Fingers were already numb and noses bright red before a pair of bird buffs were ready to seek shelter from the biting wind. But rare birds were near and the only discomfort the photographers truly fear is the regret of leaving a photo opportunity too soon.

Both artists toted enormous cameras and lenses — the kind that, when seen, can result in passersby stopping in the middle of the road to see what’s going on. Kathy Lichtendahl’s massive Canon 600 millimeter lens and tripod look almost comically big against her tiny frame. Her guest, Rob Koelling, was sporting a Nikon and lens supported by a monopod. Both need few introductions in local wildlife photography circles.

Their image collections inspire fans of all ages. And each now have new accolades on their resumes. They, along with fellow Park County photographers Cat Pentescu of Clark, Amy Gerber of Cody and Kinley Bollinger of Powell, were recognized in Wyoming Wildlife magazine’s 2019 Photo Issue.

The publication is a popular outreach program for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. It serves as a monthly lighthouse to fans of wildlife as well as tourists and outdoor sports enthusiasts.

In the annual photo issue, Wyoming Wildlife editors pick only the best photos to honor, choosing among 3,130 entries this year.

Kathy Lichtendahl

Last week, Lichtendahl and Koelling were chasing rarely seen black rosy finches and their close cousins, the gray-crowned rosy finch. A flock had taken up residence northeast of Clark in the shadows of the Beartooth Mountain Range. Golden eagles perched nearby — normally a star of photo outings — were an afterthought due to the presence of the striking finches. Koelling only took time away from the charm of finches to capture a few chukar as they raced from the cover of one cedar to the next in the fresh snow.

It’s hard to believe Lichtendahl almost gave up her passion for creating art on adventures in the wild. In 2010, she decided she would enter the Wyoming Wildlife contest, betting her future in photography on the outcome.

“It was huge for me,” Lichtendahl said. “I said to my husband I was going to enter the contest, and if I got an image in, I’m was going to pursue photography more strongly in the future. But if I didn’t, I was hanging up my camera.”

Lichtendahl placed and entered Northwest College’s photographic communications program, picking up a degree. She’s also become a perennial winner. In the Wyoming magazine’s 2016 contest, she won a first place and two honorable mentions. This year, the Clark resident placed again with a photograph of a black-capped chickadee foraging for a meal.

Recently, she also won a top 250 distinction in the prestigious North American Nature Photography Association’s annual contest.

Rob Koelling

Koelling, long known for his intimate photographs of everything feathered, received honorable mention for his photograph of a male ring-necked pheasant in a snow flurry. It was his first time placing, although not his first photograph in Wyoming Wildlife.

“They’re usually flying away from you so I have lots of pictures of pheasant butts. To get one of a pheasant profile is harder to do,” Koelling said, while scanning the Big Sand Coulee for signs of bird life.

He tries to go birding every day.

“I go places that I’ve been a hundred times before and never seen anything and suddenly there’s a tremendous shot,” Koelling said.

But his success is not just a matter of persistence. Koelling has a vision and shoots hundreds of images to get a single frame he likes. He is driven, exploring local outdoor haunts through photography. “All I know is I’ve never got a good bird photo sitting in my living room.”

Cat Pentescu

Pentescu, of Clark, sees a lot of the world. She drives long-haul trucks in the lower 48 and Canada, giving her many chances to document beautiful scenes. But she focuses on the wonders of Northwest Wyoming.

“I shoot from the heart,” she said. “I love everything from dragonflies to bison.”

Originally from a suburb of Detroit, Pentescu won first place in the flora category with a snowy landscape of a yucca. It was her first award on her first attempt entering the contest. She was unsure of the entry because it was a different kind of flora photo. “I wasn’t sure how it would be received. When I was notified, I had to read it twice to make sure I was seeing it right.”

Pentescu’s photo was displayed across two pages of the magazine, thrilling the artist. “It’s a great honor,” she said.

“The clean lines and crisp simplicity of Cat [Pentescu]’s photo really resonated with the judges this year,” said Amy Bulger, editor of the magazine. “Her photo shows how great images can come together when the photographer has the vision to look at something that’s fairly commonplace on the landscape from a new angle. And the contrast of green yucca spikes popping through the snow gives us all a little hope spring is right around the corner.”

Amy Gerber

Cody High School science teacher Amy Gerber, meanwhile won three honorable mentions: two in the wildlife category and one in the landscape category. Gerber has been raking in awards in the contest for the past decade, including being selected as the January calendar shot for the magazine. The featured picture was of a magpie perched on the head of a bighorn sheep. Her winning prints included photographs of a killdeer chick and river otters on the North Fork.

Gerber goes out every weekend, often spending the entire weekend with a camera in her hands. Her dream is to spend all of her time documenting wild species and places around the world, using her images to educate people about conservation. “If I had unlimited time and money you’d never see me,” Gerber said.

She also tries to use her love for photography in her classes, as well as leading the Cody High School photography club for the past eight years. This past year, Cody added a photography class to their curriculum, though Gerber can’t teach it. “Oddly enough, not certified to teach that,” she said.

Gerber has traveled the world working with wildlife and plans two trips this year — one to Central America and one to Africa. Her photography began as a way to assist her in conservation efforts. She also wanted to have proof of all the cool things she saw in her studies to show her husband. “I wanted to document what I was seeing,” she said.

Gerber’s motivation for her photography is to bring attention to “all the amazing creatures we have here.” Her talent in the medium is bringing her work the exposure she wants, despite only doing it part-time. She still dreams of working full-time in nature. “I would like to pursue it when I grow up,” she said.

Kinley Bollinger, of Powell, also won two honorable mention awards in the scenic category.

The yearly contest edition is popular, drawing contestants from around the country and the world. But all photos are taken in Wyoming.

“Our annual photo contest is a chance for everyone who explores Wyoming’s wild spaces to share their love of photography and the outdoors with our readers across the world,” Bulger said. “And we love the opportunity to reserve the photo issue each year to highlight some of the best photos taken around the state.”

Results and photos entered in the contest can be seen at: http://wgfd.wyo.gov/about-us/wyoming-wildlife