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JAMESTOWN, N.Y. – Five photographers from Chautauqua and Warren Counties were among the winners and honorable mentions in the Audubon Community Nature Center’s 2023 Nature Photography Contest.
Youth (ages 8 to 18) and Adult (ages 19 and older) entries were submitted in the categories of Wildlife – any animal not in captivity, Landscapes – any natural view, and Plants.
Without knowing the names or hometowns of the photographers, a panel of judges reviewed all the contest entries to determine the Adult and Youth judged winners and finalists in the three categories. Background on the judges can be found under About on the contest website, GoGoPhotoContest.com/ACNCPhotoContest 2023.
Winners in the Adult category are:
- Landscapes: “Glacial Ice on Black Diamond Beach” by Arlene Bonnett of Jamestown, New York
- Plants: “Fall into Winter” by Karen Christy, Jamestown. New York
- Wildlife: “Down the Hatch” by Christopher Baker, Madison, Alabama
Youth winners are:
- Landscapes: “Sunrise at Lake Tipsoo” by Micah Williams, Eldon, Iowa
- Plants: “Red Flower” by Emma Soto of Gurley, Alabama.
- Wildlife: “Laying Low” by Matt Strauss, Moorestown, New Jersey.
Judged winners receive $200 cash prizes, and their photographs will be on display at the Nature Center.
Receiving Honorable Mention in Adult Landscapes are:
- “Aurora Borealis Above Kirkjufell” by Arlene Bonnett, Jamestown, New York
- “Mardis Mill Autumn” by Christopher Baker, Madison, Alabama
- “Bear Rocks Preserve” by Thomas Hennessy, Mechanicsville, Virginia
Adult Plants Honorable Mentions went to:
- “Reflection” by Christopher Baker, Madison. Alabama
- “New Beginning” by Deidre Kowalewski, Fredonia, New York
- “Every Rose has its Thorn” by Mikkayla Durlin, Warren, Pennsylvania
Adult Wildlife Honorable Mentions are:
- “Bald Eagle” by Scott Pelton, Venango, Pennsylvania
- “Baltimore Oriole amongst the Cherry Blossoms” by Mark Evans, Warren, Pennsylvania
- “A Mother’s Hope” by Sean Owens, Pullman, Washington
Youth Landscapes that received Honorable Mentions are:
- “Dome” by Matt Strauss, Moorestown, New Jersey
- “Lavender Haze” by Kaitlyn Eklund, Frewsburg, New York
- “Tranquility” by Mikaela Ellis, Mayville, New York
Honorable Mentions for Youth Plants went to:
- “Thistle” by Greyson Carvalho, Brighton, Colorado
- “Sunny Sorrel” by Lee Pontiff, Lockport, Louisiana
- “Awakening” by Jillian Klemann, Fredonia, New York
Youth Wildlife Honorable Mentions are
- “See You Later” by Emma Soto, Gurley, Alabama
- “Honey Bee on Torch Lily” by Tamsyn Kockler, Three Forks, Montana
- “Mantis Dahlia” by Joshua Popp, Floyds Knobs, Indiana
Community Choice winners are those that received the most votes on the contest website. Each also receives a $200 cash prize. “Tranquility” (entered in Landscapes) by Mikaela Ellis of Mayville, New York, is the Youth Community Choice winner, and “Catch and Release” (entered in Wildlife) by Vimal Bhalodia of East Hanover, New Jersey, took the honors for Adults.
Funds raised from the contest help support the more than 1,400 nature education programs ACNC offers annually throughout both New York’s Chautauqua County and Warren County in Pennsylvania.
Details of the competition are at GoGoPhotoContest.com/ACNCPhotoContest 2023 and images of all the entries can be seen through the Participate link.
