Nature Through the Lens: 2019 VMN Photo Contest Results

This year, we held our seventh Virginia Master Naturalist photo contest, with categories for “Virginia Native Flora & Fungi”, “Virginia Native Wildlife”, “Virginia Native Landscapes”, “Virginia Native Macro and Night Photography”, and “Virginia Master Naturalists in Action”.  We received approximately 100 entries from 21 different VMN chapters across the state.  Each chapter could submit only one photo per category, and chapters were allowed to design their own processes for choosing which photos to send.  Many chapters hold their own internal photo contest, often having members vote to choose the submissions.

The 2019 contest was coordinated by Debbie Pugh, a member of the VMN-Headwaters Chapter, a talented photographer herself, and an organizational genius!

The contest winners were announced on September 20, 2019 at our statewide conference.  Winners earned lovely certificates as well as bragging rights and the opportunity for many more folks to see their fantastic photos.  We congratulation them and all the participants.  A slide show of all the entries was enjoyed by all the conference attendees.  

Contest Judges

Steven David Johnson
Steven David Johnson is a conservation photographer and Professor of Visual and Communication Arts at EMU in the Shenandoah Valley. His photography of the natural world has appeared in Orion, BBC Focus Magazine, Ranger Rick, National Science Teachers Association Press books and numerous conservation publications and journals.
Steve is vice-president of the Virginia Wilderness Committee and an Affiliate of the International League of Conservation Photographers. When not in the office, you’ll probably find him crouched next to a vernal pool photographing Appalachian salamanders.
View a selection of Steven’s photography.

Bob Schamerhorn
Bob Schamerhorn is an Award -Winning Nature Photographer and lifelong wildlife enthusiast. He studied Art and Design at Virginia Tech and has worked in art related fields for over thirty years since. His photography has
been published in numerous conservation-based publications, including two Virginia Wildlife Magazine covers and a few months in the Virginia Wildlife Calendar. In 2018, the National Audubon Society Photography Awards “Top
100” voted one of his images in at number eleven. The very next year he won “Best in Show” in the Mammals category of the 2019 North American Nature Photography Association Awards (NANPA). His fine art nature photography has been shown at over sixty different art festival venues since Fall 2013, with twelve top art awards in just the last couple of years. He considers himself, “Experienced, but not an expert!”
See Bob’s work, his workshops, and exhibit schedule

Diane Lepkowski    
Diane Lepkowski is a nature photographer with a passion for birding and the natural world. She is outdoors whenever possible, seldom without a camera (or two!) in hand. Since becoming a seriously obsessed birder in 2008, Diane has used her photography to share her passion for enjoying, studying and protecting our feathered friends. She has offered presentations for organizations including the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, Massanutten Regional Library, and Rockingham Bird Club and is a part-time instructor with James Madison University’s Lifelong Learning Institute. Her photography has been published in Blue Ridge Country, American Butterflies, and Nature Friend magazines; and is featured on her website. Diane serves on the Rockingham Bird Club Executive Committee as a Vice-president and has volunteered with the Rockingham County Fair’s photography contest. Because her nature photography doesn’t yet pay the bills(!), Diane continues her 34-year career with Rockingham County, serving as Deputy Zoning Administrator and Deputy Subdivision Agent.

Joshua Gooden
Joshua Gooden is a Shenandoah Valley photographer with a passion for historic architecture and the valley’s landscape. He can often be found exploring the small towns of the valley or photographing sporting events and small businesses. In high school, he often contributed photos to The Valley Banner, a weekly newspaper and snapping photos for his high school yearbooks. His photography has been published in Shenandoah Living Magazine, The Valley Banner, Page News and Courier, and the Daily News-Record. Joshua serves as the Economic Development and Tourism Coordinator for Rockingham County as well as the youngest ever elected Mayor for the Town of Elkton. He enjoys showcasing all that Rockingham County and the Shenandoah Valley has to offer.

And, the Winners!
All the winning photos are viewable below.  Click on the gallery thumbnails for each photo to see the titles, photographers, and placement.