‘Ham’ of a crayfish helps New Lenox photographer win monthly contest

Meagan Crandall of New Lenox snapped this photo of a triumphant crayfish at Hickory Creek Barrens Nature Preserve in New Lenox.

Crandall’s photo won the June portion of Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Preserve the Moment photo contest. She started taking nature photos last year during the pandemic, as a way to get out of the house, according to a news release from the forest preserve. Being in nature calms her and relieves stress, the release added.

“I also got a new camera from my mom for Christmas and a tripod from my husband; so I’m able to take even better photos this year,” Crandall said in the release. “I go out at least every other day, sometimes with my brother who taught me some great techniques on capturing photos of birds.”

The following people received honorable mentions in June:

• Ronald Kapala of Shorewood for a photo of a “slender glass lizard slithering through the brush at Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve.”

• Michelle Wendling of Joliet for two photos. One was a misty scene at Hadley Valley. The other was a field of butterweed at O’Hara Woods Preserve.

• Eileen Capodice of Minooka for a “comical deer at McKinley Woods that was sticking out its tongue.”

View all photo contest entries at Flickr.com/WillCoForests/albums.

For contest rules and prizes, visit ReconnectWithNature.org. The Nature Foundation of Will County funds all photo contest prizes. Visit willcountynature.org.