Looking for PA Wilds travel inspiration? These images of state parks, forests received statewide praise
- by LaKeshia Knarr
- June 15, 2019
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Public lands and photographers from the Pennsylvania Wilds were honored recently with news that their images placed in the PA Parks and Forests Foundation’s (PPFF) 2018 Through the Seasons Photo Contest.
This annual photo contest showcases images from Pennsylvania state forests and parks that are submitted by both professional and amateur photographers.
For the 2018 contest, six awards were bestowed on photographs featuring public lands of the Pennsylvania Wilds region, which is home to 29 state parks and eight state forests.
Kyle Yates, a professional juried artisan member of 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, which is located in the Cook Forest and the Ancients landscape of the Pennsylvania Wilds. (Photo pictured at right.)
In addition, images of two state parks and two state forests from the region garnered Critics’ Choice awards and one state park won a People’s Choice Award.
- 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)
More than 400 photographs were entered into the 2018 contest, according to PPFF. Those that were awarded first and second place by popular vote and received critics’ choice awards in all categories, as well as two Best in Show images and an honorable mention, were exhibited at the Cleve J. Fredricksen Library in Camp Hill in April.
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 2018 winners here.
(At right: Patrick Firment’s photo from Black Moshannon State Park.)
2019 Photo Contest
Want to show off some of your favorite images of state parks and forests? PPFF is accepting entries for the 2019 Through The Seasons Photo Contest until September 4.
Categories include:
- Selfie
- Dogs In the Outdoors
- Other Wildlife Sightings
- Park and Forest Adventures
- Motion
- Intergenerational Joy
- Young Photographers 12-17
Learn more here.
(At right: Jennifer Ulmer’s photograph in Bald Eagle State Forest.)
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation (PPFF) began in 1999 as a statewide nonprofit organization to provide a voice for the Commonwealth’s 121 state parks and 2.2 million acres of forest land. PPFF’s mission is to inspire stewardship of Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests through public engagement in volunteerism, education and recreation. Learn more at www.paparksandforests.org.
