PA Parks and Forests Foundation announces 2022 photo contest, 2021 winners
- by Guest Contributor
- August 11, 2022
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Calling all photographers, the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation’s annual Thru the Seasons photo contest is now open!
This annual photo contest showcases images from Pennsylvania state forests and parks that are submitted by both professional and amateur photographers.
In celebration of the milestone 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act and in recognition of the importance of forests for water quality, the theme of this year’s photo contest is Clean Water and Forested Ecosystems.
Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests are home to over 7,100 miles of streams and 154 lakes, both natural and manmade, enjoyed for a wide variety of recreation. Not only do we need healthy waterways for swimming, fishing, and boating, clean water is essential to all living things and we have forests to thank for naturally purifying our water supply.
PPFF is calling on photographers, both amateur and professional alike, to share their artistic view on the value of clean water and the role forests play in watershed health by submitting to the following categories:
- Water is Life
- Caught in the Rain
- Raindrop to River
- Reflections
- Forests
- Young Photographers (ages 12 to 17)
All photos must be taken in a Pennsylvania state park or forest. The submission deadline is September 30, 2022. For full contest details, please visit paparksandforests.org.
Throughout 2022, PPFF is highlighting the importance of clean water by featuring expert guests through our guest-blogger series and online lunch and learns. We will be sharing information about water pollution issues in Pennsylvania and the challenges these issues present for our state parks and forests. For program announcements, follow PPFF’s social media channels and sign up to receive our weekly Take Five e-blast by visiting PaParksAndForests.org.
2021 winners in the PA Wilds
Previous winners in the PA Wilds
Some PA Wilds images that placed in the 2018 contest:
- Kyle Yates, a professional juried artisan from the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania who resides in Brookville, earned Second Place in the Beauty All Around category for his photograph of Clear Creek State Park.
- Bruce Walkovich of Portage earned a Critics’ Choice for Best in Show with his image of Susquehannock State Forest, located primarily in the Dark Skies landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds.
- Linda Stager of Wellsboro received a Critics’ Choice Award in the Built Environment category for her photograph at Colton Point State Park, which is located in the Pine Creek Valley and PA Grand Canyon landscape.
- Jennifer Ulmer of Millville earned a Critics’ Choice Award in the Dogs in the Outdoors category for her photograph taken in Bald Eagle State Forest, located along the I-80 Frontier of the Pennsylvania Wilds.
- Trent Stross of Kittanning won a Critics’ Choice Award in the Young Photographers category for his image from Sinnemahoning State Park, located in the Dark Skies landscape.
- Patrick Firment of Hollidaysburg received the People’s Choice Award in the Beauty All Around category for his photo of Black Moshannon State Park, located along the I-80 Frontier.
(Top row, from left: Bruce Walkovich’s image of Susquehannock State Forest and Trent Stross’s image from Sinnemahoning State Park; below: Linda Stager’s photograph at Colton Point State Park)
PPFF President Marci Mowery said the images “capture the beauty and diversity of our state park and forest system,” and she noted that “art is one of many ways that visitors enjoy Pennsylvania’s public lands.”
See all the previous winners here.
(At right: Patrick Firment’s photo from Black Moshannon State Park.)
About the Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
The Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation supports 121 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest by coordinating volunteers, activities, and donations through its 48 chapters. The mission of the foundation is to inspire stewardship of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests. To learn more about PPFF, visit https://paparksandforests.org/.
