Vote for Your Favorite 2017 Preserve the Moment Photo

Help choose the top three 2017 Preserve the Moment photo contest pictures by voting now on the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Facebook page.

Forest Preserve judges chose eight monthly finalists from among 725 photo entries during the course of the contest, which began May 1 and concluded December 31. Now it’s time for the public to vote online by liking or commenting on their favorite photos on Facebook. Each like or comment on a photo counts as one vote, and voting will end at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, January 10.

The top three vote-getters will win bragging rights and prizes: a messenger-style bag for first place, a digital photo frame for second place and a Michaels gift card for third place.

This year’s contest featured monthly categories: May, wildlife; June, flowers; July, sunsets; August, open category; September, fungus; October, fall colors; November, structures; and December, open category. Photo entries came from preserves in every corner of the county and they documented the wonderful variety of flora, fauna, landscapes and structures that can be found in the District’s many preserves.

Here are the eight finalists in chronological order and short descriptions of their photos:

• May – Michael Fagan of Frankfort, fuzzy ducklings at Hickory Creek Barrens Nature Preserve in New Lenox.
• June – Kathy Bobal of Braidwood, black-eyed Susan at Lake Chaminwood in Minooka.
• July – Michael Fagan, sunset shot taken at McKinley Woods in Channahon.
• August – Kathy Bobal, monarch caterpillar munching on a milkweed leaf at Rock Run Rookery Preserve in Joliet.
• September – Martha Sojka of Joliet, shaggy mane mushroom at Hadley Valley Preserve.
• October – Vida Gilvydis of Homer Glen, sun-drenched sycamore tree at McKinley Woods – Kerry Sheridan Grove in Channahon.
• November – Michael Fagan of Frankfort, bluebird in midflight leaving its home at Hickory Creek Preserve.
• December – John D’Agostino of Homer Glen, snowcapped cardinal at Isle a la Cache preserve in Romeoville.

VIEW ALL OF THE 2017 PHOTO SUBMISSIONS