The amateur Photo Contest is held every August at the Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area on Pine Bluff Road at Jugtown Road in east Grundy County. It is orchestrated by the volunteer organization Goose Lake Prairie Partners, with a great deal of assistance from the Morris Camera Club.   Photo entries are to depict the flora, fauna, and natural environment in the state of Illinois.  One hundred fifty-seven entries were submitted on Sunday August 14 at the Goose Lake Prairie Visitors Center on Jugtown Road.  The majority of participants were from Grundy and Will counties, although some entries were received from as far away as Chicago.  Judging was held Friday evening (August 19) by a panel of experts assembled by the Morris Camera Club. Winners were announced Saturday morning, and all of the photos were on display at the Visitors Center through the weekend. “We are excited by the response to the contest this year”, said Goose Lake Partners’ President Susie Johnson. “Not only were the one hundred and fifty seven entries the most we have received in the five-year history of the competition, but the quality of the entries was outstanding.” The response by the public was also very positive, as the visitor count at the Center was up 75% over a normal August weekend.   Most of our visitors were amazed at the professional quality produced by our local amateur photographers. Please click here for a pdf press release.  Please click here for a pdf listing of winners for the 5th Annual Judging competition.

NOTICE: While collecting photos for State Park Photo Contests, do not pick or handle plants and do not handle animals on State Park Property.  Thank you for staying on designated trails. We feel privileged to present to you the winners of our contest. We request that you please remember that the copyright for these photographs remain with the photographers. If you wish to use a photo for any reason, please contact us and we will put you in contact with the photographer.     The Goose Lake Prairie Partners thank the Morris Camera Club members who have faithfully lent assistance to our photography project.  To find out more about the Camera Club, click here.  This is a great group to join to learn more about photography.      A special thank you to John and Betty Zappia, Chuck and Mary Ann Van Grevenhof, Brittany Benson, Dean and Alice Jacobsen, and Denise Rogers.  From Park Staff, we thank Art Rohr, Jeff Watchinski, and Superintendent Joe Giacone. We also would like to thank all our contestants and hope they return next year.       Please click here to access quick snapshots of the winning photos.  These were taken as the prints hung in exhibit and are not finished photos; this is just a sampling of the event.

The Judges were Curtis Larsen, Streator and Photo Society of Sandwich Camera Clubs. Wes Steward of the Photo Society of Sandwich Camera Club and Bruce Van Pelt of the Photo Society of Sandwich

Best of Show was awarded to Peggy Hanna, Godley, Illinois "Flight of the Barred Owl"
Best of Color Same Entry as Above.
Best of Black and White was awarded to Gerald LeVault, Coal City, Illinois "Tree in Winter Whiteout"
People's Choice was awarded to Don Blecha, Coal City, Illinois "Fighting Foxes"
Prairie Partner Pick was awarded to Peggy Hanna, Godley, Illinois "Cockfight"

This contest is sponsored by the Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area and the Goose Lake Prairie Partners.

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Downloads (Posted March 3, 2011):
New categories have been added to our contest format.

Promotional Flyer          Contest Rule Sheet         Entry Blanks (3 per page)   

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Photos on this page are the property of the photographers.