We held the 9th Annual Naturescapes Awards Reception last night at the San Marcos Activity Center. The reception opens the Exhibition at the Walkers’ Gallery and also gives an opportunity to recognize the award winners.

About 100 exhibitors, family, and friends attended. We were treated to snacks, drinks and music by the ensemble, Wimberley Friends of Music. Many thanks Linda Kelsey-Jones, the Walker’s Gallery curator, for organizing the reception.

I was pleased to serve as the Master of Ceremonies and was helped by Hays County Master Naturalist Past-President Larry Calvert.

Naturescapes is the only juried exhibition at the Walkers’ Gallery and this year we were pleased to have Chase Fountain as the contest juror. —Chase is a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department staff photographer. His photography has been featured in many publications including National Geographic Explorer Traveler, Men’s Journal, Tide, Prime, Texas Highways and Texas Monthly as well as the Associated Press. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Applied arts and Sciences degree specializing in photojournalism and fine art photography.

This year the contest received 186 entries from 34 photographers. Chase selected 60 images from 23 photographers. Three of photographers are youth. Images from all the eligible counties: Blanco, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, Travis, are in the exhibition.

Here’s the complete list of the Naturescapes 2013 Award Winners.

Awards of Merit

Awards of Merit are awarded completely at the discretion of the juror. He decides whether to have any and how many. This year, Chase added a special category of Best Black & White, to give special recognition to two of the images.

• Best Black & White – Cypress Lane – Larry Alford
• Best Black & White – Moonflower – Rose Epps
• Fox – Winifred Simon

Awards of Excellence

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

• Hummingbirds – Janet Sanders
  
• Resting Hummer – Michael Zarella
• Wild Lilies – Rose Epps
• Sparring Finches – Carolyn Whiteside

Best Youth

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

• Nutria – Hannah McGee

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 Larry Calvert.

• Cypress Creek Waterfall II – Michael Penn Smith

Best in Show

The Best in Show Award is presented to the Exhibition’s top image and wins a $100 prize.

• Longhorn Sunset – Michael Penn Smith

There are 60 beautiful images on display. The Naturescapes Exhibition will be in the Walkers’ Gallery until November 8th. Be sure to go see it!