Romeoville Resident Earns Honorable Mention In Preserve Photo Contest

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Romeoville resident Chad Morsch earned an honorable mention for his photo submission in the Forest Preserve District of Will County's July portion of the Preserve the Moment photo contest.

Morsch's shot of a great blue heron at McKinley Woods earned him the honorable mention last month, according to the preserve.

July's winning shot was taken by Joe Viola of Shorewood. His photo of a turkey vulture at Rock Run Rookery earned the most votes on Facebook after it was chosen as one of fine finalist photos by the judges, the preserve said in a release.

Those who voted for the vulture via Facebook appreciated the bird’s stance and the clarity of the photo.

“Great angle and detail. He looks as if he is king over his territory,” wrote one voter.

Another said, “He shows us how even a turkey vulture can be beautiful.”

Other voters said the bird looked “majestic” and even “glamorous” and that the shot was “stunning.”

In addition to Morsch, three others also earned honorable mentions:

• Ron Hodgen of Morris for a black-crowned night heron at McKinley Woods.
• Nancy Mariotti of Plainfield for a cottontail rabbit munching on greenery at McKinley Woods.
• Amy Miller of Joliet for a blue Indigo bunting perched on a branch at Rock Run Preserve.

Viola also won the first month of the contest in May with a photo of a sleepy raccoon, the preserve said. Five more monthly winners will be chosen through December. Every entrant receives a participation gift, and each monthly winner is awarded a $75 Visa gift card.

Once the contest concludes on Dec. 31, the eight monthly winners will vie for overall honors via Facebook voting, according to the preserve. The top photos will receive gift cards of $500 for first place, $250 for second place and $150 for third place. All prizes are funded by The Nature Foundation of Will County.

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 enter the contest, all you have to do is upload up to five of your best photos for consideration at the conclusion of each month.

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