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Volo Bog State Natural Area 38th Annual Nature Photo Contest winners

The winners of Volo Bog State Natural Area’s 38th Annual Nature Photo Contest were announced between music sets at the site’s Annual WinterFest on Sunday, Jan. 12.

The annual competition and show is presented each year by Volo Bog State Natural Area with support from the Friends of Volo Bog.

A total of 120 entries were entered in 10 categories by 17 photographers. Visitors to the State Natural Area from Oct. 19 to Jan. 10 were asked to vote for their favorite in each category, and for their favorite overall. First-, second- and third-place ribbons are awarded to the top vote recipients in each category. Two Best-of-Show plaques are awarded: a People’s Choice and a Judges’ Award.

Best of Show Winners

• Best-of-Show People’s Choice went to Michael Schmitt, Grayslake for “Lake Superior Sunrise.”

“Turk’s Cap Lily” by Carl Stineman of Vernon Hills, Best of Show Judges’ Award winner at Volo Bog State Natural Area's 38th Annual Nature Photo Contest. Courtesy of Volo Bog State Natural Area

• Best of Show Judges’ Award was awarded to Carl Stineman of Vernon Hills for “Turk’s Cap Lily.”

All the winning photos can be viewed in the Visitor Center through Saturday, March 1, as well as on the Friends of Volo Bog’s Facebook Page, facebook.com/people/Friends-of-Volo-Bog/100071965670786. They will be posted to the FOVB website, friendsofvolobog.org, as well.

Category winners include:

Color Plant

The winners in the Color Plant category at Volo Bog State Natural Area's Annual Nature Photo Contest. Courtesy of Volo Bog State Natural Area

• First place: Sari Nienaber of Kalamazoo, Michigan, for “Mushrooms Capture the Sky”

• Second place: Anthony Roma of Gurnee for “Rain on the Pad”

• Third place: Carl Stineman of Vernon Hills for “Turk’s Cap Lily”

Beyond the Midwest, Animals

The winners in the Beyond the Midwest, Animals category at Volo Bog State Natural Area's Annual Nature Photo Contest. Courtesy of Volo Bog State Natural Area

• First place: Kim Compton of Holiday Hills for “Mother & Child”

• Second place: Carl Stineman of Vernon Hills for “Mother and Calf Spouting”

• Third place: Anthony Roma of Gurnee for “Red Cracker”

Black & White, Plants & Landscape

The winners in the Black & White Plants & Landscape category at Volo Bog State Natural Area's Annual Nature Photo Contest. Courtesy of Volo Bog State Natural Area

• First place: Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Lake Superior Shoreline”

• Second place: Tami Bevis of Round Lake for “Your Roots are Showing”

• Third place: Narayani Hiffman of Woodstock for “Misty Morning”

Nature’s Web of Life

The winners in the Nature’s Web of Life category at Volo Bog State Natural Area's Annual Nature Photo Contest. Courtesy of Volo Bog State Natural Area

• First place: Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “A Sandhill, a Red-wing & a Bumblebee Meet for Lunch”

• Second place: Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Osprey Cat Catch”

• Third place: Carl Stineman of Vernon Hills for “Mid-Air Refueling”

Color Landscape

The winners in the Color Landscape category at Volo Bog State Natural Area's Annual Nature Photo Contest. Courtesy of Volo Bog State Natural Area

• First place: Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Lake Superior Sunrise”

• Second place: Paul McFadden of Crystal Lake for “Sunset String in Pearls”

• Third place: Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Grand Marais Sunset”

Color Birds

The winners in the Color Birds category at Volo Bog State Natural Area's Annual Nature Photo Contest. Courtesy of Volo Bog State Natural Area

• First place: Ken Olsen of Palatine for “Humdinger”

• Second place: Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Snowy Owl”

• Third place: Carl Stineman of Vernon Hills for “Red-headed Woodpecker”

Black & White Animal

The winners in the Black & White Animal category at Volo Bog State Natural Area's Annual Nature Photo Contest. Courtesy of Volo Bog State Natural Area

• First place: Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Determined Snowy Owl”

• Second place: Stacey Greenhill of Wheeling for “Red Fox”

• Third place: Stacey Greenhill of Wheeling for “Unhappy Model”

Color Invertebrate

The winners in the Color Invertebrate category at Volo Bog State Natural Area's Annual Nature Photo Contest. Courtesy of Volo Bog State Natural Area

• First place: Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “Halloween Pennant Dragonfly”

• Second place: Carl Stineman of Vernon Hills for “Common Green Darner”

• Third place: Stacey Greenhill of Wheeling for “Babies on Board”

Color Vertebrate OTB (Other Than Birds)

The winners in the Color Vertebrate OTB (Other Than Birds) category at Volo Bog State Natural Area's Annual Nature Photo Contest. Courtesy of Volo Bog State Natural Area

• First place: Michael Schmitt of Grayslake for “No Place Like Home”

• Second place: Sue Bitler of Richmond for “A Little Help, Please”

• Third place: Paul McFadden of Crystal Lake for “Bunny in Clover”

Beyond the Midwest, Plants/Landscapes

The winners in the Beyond the Midwest, Plants/Landscapes category at Volo Bog State Natural Area's Annual Nature Photo Contest. Courtesy of Volo Bog State Natural Area

• First place: Stacey Greenhill of Wheeling for “Spooky Botswanan Sky”

• Second place: Narayani Hiffman of Woodstock for “Luray Cavern”

• Third place: Lianne Tebussek of Round Lake for “Giants Inside”

Volo Bog State Natural Area’s annual Nature Photo Contest runs from mid-October through the Friday preceding the second Sunday each January. Entry forms become available each September. To request more information about the contest email dnr.volobog@illinois.gov.

The Friends of Volo Bog is a Not-for-Profit 501(c)(3) membership organization. Visit FriendsofVoloBog.org.

Volo Bog State Natural Area is an Illinois Department of Natural Resources site at 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. For more information on the contest and other programs, contact Site Naturalist Stacy Iwanicki, at (815) 344-1294 or dnr.volobog@illinois.gov or visit dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/park.volobog.html.

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