DNR Announces 2009 Magazine Photo Contest Winners

Burtonsville Woman Wins Top Prize out of 1,500 Photos

Annapolis, Md. (October 13, 2009) - The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Maryland Natural Resource Magazine Photo Contest. More than 300 photographers entered nearly 1,500 photographs this year. My Phuong Nguyen of Burtonsville took overall top honors with her photograph, “Egret Dancing.” Nguyen also took first place in the Wild Plants and Birds categories.

“We are very happy with the volume and quality of this year’s submissions,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “The photographers did an amazing job capturing the natural beauty of the state.”

There were five additional first place winners, including Steven Dembo of Pikesville in the State Parks category; Karen L. Messick of Baltimore in the Mountains to the Bay category; David Gigliotti of Bel Air in the Insect category; and Natalie K. Overholt of Westover in the Wildlife category.

Second place winners included Harold Decker of Berlin, Charles Durfor of Rockville, Karen L Messic of Baltimore, Chuck Prahl of Cambridge, Scott T. Lintz of Sparks and John Gambrield of Bowie.

The winning photos will appear in the winter issue of the Maryland Natural Resource Magazine, as well as the 2009 DNR calendar. The Maryland Natural Resource magazine is published quarterly by DNR. Subscriptions are available at www.dnr.maryland.gov/naturalresource/.

Full list of winners:

Grand Prize Winner
My Phuong Nguyen, Burtonsville

BIRDS
First place: My Phuong Nguyen • Burtonsville • "Egret Dancing"
Second Place: Harold Decker • Berlin • "Pheasant Under Grass"
Honorable Mention: G. Thomas Bancroft • Silver Springs • "Cedar Waxwing"
Honorable Mention: Larry Hitchens • Easton • "Can You Hear Me Now"

STATE PARKS

First Place: Steven Dembo • Pikesville • "Fisherman in Red Shirt"
Second Place: Charles Durfor • Rockville • "Taking the Horseshoe at Great Falls"
Honorable Mention: Jeannette Hunt • Cumberland • "Half Frozen Muddy Creek"
Honorable Mention: David Mosner • Baltimore • "Sunday Morning"

WILD PLANTS

First Place: My Phuong Nguyen • Burtonsville • "Water Dripping on Bleeding Heart"
Second Place: Karen L. Messic • Baltimore • "Trillium"
Honorable Mention: Nancy A. Frost • Cumberland • "Stages of Development"
Honorable Mention: Linda Roy Walls • Galestown, MD • "Buzz On"

MOUNTAINS TO THE BAY

First Place: Karen L. Messick • Baltimore • "Governor’s Cup Setting Sail"
Second Place: Chuck Prahl • Cambridge • "The Choptank"
Honorable Mention: Sherrie Lynne Fornoff • Baltimore • "Kilgore Falls"
Honorable Mention: Todd Santmyer • Manchester • "Iced Over"

INSECTS

First Place: David Gigliotti • Bel Air • "Twelve Spot"
Second Place: Scott T. Lintz • Sparks • "Leap of Faith"
Honorable Mention: Sabine Dickens • Montgomert Village • "Butterfly on Orange Flower"
Honorable Mention: Daniel Harrison • Takoma Park • "Brookside Gardens"

WILDLIFE

1st Place: Natalie K. Overholt • Westover • "Wash Before Dinner"
2nd Place: John Gambriel • Bowie • "Granddad & Me"
Honorable Mention: Beverly Wyckoff Jackson • California • "Jelly Fish"
Honorable Mention: Larry Hitchens • Easton • "A Stroll Along the Shoreline"

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 461,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov