Preserve Photo Contest: Romeoville Resident Earns Honorable Mentions

ROMEOVILLE, IL — A Romeoville resident earned an honorable mention in the Forest Preserve District of Will County's November portion of the Preserve the Moment Photo Contest, according to a release from the preserve.

The winning photo for November went to Bertrand Leclercq of Naperville. Leclercq's photo was an eagle with outstretched wings, taken at McKinley Woods preserve in Channahon, the preserve said.

One more monthly winner will be chosen for December before the Forest Preserve District's 2022 contest concludes on Dec. 31.

The five photos were voted on by members of the public on the District’s Facebook page. Those who cast their votes for the eagle said it was a “gorgeous” photo. Others said, “Most excellent work in catching the moment of flight,” and, “Great job capturing the movement and grand shape of the eagle.”

According to the preserve, the other finalists for November were:

Carlos Molano of Chicago for a photo of a pelican hovering above the water at Rock Run Rookery Preserve in Joliet.

Greg Winkelmann of Romeoville for a colorful photo of an American goldfinch perched on a flower at Hidden Oaks Preserve in Bolingbrook, a merlin clutching a bird in its talons at Lake Renwick Preserve in Plainfield and fall leaves floating in the water at Hammel Woods in Shorewood.

Monthly winners each receive a $75 Visa gift card and all entrants receive a participation gift. Overall contest winners will be chosen in January from among the eight monthly winners, with $500, $250 and $150 Visa gift cards to be awarded for first, second and third place, respectively, the preserve said.

Three random drawings will also be held for all contest participants, and those three winners will each receive a $75 Visa gift card.

All prizes are funded by The Nature Foundation of Will County.

Contest participants must be 18 years of age or older and amateur photographers, and the photos must have been taken in the Forest Preserve District’s preserves after the contest began on May 1.

To view all photo contest entries, visit the District’s Flickr account.