Volo Bog State Natural Area announces photo contest winners

INGLESIDE – The winners of Volo Bog State Natural Area’s 33rd annual Nature Photo Contest were announced at Volo Bog’s Annual WinterFest in January.

The competition and show is presented each year by Volo Bog State Natural Area, the Friends of Volo Bog and the ShutterBugs of Volo Bog.

A total of 169 entries were entered in eight categories. Visitors to the State Natural Area from Oct. 26 to Jan. 11 were asked to vote for their favorites in each category and for their favorite overall. First-, second- and third-place ribbons were awarded to the top vote-getters in each category. A plaque was awarded to first place in each category, as well as to the two Best of Show awards: Peoples’ Choice and Judges’ Award.

Best of Show winners were Peoples’ Choice winner Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Reddish Egret,” and Judges’ Award winner Gary Edwards of Round Lake Beach for “Quiet Reflection.”

Category winners were:

Color Plant: First, Patrick Lucas of Vernon Hills for “Sunbathing”; second, Stacey Greenhill of Wheeling for “Spider Wort”; third, Sarah Johnston of Crystal Lake for “The Bright Side”

Beyond the Midwest: First, Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Reddish Egret”; second, Joseph Norton of Huntley for “Winter Tiger”; third, Joseph Norton of Huntley for “Rocky Mountain Coyote Howl”

Black & White: First, Stacey Greenhill of Wheeling for “Intense Focus”; second, Anthony Roma of Gurnee for “Gentle Falls”; third, Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Great Egret”

Color Invertebrate: First, Paul McFadden of Crystal Lake for “I Prey Daily”; second, Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Covered in Pollen”; third, Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Orange & Purple”

Color Birds: First, Paul McFadden of Crystal Lake for “I Like to Lean on My Brother”; second, Laura Hedien of Grayslake for “Breakfast for Two?”; third, Paul McFadden of Crystal Lake for Pied-billed Grebe Chicks; Third, Laura Hedien of Grayslake for “Hoping for a Fumble”

Color Landscape: First, Anthony Roma of Gurnee for “Pictured Rock Rainbow”; second, Paul McFadden of Crystal Lake for “Black Puddle Dog”; third, Gary Edwards of Round Lake Beach for “Cave Point Shoreline”

Color Vertebrate: First, Anthony Roma of Gurnee for “Sharing the Love”; second, Gary Edwards of Round Lake Beach for “You’ve Got My Attention”; third, Joseph Norton of Huntley for “Backyard Coyote”

Human-Nature Interface: First, Gary Edwards of Round Lake Beach for “Quiet Reflection”; second, Ted Wollert of Island Lake for “Red Fox”; third, Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Cardinal on a Fence Rail”

The winning photos are on display at Volo Bog SNA through March 22 and available for viewing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

The ShutterBugs of Volo Bog meet at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the Volo Bog Visitor Center. Visit www.shutterbugsofvolobog.com.