Chamber Collaborative Of Greater Portsmouth: Great Bay Stewards Announces Winners Of 25th Anniversary Photo Contest

Press release from Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth:

October 21, 2021

GREENLAND—The Great Bay Stewards is excited to announce the winners of its 25th anniversary photography contest. The grand prize winner was Bill Doucet with his entry, “All Calm.” In addition to a cash prize, his photo will be featured on an upcoming cover of Great Bay Matters, the print magazine of the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

With several hundred votes in total cast during two weeks of online voting, the People’s Choice Winner was Nick Johnson with his photograph of a kayaker in autumn; honorable mention went to Eve Fralick. Fralick’s photographer of the railroad trestle on a winter sunset was also the winner of the “Landmarks Along the Estuary” category. Doucet’s sunset photo of the stone bench at Adam’s Point received the honorable mention in that category. In Natural World, Karen Erlandson’s moody photograph of mist hanging over the estuary won first place; the runner up was Effie Malley with her black and white photograph of a walk through the woods of the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Christina Constanza’s photograph of her son running along the Discovery Center boardwalk took first place in the People category; Doucet again received an honorable mention for his photograph of a man working at a fish weir. In the Teen category, Rhys McKinnon’s close up shot of a chipmunk enjoying his meal won first prize, Eli Norwath’s photo of a bee on Joe Pye weed took the honorable mention spot.

The Stewards received nearly 100 entries to the contest and were thrilled at the many different scenes and activities depicted by area photographers. “It was a really wonderful reminder of all the special places, flora and fauna, and activities around Great Bay, said Carla Collins, co-owner with her husband Neil of Stratham-based Four Square Framing and Fine Art Gallery, which sponsored the contest. “We had many difficult decisions to make.”

Winners were announced during the Stewards Annual Members Meeting, held this year via Zoom for the safety of board trustees and members. Collins, herself a sculptor, served on the selection panel alongside Stewards Executive Director Allison Knab; Lauren Saltman, who designed the photo contest; board member Sheila Roberge; and Darlene Furbush Ouellett, a local painter and member of the Art of Great Bay committee.

This press release was produced by Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth. The views expressed here are the author’s own.