2008 Photo Contest:
The 2008 Photo Contest is just around the corner so don’t let the shorter, colder days of the coming winter keep you from getting out and capturing some shots of nature. Themes for the 2008 Photo Contest will be Nature Up-Close and Spirit of the Seasons. The entry deadline will be September 5, 2008.
2007 Photo Contest Results:
The second annual NAP Photo Contest wrapped up recently. Entrants submitted nearly 100 beautiful photos that will be used by NAP staff to showcase work done protecting and restoring Ann Arbor’s natural areas with assistance from volunteers. Thanks to all the wonderful entrants for helping us expand our photo collection and inspiring others with your great images! Also, thanks to our prize sponsors, Ritz Camera and Image and the Ann Arbor Canoe Liveries.
In the Volunteer Enthusiasm category, 1st Prize was awarded to Ann Novak for her photo of Greenhills Middle School 7th grade students, including Erica Jenkins working with teacher Vladimir Gurevich, spreading wood chips on trails at Barton Park. Seventh grade students from Greenhills have been volunteering with NAP for the last five years as part of a year-long theme of community service and service learning.
1st Place, Volunteer Enthusiasm, by Ann M. Novak
Michael Seabrook, of Shadows in Reflection Photography, was awarded 1st Prize in the Native Landscape category for his autumn landscape taken October 22, 2005 on Knight Road in Jackson County. We liked Michael's photo so much it made the cover of our 2008 Calendar.
1st Place, Native Landscape, by Michael Seabrook
The Youth category winner was 13 year-old Harold Eyster. The winning photo is a tranquil winter scene showing his sister walking along the Waterloo Pinckney trail in Jackson County in January 2007.
1st Place, Youth category, by Harold Eyster
The judges had so many great shots to pick from that they decided to add a Detail category, and chose Patricia Cornett's photo of a blooming swamp thistle taken at the Greater Sibley Prairie in Wayne County as 1st Prize. She took this photo while on a Detroit Audubon Society sponsored field trip to the prairie.
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1st Place, Detail, by Patricia L. Cornett
Two photos received Honorable Mention awards. The first Honorable Mention award went to Pierre Wickramarachi for his photo, "Orange Incandescence" taken at County Farm Park in Ann Arbor. This tree was just showing some early signs of fall, and reminded Pierre that trees, just like us, all 'bloom' at different times and vary in color and intensity.
Honorable Mention, by Pierre Wickramarachi
The second Honorable Mention award went to Michael Seabrook for his photo of a rowboat on Waterloo Recreation Area's Mill Lake, in Jackson County. Michael tells us Mill Lake is one of his favorite places to photograph, and we can see why!
Honorable Mention, by Michael Seabrook
All of the winning photos are featured in our first ever 2008 NAP Calendar – sent to volunteers in early November. In addition, the top photos were also featured in the Active Life Section of the Ann Arbor News on Thursday, November 8th, 2007!
Judges Panel
Many thanks to our 2007 panel of judges who pored over the photos and deliberated and debated to choose the winners. The panel included:
David Cappaert. David is a professional entomologist and photographer who currently consults with Michigan State University Extension coordinating Emerald Ash Borer research. As an expert stock and freelance nature and "bug" photographer whose work can be found in textbooks and scientific journals, a participant in prescribed burns and other restoration activities, and an active NAP volunteer and former NAP Lepidopterist, David will bring his sharp eye for the itty bitty details to helping NAP show the larger story of our people and parks.
Donald Werthmann. Don Werthmann is a digital-photographic artist and professional faculty member in the School of Visual Arts at Washtenaw Community College, where he teaches studio and location lighting, digital printmaking, study abroad courses, and portfolio development. In addition to BFA and MA degrees in photographic imaging, Don spent nine years developing his instructional techniques and teaching philosophy at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops. Don also teaches for the Panasonic Digital Photo Academy in Detroit. Although his personal work represents several different genres, in his own words it, "conveys lyrical moments found in everyday life." Don knows what it takes to create great photographs and will help NAP capture the lyrical in our native landscapes and volunteers. More on his work at: www.drr.net/donwa2.
David Borneman. Dave is the manager of the City of Ann Arbor's Natural Area Preservation Division. Besides his work in Ann Arbor, Dave deals with natural areas on a broader scale through his work as a board member for several regional and national environmental organizations, including the Stewardship Network, the Midwest Invasive Plant Network, and the Natural Areas Association. He's been with NAP since the beginning and thus has a good understanding of what it is we're trying to accomplish in the parks. He'll be looking for photos that best convey that message to the public. The NAP staff is excited to have Dave as a judge, in hopes that it will improve the quality of the 100s of photos he takes in the parks every year!
2006 Photo Contest Results:
The first ever NAP Photo Contest was held during Autumn 2006. The winning photos are featured below:
1st Place by Pavel Borisov
2nd Place by Ralph Powell
3rd Place by Marion Powers
1st Place, Youth Category, by Harold Eyster