'Best in Show' Nature Visions photo is a 'Pushing Contest'

Patricia Deege of the Vienna Photographic Society has been awarded the “Best in Show” for her wildlife photograph entitled “The Pushing Contest” at the Nature Visions 2013 Photo Expo, Nov. 8-10 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.

Deege’s entry was one of 329 outstanding nature images for sale by top area photographers that were submitted to the juried nature photo exhibit.

Also honored at the awards ceremony on Nov. 9 were the “Best in Category” winners:

Birds – Marilyn Gaizband, Northern Virginia Photographic Society: Eurasian Owl

Wildlife – Patricia Deege, Vienna Photographic Society: The Pushing Contest

Macro – Steve Heap, Manassas-Warrenton Camera Club: Sunday Lunch

Abstract – Greg Holden, NIH Camera Club: Points

Water – John Norvell, NIH Camera Club: Elakala Falls

Landscapes – Stan Collyer, NIH Camera Club: Mount Kirkjufell, Iceland

Flora – Greg Holden, NIH Camera Club: Centurion

Beth Koller of the NIH Camera Club received the most votes by attendees who visited the exhibit and was awarded the “People’s Choice” award for her photograph entitled “Got My Eye on You.”

Mary Jane Fish of Vienna Photographic Society was presented Nature Visions’ Outstanding Service Award.

More than 1,200 people from the mid-Atlantic region and beyond attended the popular Nature Visions 2013 Photo Expo, returning for a fourth year to the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Virginia with expanded exhibits, vendor displays and free activities and free photography education for beginner photographers, thanks in part to a grant from Prince William County.

Fee-based education sessions include noted photographer and author Bryan Peterson’s full-day seminar, “Learning to See Creatively,” on Nov. 8 and his keynote presentation, “Flashes of Inspiration,” on Nov. 9, as well as any of 16 one- and two-hour workshops for beginners to advanced photographers on Nov. 9-10. Patrons were given the opportunity to reserve a one-hour spot to photograph rescued falcons, hawks and owls through the Raptor Conservancy of Virginia.

The Nature Visions Photo Expo is organized by seven photo clubs in the Mid-Atlantic area: the Loudoun Photography Club, Manassas-Warrenton Camera Club, McLean Photography Club, Northern Virginia Photographic Society, Reston Photographic Society, Vienna Photographic Society and the NIH Camera Club. For more information on participating camera clubs, contact info@naturevisions.org.