James Farm Photo Challenge winners announced

The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays announced the winners of its inaugural James Farm Photo Challenge. Participants could submit photos taken Oct. 13-14, at the James Farm Ecological Preserve, a 150-acre oasis of pristine wildlands along Indian River Bay. Proceeds from the challenge benefitted the CIB, a nonprofit organization committed to preserving, protecting and restoring Delaware’s Inland Bays and their watershed.

Grand prize winners received a prize package including gift cards and center merchandise, plus their photographs will be displayed at the center offices for one year.

Photo challenge organizers extend thanks to the Coastal Camera Club, Sharon Denny Photography and the Rehoboth Art League for their generous support that made the initiative possible.

The grand prize winner was Debbie Blair, for her photo “A Soft Landing.”

Winners and their categories were: Wildlife, “Horseshoe Crab in Surf,” Paul Sylvia, first place; “Merlin with a Bird’s Eye View,” Debbie Blair, second place; “Boxed In,” Kim Parks, third place. For Human Connection, Linda Gundersen took first place for “Morning Respite”; while “Peaceful Walk” and “Summer’s End” earned second and third place, respectively, for Dick Snyder. Winners in Landscape/Seascape were: “The Marsh at Sunrise,” Paul Sylvia, first place; “A New Day at the Farm,” Gregory Rinker, second place; “Sand Etching,” Susan Jordan, third place.

“A hearty thank you to our partners that helped put together this first-year photo challenge, and thank you to all the photographers that came out to James Farm Ecological Preserve to participate,” said Mark Carter, Delaware Center for the Inland Bays director of development. “The center was excited to see so many amazing images highlighting the nature that surrounds us, and your participation helps us to protect our Inland Bays and their watershed.”