Bishopville Man Wins Top Prize In DNR 2011 Photo Contest

Competition Included More Than 300 Photographers

Annapolis, Md. (September 15, 2011) — Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary John Griffin today announced the winners of the 8th Annual Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest. More than 300 photographers entered approximately 1,000 photographs this year. Allen Sklar, age 60, of Bishopville, Md. took overall top honors with his bird photograph, ‘Fast’ Food Pick-up, of a bald eagle swooping down onto Assateague Beach shoreline.

“With an overwhelming amount of entries and so many amazing photographs, this was the best -and hardest to judge -photo contest we’ve had. The participants did such a wonderful job of capturing the beauty and diversity of our State,” said DNR Secretary John Griffin. “I would like to congratulate the winners of the contest and say thank you to all of the photographers who shared their work with us.”

The five additional first place winners in each category were Dennis Garcia of Riva (Bullfrog) in the Wildlife category; John Bildahl of Annapolis (Great Schooner Race) in the Scenic category; Arden Haley of Easton (Pond Flower) in the Flora category; Lori R. Bramble of Cambridge (The Critter) in the Insects category; and Kent Carlson of Middletown (Late afternoon Over the Marsh) in the People Enjoying State Parks category.

Second place winners were Jim Bowser of Baltimore; Linda Henselman of St. Michaels; Ronald C. Lutz of Hagerstown; Arden Haley of Easton; Cindy Ellis of Piney Point; and David Ennis of Ellicott City.

“No way! This is awesome!” said Grand Prize winner Allen Sklar. “Getting the shot was a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was really cool. I had just got done fishing at the beach when I saw an eagle sitting on a sand dune, which is extremely unusual. I looked around because I knew something was going on and I saw a fisherman dumping bait onto the beach. The eagle then lifted up his wings and flew right by me!”

Sklar will receive the grand prize of $500, a 2012 Maryland State Park Passport, a lifetime subscription to the Maryland Natural Resource magazine and five copies of the 2012 DNR Calendar, which will feature the winning photo on the cover.

First place winners in each category will receive a Maryland State Park Passport, a two-year subscription to the Maryland Natural Resource magazine and two copies of the 2012 DNR Calendar. Second place winners will receive a one-year subscription to the magazine and a calendar.

The winning photos will appear in the winter issue of The Maryland Natural Resource Magazine, as well as the 2012 DNR calendar. The Maryland Natural Resource magazine is published quarterly by DNR. Subscriptions are available at dnr.maryland.gov/naturalresource/.

Full list of winners:

• Grand Prize Winner
  Allen Sklar, Bishopville, ‘Fast’ Food Pick-up

• Wildlife
  First Place: Dennis Garcia, Riva, Bullfrog
  Second Place: Jim Bowser, Baltimore, Berry-Good
  Honorable Mention: Laura Elizabeth Gizinski, Fallston, Sssalutations
  Honorable Mention: Kent Carlson, Middletown, Mating American Toads
  

• Scenic
  First Place: John Bildahl, Annapolis, Great Schooner Race
  Second Place: Linda Henselman, St. Michaels, Kennedyville House on Valentine’s Day 2010
  Honorable Mention: John Bildahl, Annapolis, Swan Cove/ Mill Creek
  Honorable Mention: Eugene ‘Inky’ Byers, York, Pa., Waterman
  

• Birds
  First Place: Allen Sklar, Bishopville, ‘Fast’ Food Pick-up
  Second Place: Ronald C. Lutz, Hagerstown, Red-Bellied Woodpecker
  Honorable Mention: Harold Decker, Berlin, Owlets on a Roof
  Honorable Mention: Dick Blystone, Elkton, Tufted Titmouse
  

• Flora
  First Place: Arden Haley, Easton, Pond Flower
  Second Place: Arden Haley, Easton, Cherry Blossom
  Honorable Mention: John Bildahl, Annapolis, Bleeding Hearts with Alien Hand
  Honorable Mention: Lori R. Bramble, Cambridge, Waiting for Autumn
  

• Insects
  First Place: Lori R. Bramble, Cambridge, The Critter
  Second Place: Cindy Ellis, Piney Point, Mother of Many
  Honorable Mention: Sarah Blystone, Elkton, Drinking Butterfly
  Honorable Mention: Stephen Talabac, Clarksville, Wasp Peeking Around Fall Foliage
  

• People Enjoying State Parks
  First Place: Kent Carlson, Middletown, Late afternoon Over the Marsh, Janes Island State Park
  Second Place: David Ennis, Ellicott City, Kayak, Patapsco Valley State Park
  Honorable Mention: James Stimpert, Baltimore, Fishing on the Gunpowder, Gunpowder Falls State Park
  Honorable Mention: Kim Zimmerman, Ocean City, Surfer Haze, Assateague State Park
  

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly a half-million 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 11 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