Pennsylvania Pollinator Photo Challenge

Pennsylvania Pollinator Photo Challenge

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bee pollinating a yellow flower

Recognizing the value pollinators provide to humans and our ecosystem, Penguin Court, a Preserve of the Brandywine Conservancy, and the Westmoreland Pollinator Partners, a consortium of over two dozen gardens in Westmoreland County, were pleased to host the third annual Pennsylvania Pollinator Photo Challenge in 2023.

Images had to include a pollinator found and photographed in Pennsylvania, such as bees, beetles, butterflies, flies, hummingbirds, moths, or wasps. New this year, an additional contest category was dedicated to monarch butterflies in all their life stages. With categories for both adults and youth, nearly 250 submissions were received this year. 

Winners from the 2023 photo challenge can be found below! 


Winners — Adult Category

First Place:
Phyllis Terchanik​ (Johnstown, PA​)

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Up close photo of bee pollinating flower. Photo by Phyllis Terchanik​.
Photo by Phyllis Terchanik​.

Second Place:
Eric Johnston​ (Chadds Ford, PA​)

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Butterfly with wings outstretched above greenery. Photo by Eric Johnston​
Photo by Eric Johnston​.

Third Place:
Michael Drazdzinski​ (Pittsburgh, PA​)

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Bee flying towards a yellow sunflower. Photo by Michael Drazdzinski​.
Photo by Michael Drazdzinski​.

*NEW* Monarch Category — First Place:
Pamela Curtin​ (Latrobe, PA​)

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Monarch Butterfly sitting a top a sea of maroon flowers. Photo by Pamela Curtin​.
Photo by Pamela Curtin​.

Winners — Youth Category

First Place:
Mekenzie Millward​ (Seven Valleys, PA​)

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Insect pollinating a flower. Photo by Mekenzie Millward​.
Photo by Mekenzie Millward​.

Second Place:
Michael Schildkamp​ (South Park, PA​)

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Bee pollinating a flower. Photo by Michael Schildkamp​.
Photo by Michael Schildkamp​.

Third Place:
Joshua M.​ (Murrysville, PA​)

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Monarch butterfly nectaring on a purple flower. Photo by Joshua M.​
Photo by Joshua M.​

*NEW* Monarch Category — First Place:
Mekenzie Millward​ (Seven Valleys, PA​)

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Monarch caterpillar on a leaf. Photo by Mekenzie Millward​.
Photo by Mekenzie Millward​.

Judging Criteria

All photos will be judged based on the contest theme: Pennsylvania Pollinators and will include Relevancy, Originality, Impact, and Photo Quality. Each criterion has a maximum score of 25 points. The maximum score for any photo is 100 points. The three photos receiving the highest scores in each category—Adult and Youth—will place, while the photograph with the highest score in the Monarch class will place.

  • Relevancy (25 points): Rank the photo’s relevancy to the contest theme
  • Originality (25 points): Rank the photo’s originality and creativity
  • Impact (25 points): Rank the photo’s emotional impact
  • Photo Quality (25 points): Rank the photo’s quality for clarity, focus and technical details

Prizes

Adults

  • 1st Place = $50 cash; free admission for up to 4 people to Longwood Gardens and a discount on membership (Value $100); and 9 native plants in 4-inch pots from Penguin Court (Value $54)
  • 2nd Place = $30 cash; free admission for up to 4 people to Longwood Gardens and a discount on membership (Value $100); and 6 native plants in 4-inch pots from Penguin Court (Value $36)
  • 3rd Place = $20 cash; free admission for up to 4 people to Longwood Gardens and a discount on membership (Value $100); and 3 native plants in 4-inch pots from Penguin Court (Value $18)

Youth

  • 1st Place = Nature’s Best Hope Young Readers’ Edition (Value $9), $30 Dairy Queen gift card and 7 native plants in 3.25-inch pots from Penguin Court (Value $42)
  • 2nd Place = Nature’s Best Hope Young Readers’ Edition (Value $9), $20 Dairy Queen gift card and 3 native plants in 3.25-inch pots from Penguin Court (Value $18)
  • 3rd Place = Nature’s Best Hope Young Readers’ Edition (Value $9), $10 Dairy Queen gift card and 1 native plant in 3.25-inch pot from Penguin Court (Value $6)

Monarch Class

  • 1st Place (Adult) = Monarch eclosure print by Sneaky Burrito (Value $20) and 3 native plants in 3.25-inch pots from Penguin Court (Value $18)
  • 1st Place (Youth) = Monarch pupation print by Sneaky Burrito (Value $20) and 3 native plants in 3.25-inch pots from Penguin Court (Value $18)
     

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