Grand Prize winning Wildlife and Nature photographer Walton Cude was born in Clifton and grew up in the Fort Worth area of North Texas. Being the first born son of the famous Wildlife Artist Walt Cude no doubt influenced him to learn about and appreciate the wildlife we are blessed with upon this earth. From his father he learned to pay attention to details of nature in every respect. Becoming the youngest Eagle Scout in north Texas at age 13 helped him immensely along this path. He studied Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Biomedical Science, Animal Science and Veterinary Entomology at Texas A&M University, along with Literature and Journalism and Photo Journalism at Tarleton State University. Walton has been fascinated by photography since childhood, and as cameras evolved, so has his interest in them. He began his journey with antique cameras, and progressed into more modern versions by his high school days. Walton's technical abilites include having been a Scientific Instrument Maker, a Sculptor, and Pencil Artist, as well as an author of several books. His retirement has allowed him to pour his attention into purely detailed digital wildlife photography, with fascination being birds in flight. His affiliation with the historic Twin Oaks Ranch and their advanced wildlife photography agenda, has caused him to consider wildlife and nature photography as his primary aspiration. Having met and becoming friends with some of the world's finest photographers, whether in person or online, has rather evolved into "One Heck of an Inspiration" to become the best he can possibly be, just to stay up with these talented individuals...and he hopes that they will keep coming! As for the Wildlife in Focus Organization Photography Contest - where he recently took the 2nd Grand Prize for 27 of his entries he says: "Wildlife in Focus is all about putting wildlife and their habitats into the public consciousness and pushing the importance of saving our wonderful wildlife." The contest started as a South Texas agenda about twenty years ago, however it is now being spread across the entire state of Texas through the valiant efforts of the new President, Claire Vaughan. Through her visionary promotion, landowners and photographers are teaming up to enter the majorly difficult and exasperating months-long contest from all parts of the state. Walton says "Shooting that contest, with all the many categories and types of photography involved makes a better photographer out of you without a doubt, and I cannot wait until the next contest early next year."

For more information about Wildlife in Focus go to wildlifeinfocus.org

Trivia about the photographer:

*Walton uses Canon EOS 7D MKII, Canon EOS R6, Canon RF 200-800mm IS, Canon EF 400mm DO IS II, Canon EF 100-400mm IS II, Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports, Canon EF 24-105mm 1:4L IS, Canon EF 17-40mm 1:4L, Canon EF 70-200mm 2.8L, Canon EF 15mm Fisheye, Raynox M250, Canon Extenders 1.4x III and 2.0x III

*Walton's Digital Cameras and most of his gear was loaded in his classic pickup truck when his house caught fire and burned to the ground. His friend Ron Myers of the Lagarto Volunteer Fire Department threw a chain on it and drug his truck out of harms way just as his other vehicle caught fire and exploded! He will be eternally grateful for this - saving many thousands of dollars worth of gear!

*Learned about Black and White Photography Development (for Mugshots) from a Murder Suspect (Trustee) while working as the Supervisor of Jailers at the Brazos County Jail in the 1970's

*When placing his name on his photographs, almost always uses a color actually sampled from some part of the subject

*Walton's approach to photographing animals and birds is to proactively include the habitat with the animal. While many photographers attempt to capture the subject while blurring everything else to oblivion, it is his thinking that these animals are born, raised, and struggle to live in the surroundings where they are found. To somehow include, however creatively, their habitat.. the plants, thorns, weeds, brush, water, mud, moss, clouds and conditions such as rain, wind, and storms - only add to the story a photograph tells about a bird or an animal. Nature is often quite harsh, and life itself is a struggle. The interesting part of life is that struggle - the hardships, the successes and the stories they present.

*Member of the Best of the Universe of Colour Photography - Gallery of Excellence, Member of Wildlife World Photographers