August 2016

This year marked the fourth annual photo contest held at the Virginia Master Naturalist statewide conference.  This contest acknowledges the wonderful talent that exists in our membership, as well as the important role that photography can play in teaching and learning about natural resources.  Each chapter was allowed to submit one photo to each of three categories: Virginia Flora, Fauna, and Other Species; Virginia Landscapes and Habitats, and Virginia Master Naturalists in Action.  Many chapters had internal competitions to select their winners. 

All entries were displayed at the statewide conference, and guest judges visit to select the award winners.  This year’s guest judges included:

• Karen Dillon – freelance reporter, columnist, and editor for the Laker Weekly
• Catriona Tudor Erler – internationally recognized freelance garden author, photographer, and speaker
• James Erler – specialist in architectural photography, developer of a photo database system for garden photography

And, without further ado, here are the 2016 photo contest winners!  See the bottom of the article for a slide show of many of the winning photos.

Virginia Flora, Fauna, and Other Species
First Place: “A Brighter Day” by Robin Jordan, Roanoke Valley Chapter
Second Place: “Swallowtails in Flight” by John Bunch, Historic Southside Chapter
Third Place: “Velvet Sunset in Big Meadows” by Tucker Caldwell, Merrimac Farm Chapter
Honorable Mention: “Fishing Spider in Tree” by Nancy Joel, Northern Neck Chapter
Honorable Mention: “Tree Swallow” by Mary Foster, Southwestern Piedmont Chapter

Virginia Landscapes and Habitats
First Place: “Ebb and Flow” by Arlene Crabbe-Kilduff, Northern Neck Chapter
Second Place: “King’s Creek” by Sara Lewis, Historic Rivers Chapter
Third Place: “Teaching Marsh” by Daina Henry, Peninsula Chapter
Honorable Mention: “Serenity Sunset” by Emmalee Smith, Pocahontas Chapter
Honorable Mention: “September Morning” by Joe Dupuis, Roanoke Valley Chapter

Virginia Master Naturalists in Action
First Place: “Getting Down and Dirty” by Capt. Debbie Ritter, Eastern Shore Chapter
Second Place: “Vernal Pool Monitoring” by Elisabeth Wilkins, Peninsula Chapter
Third Place: “Wild Thing…You Make My Heart Sing” by Patty Maloney, Historic Rivers Chapter