Virginia Piedmont, VA. (Nov. 22, 2023) – The Piedmont Environmental Council is pleased to announce the winners of its 2023 Annual Photo Contest. About 80 professional and amateur photographers alike submitted more than 600 images of the beautiful Virginia Piedmont, from within Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock counties and the City of Charlottesville.
“At PEC, we work to connect people to the landscapes and communities of Virginia’s Piedmont. The beautiful images that local photographers submit to this contest help us tell important stories and allow people to experience this wonderful place in new and exciting ways,” said Hugh Kenny, PEC multimedia communications specialist and contest coordinator.
Finalists from among the hundreds of entries (viewable on Flickr) are chosen by a team of professional photographers and PEC staff, and winners are selected by public vote. Winners in each adult category receive a gift certificate to a participating Buy Fresh Buy Local restaurant, and the youth winner receives an iTunes, Google Play or Amazon gift card.
In each of the four categories, this year’s winners are:
- Beautiful Landscapes: Cassidy Girvin, of Charlottesville, for “Albemarle Aurora Borealis.” Caption: “The aurora borealis dancing in the northern sky from high up in the Shenandoah.”
- Wonderful Wildlife: Malcolm Andrews of Charlottesville, for “Signs of Affection.” Caption: “A pair of cedar waxwings pass a serviceberry back and forth in an apparent sign of affection in Albemarle County.”
- Native Plants and Fungi: Rod Erickson of Bluemont in Loudoun County, for “Bluebells in Morning Light.” Caption: “Early rays of sunshine painting the forest floor covered in bluebells along the Shenandoah River at Cool Springs Battlefield in Clarke County.”
- Youth Category: Dexton Meurer of Charlottesville, for “Dirty Feet.” Caption: “Dirty Feet in Crozet, Virginia.”
Contact:
Hugh Kenny, Multimedia Communications Specialist
The Piedmont Environmental Council
hkenny@pecva.org; 540-347-2334, x7024
The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) works to protect and restore the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.