News – Page 5 – Hill Country Photography Club

Naturescapes Awards Reception

We held the 12th Annual Naturescapes Awards Reception on September 3rd at the San Marcos Activity Center. The reception opened the Exhibition at the Walkers’ Gallery and also gave an opportunity to recognize the award winners.

We had a nice turnout and it was great to meet all the photographers, their families, and supporters. We were treated to snacks, drinks, cake, desserts, and wine and champagne. Music was provided by the ensemble, Wimberley Friends of Music. Many thanks Linda Kelsey-Jones, the Walker’s Gallery Director and exhibition curator, for organizing the reception.

The program was presented by Carol Serur, Beth Ramey, and Art Arizpe. Carol is President of the Hill Country Photography Club. Beth is President of the Hays County Master Naturalists. Art is the contest coordinator.

Naturescapes is the only juried exhibition at the Walkers’ Gallery and this year we were pleased to have John and Kendra Abbot as the contest jurors. John and Kendra are professional nature photographers, educators and outdoor enthusiasts.

The contest received 235 entries from 42 photographers. The jurors selected 60 images from 23 photographers.

Here’s the complete list of the Naturescapes 2016 Award Winners.

Awards of Merit

Black-chinned Hummingbird 3 – Jørgen Høg
Red Thorns – Nancy Naylor
Water Lily with Bees – Winifred F. Simon
Soldier Butterfly on Purple Coneflower – Drew Wilson
Serene Queen – Drew Wilson

Awards of Excellence

The contest has four Awards of Excellence and each wins a $50 prize.

Favorite Swimming Hole – Rose Krohn Epps
Bluebonnets and Lightning – Andrew Heatwole
bee in flight – Best Insect, Scott G. Mitchell
Texas Mockingbird – Nancy Naylor

Best Natural Waterscape

The Best Natural Waterscape Award is sponsored by the Hays County Master Naturalists and wins a $75 prize. This Award was presented by Beth Ramey.

Jacob’s Well in the Moonlight – Andrew Heatwole

Best Youth

The Best Youth Award is sponsored by the Hill Country Photography Club and wins a $75 prize.

Flame Skimmer Dragonfly – Drew Wilson

Best in Show

The Best in Show Award wins a $100 prize.

Gulf Fritillary Egg – Linda Avitt

Wes Odell

The results of the Photographic Society of America 2016 Green Eagle Award in the Pictorial Print Division were just announced.

In the monochrome division, Club member Wes O’Dell won First Place for “Killer Instinct” taken at Georgetown’s Sterling Gloves Tournament, and an Honorable Mention for “Hand of a Young Cowboy” taken in Art, Texas.

Congratulations, Wes! PSA 2016 Green Eagle_The Killer Instinct _0479 Odell PSA Green Eagle 2016_Hand of a Young Cowboy_Wes Odell

Naturescapes Awards Reception

Please join us at the San Marcos Activity Center on Saturday, September 3rd from 5 pm to 7 pm, for the 12th Annual Naturescapes Photography Contest and Exhibition Awards Reception.

This is a great way to support the local arts and conservation efforts! You’ll see the beautiful and inspiring images selected by the contest jurors, John and Kendra Abbott. John and Kendra are professional nature photographers, educators and outdoor enthusiasts based in Austin, Texas. John has focused on dragonflies and damselflies throughout much of his career and has written three books on these beautiful subjects that contain much of their photography. Kendra is an ecologist and focused on endangered species and conservation issues much of her career.

You’ll also get to meet with the photographers, their families, and fellow supporters. We’ll have snacks, refreshments, and live music.

The contest is co-sponsored by the Hays County M aster Naturalists Chapter and the Hill Country Photography Club.

A $100 prize will be awarded for Best in Show, $75 for the best Youth Category photo, and $75 for the best Natural Waterscape photo. Up to four $50 Awards of Excellence will be presented for the next most outstanding photographs. Additional Awards of Merit will be presented at the discretion of the contest jurors.

The unique beauty of the natural areas within San Marcos inspired the first Naturescapes Photography Contest. The contest now includes photographs taken in greenspaces and natural areas throughout Hays, Blanco, Comal, Guadalupe, Caldwell, and Travis Counties.

The Exhibition in the Walkers’ Gallery at the San Marcos Activity Center, runs from September 3rd through October 28th, so you’ll have a chance to see the photographs even if you can’t attend the reception.

Congratulations to Nancy Naylor and Rose Epps.!

Both won awards at the Austin Shutterbug Club Show this month.

Rose won “Best Contemporary”.

Nancy won “Best of Show”.