Romeoville Resident Wins Second Place In Preserve 2022 Photo Contest

ROMEOVILLE, IL — Romeoville resident Chad Morsch has taken second place in the Forest Preserve District of Will County's 2022 photo contest, according to a release from the district.

The monthly photo contest culminated in a public vote on the preserve's Facebook page. Voters chose between photos from the eight monthly finalists.

Morsch's photo of a fox squirrel earned him second place and a $250 gift card, according to the preserve.

First place went to Joe Viola, of Shorewood, and his photo of a turkey vulture, the preserve said. His photo received the most votes on Facebook, and he will receive a $500 gift card.

The photo's detail and painting-like quality immediately drew the attention of online voters in the contest, who called it a “majestic” and “glamorous” photo.

Naperville resident Bertrand Leclercq will receive a $150 MasterCard gift card for his third-place photo of an eagle, according to the preserve.

More than 1,250 votes were cast on the Forest Preserve’s Facebook page in the final round of voting.

Three contest participants chosen at random to receive $75 MasterCard gift cards were: Tiffany Adams of Chicago, Robert DesCamps of Plainfield and Emilie Brazinski of Plainfield. All prizes are funded by The Nature Foundation of Will County, the preserve said.

During the 2022 contest, almost 1,000 photos were submitted for consideration, the preserve said. To view all contest entries, visit the Forest Preserve District’s Flickr account, Flickr.com/WillCoForests.