SCENIC MEDIA ALERT Press Contact: Leighton Powell FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (804) 363-9453 (cell) July 30, 2018 [email protected]

2018 VIRGINIA VISTAS PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED Photos represent ‘every region of the Commonwealth’

Scenic Virginia’s annual Virginia Vistas Photo Contest, now in its eleventh year, showcases the amazing depth and breadth of scenic beauty that exists in our Commonwealth.

Notes Leighton Powell, the organization’s Executive Director, “Scenic Virginia couldn’t be more pleased to share this year’s gorgeous Winners and Honorable Mentions. Virginians are proud of our incredible scenic resources, and we’re delighted to remind them how beautiful Virginia is. This year’s photos truly cover every region of our Commonwealth.”

Judges for the 2018 contest, which garnered nearly 700 entries, were Ben Greenberg, a professional photographer and author of Natural Virginia; Judy Watkins, Special Projects Manager at Virginia Tourism Corporation; Tom Saunders, a professional photographer with the Virginia Department of Transportation; and Eugenia Anderson- Ellis, a Scenic Virginia Advisory Board member and former president.

Note card sets of the winning photos are available for purchase. A set of 10 cards (one of each winning photo) is $20.00, plus $3.00 for shipping and handling. To place an order, contact Scenic Virginia at (804) 643-VIEW (643-8439) or [email protected].

Scenic Virginia is the only statewide conservation group dedicated solely to preserving, protecting and enhancing the scenic beauty of the Commonwealth, with a particular focus on the preservation of significant views and vistas.

To learn more about the organization, visit www.scenicvirginia.org and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

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Note to Media: Images of our ten Virginia Vistas Photo Contest Winners and our 25 Honorable Mentions are featured on the following pages, along with information detailing each photographer’s hometown and each photo’s location. If you are interested in speaking or corresponding with any photographer, please let us know.

High-resolution versions of our 2018 Winners and Honorable Mentions are available by contacting Program & Outreach Coordinator Annie Weidhaas at (804) 643-VIEW (8439) and [email protected].

2018 VIRGINIA VISTAS PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

Best in Show Winner:

Photo Name: Caledon Marsh Sunset Photographed by Edward Episcopo of Fredericksburg Photo Location: Near Jones Pond in Caledon State Park (King George County)

Cities & Towns Category Winner:

Photo Name: Have a Seat Photographed by Gary Smith of Richmond Photo Location: Jefferson Park in Richmond’s East End

Coastal & Chesapeake Bay Category Winner:

Photo Name: Chincoteague Sunset at Low Tide Photographed by Edward Episcopo of Fredericksburg Photo Location: Chincoteague on the Eastern Shore

Farms & Open Spaces Category Winner:

Photo Name: Scenic Drive Photographed by Debbie Slack of Lynchburg Photo Location: Arrington (Nelson County)

Highways & Byways Category Winner:

Photo Name: Old Country Road Photographed by Doug Puffenbarger of Blue Grass Photo Location: Dug Bank Road in Hightown (Highland County)

Mountains & Valleys Category Winner:

Photo Name: Mountain Majesty Photographed by Bradley Deel of Clintwood Photo Location: High Knob in Norton (Wise County) Rivers & Waterways Category Winner:

Photo Name: Sunrise Reflections Photographed by Barbara Houston of Quinton Photo Location: Harrison Lake in Charles City

Scenic Trees Category Winner:

Photo Name: Golden Leaves Photographed by Linda Schmiel of Midlothian Photo Location: Maymont Park in Richmond

Vistas With Wildlife Category Winner:

Photo Name: Seeking Shad Photographed by Fritzi Newton of Fredericksburg Photo Location: The Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg

Fan Favorite Category Winner (new category in 2018):

Photo Name: River Morning Photographed by Mary Lynne Wolfe of Spotsylvania Photo Location: The Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg

2018 VIRGINIA VISTAS PHOTO CONTEST HONORABLE MENTIONS

Cities & Towns Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Tangier Island Wandering Cats Photographed by Yuzhu Zheng of Virginia Beach Photo Location: Tangier Island

Cities & Towns Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Winter Sunset on the James Photographed by Yung-Han Chang of Chesapeake Photo Location: The James River in Richmond

Coastal & Chesapeake Bay Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Bay Reflection Photographed by Kevin Duncan of Adelphi, Maryland Photo Location: Chincoteague Island

Coastal & Chesapeake Bay Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Storm on the Bay Photographed by Chris Giersch of Virginia Beach Photo Location: Virginia Beach

Farms & Open Spaces Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Heavy Snow in Hanover Photographed by Parks Rountrey of Mechanicsville Photo Location: Studley Road in Hanover County

Farms & Open Spaces Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Big Meadows Photographed by Paul Laurenza of Vienna Photo Location: near Sperryville

Farms & Open Spaces Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Snow on Sheep Photographed by Michael Bedwell of Monterey Photo Location: Monterey in Highland County

Farms & Open Spaces Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Field of Grain Photographed by Kenneth Newman of Prince George Photo Location: Prince George County

Highways & Byways Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Bike Ride Photographed by Erin Vasquez of Williamsburg Photo Location: Williamsburg near the Jamestown Settlement

Highways & Byways Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Morning at Highland Photographed by Bryan Parsons of Crozet Photo Location: James Monroe's Highland in Albemarle County

Highways & Byways Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Last Light at the Peaks of Otter Photographed by Yung-Han Chang of Chesapeake Photo Location: Bedford near the Peaks of Otter

Mountains & Valleys Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Sharp Top at Peaks of Otter Photographed by Rob Marshall of Lynchburg Photo Location: Peaks of Otter in the Blue Ridge Mountains

Mountains & Valleys Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Lower Crabtree Falls Photographed by Durwood Felton of Henrico Photo Location: Tye River in George Washington National Forest

Rivers & Waterways Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Winter Wonderland in Virginia Beach Photographed by Chris Giersch of Virginia Beach Photo Location: Virginia Beach Rivers & Waterways Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Foggy Morning on Bluestone Photographed by Mike Ornoff of Clarksville Photo Location: Bluestone Creek off of Buggs Island Lake in Mecklenburg

Rivers & Waterways Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Sunset Piankatank River Photographed by Robert Coles of Richmond Photo Location: Near Cobbs Creek in Mathews County

Rivers & Waterways Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Natural Bridge Photographed by Bryan Parsons of Crozet Photo Location: Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County

Scenic Trees Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Into The Mist Photographed by Kevin Divins of Henrico Photo Location: Jefferson National Forest

Scenic Trees Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Bald Cypress Photographed by Bill Niven of Chesapeake Photo Location: Stumpy Lake in Virginia Beach

Scenic Trees Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Autumn Sight Lines Photographed by Malcolm Andrews of Charlottesville Photo Location: North Garden Walnut Creek Park in Albemarle County

Scenic Trees Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Morning Fog Byrd Park Photographed by Robert Coles of Richmond Photo Location: Byrd Park in Richmond

Scenic Trees Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Raven's Roost in Winter Photographed by Melanie Miller of Charlottesville Photo Location: Raven's Roost Overlook on the

Vistas With Wildlife Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Heron at Dusk Photographed by Kevin Duncan of Adelphi, Maryland Photo Location: Chincoteague Island

Vistas With Wildlife Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Heron Prize Photographed by Edward Episcopo of Fredericksburg Photo Location: The Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg

Vistas With Wildlife Category Honorable Mention:

Photo Name: Osprey Waiting for Dad's Fish Photographed by Edward Episcopo of Fredericksburg Photo Location: Along the James River in Richmond