enhances your outdoor decoration, life really is good.

2013 Photo Contest Entry © Kim McKew Hennington