Winners Of The 'Seasons of Izaak Walton' 2027 Calendar Contest Announced

HOMEWOOD, IL — The 14 winners of the seventh annual "Seasons of Izaak Walton" photo calendar competition for Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve were announced Wednesday.

The contest attracted 119 entries from 32 area photographers.

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"The Izaak Walton Calendar Crew has done it again, eight years in a row," said John Brinkman, president of the Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve. "We are so pleased to offer a beautiful 2027 Calendar featuring beautiful photos from our Preserve. Many thanks to the volunteers that made this happen and to all of the participating photographers and judges."

The winning entries are:

• January: I love this place! by Mike Hoffman, Homewood, IL
• February: Duck Sip by Paul Reis, Mount Prospect, IL
• March: Izaak Walton Winter Sunset by Christine Banks, Homewood, IL
• April: A Wrinkle in Time by April Stagg, Homewood, IL
• May: (ThisIsNot)SuddenToMe by Ryan Patrick, Homewood, IL
• June: Pond Predator Patrols by Howard Wolinsky, Flossmoor, IL
• July: Dawn's Orange Light by R.J. VanSwol, Homewood, IL
• August: Toad You So by Laura Barnoski, Munster, Indiana
• September: Geese by Ingrid van Drongelen, Flossmoor, IL
• October: Daydream by Valerie Burr, Homewood, IL
• November: Golden Sunset by Dawn Coen, Homewood, IL
• December: Winter Red by Tina Ray, Homewood, IL
• Front Cover: Flora and Fawna by Heather Marcum, Thornton, IL

Back Cover: Following Mama by Anthony Spears, Crete, IL

Judges included professional photographers from around the state:

Richard "Camera One" Chapman is a career newspaper photographer in Algonquin, including 25 years at the Chicago Sun-Times. He is known as a wedding, lifestyle, portrait, and event photographer. He is the principal photographer of Rich Chapman Photographers.

Richard "Camera 2" Chapman is an event and portrait photographer with his father Rich.

"Such a pleasure to help judge the Walton calendar photo contest," said Rich "Camera 2" Chapman. "The quality of entries blew me away, any one of the photos could have easily made my favorites list, it was so hard to only choose a few. Great images and congratulations to all, the work is outstanding!"

Henry Matthiessen III is an artist, photographer, creator of All River Road Talent (ARRT), and creator/producer of Driftless Region Scenic Art Loop:

Stoned Art Studio & Gallery
1800 Central Ave.
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
www.StonedArtStudio.com

Marty Hackl, a Chicago area nature photographer and a member of the Rockford Symphony.

Mat Zook is a nature photographer from Plainfield. He is the founder of the 10,000-member Facebook page "IL Photography."

Jean Lachat is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated photographer. She spent 25 years as a photojournalist in Chicago, covering everything from Mayor Daley to Michael Jordan to President Obama. Jean Lachat Photography is located in the heart of Downtown Frankfort at 100 Kansas Street. She photographs families, kids, and high school seniors. You can contact her at 708.296.2170 or visit her website for more information.

The 2027 color calendars will be available in early November at the Homewood Izaak Walton website. The cost is $12 if picked up at the preserve, and $15 if mailed. Proceeds will benefit the preserve.

To order the Seasons of Izaak Walton calendar, go to the website.

The Calendar Committee is made up of local hobby photographers who often take photos at HIWP. They are: Laura Barnoski, Heather Marcum, Tina Ray, Penny Shnay, Howard Wolinsky, and Charma Holley (HIWP liasion).

Francis Fullam and Wolinsky, both of Flossmoor, created the photo calendar in 2019.

For more information, please contact: info@homewoodizaakwalton.com