Nature + Nurture Photo Contest Winners | Friends of the Columbia Gorge

Nature + Nurture

View the winners, honorable mentions, and finalists from Friends' fifth annual photo contest

Detail from December sunrise at Catherine Creek by Cate Hotchkiss, Grand Prize winner of Friends' Nature + Nurture photo contest.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge presents the winners, honorable mentions, and finalists of our fifth annual photo contest.

The Columbia Gorge is a wondrous sight for the eye to behold. It's one of the best nature photography spots in the continental United States, but with this spectacular nature in our region comes the need to responsibly steward and nurture it.

For Friends' fifth annual photo contest, Nature + Nurture, we were looking for photos that not only capture the Columbia Gorge's beauty and natural wonder, but the connection between nature and the cultures and communities that make the Gorge such a vibrant place to visit and live. And you, shutterbugs of the Gorge, delivered a bounty of imagery that will help comfort and sustain us all while the current pandemic forces us off the trails and the scenic viewpoints for the good of our collective health, and the health of the Gorge itself.

Special thanks to photo contest sponsor Pro Photo Supply, and to our judges: Debbie Asakawa, Paloma Ayala, and Vince Ready.

568 entries were received, the most ever for the contest, and our judges had a difficult job picking just a few winners and honorable mentions. Congratulations to the following photographers:

Grand Prize winner: Cate Hotchkiss of Hood River, OR, for her photo December Sunrise at Catherine Creek
Category winners: Hailey Betts (co-winner), Ryan Betts (co-winner), Tara Lemezis, John Eric Lutz, Kristen McAlpine, Matthew Smith, Tula Top (two categories)
Honorable mentions: Tim Archer, Lois Bancroft, Elizabeth Betts, Bill Kirkland, Trevor Leahy, Daniel Rappaport (three mentions), Matthew Smith (two mentions)

Grand Prize Winner, Category Winners and Honorable Mentions Gallery

(Grand Prize Winner) All Categories- Cate Hotchkiss: December Sunrise at Catherine Creek

The Grand Prize winner of Friends' 2019 Nature + Nurture Photo Contest is "December Sunrise at Catherine Creek" by Cate Hotchkiss of Hood River, OR. Cate has lived in Hood River, OR since 2012. "This scene is quintessential Gorge, but the light and mood is unlike anything I’ve seen. The sky is glowing with color, and the 30-second exposure gives it all a softness and calmness that feels otherworldly." -- contest judge Vince Ready, owner-operator, Lasting Light Photography, Hood River

(Co-Winner) Youth Photographer- Hailey Betts: Tree Frog

The Youth Photographer category had two co-winners, including Hailey Betts of Hood River, OR. Hailey's image of a frog was taken in a garden in Hood River a few summers ago. The photo was taken using a Nikon Coolpix S7000 camera. Her favorite outdoor activity in the Gorge is fishing.

(Co-Winner) Youth Photographer- Ryan Betts: Grain Elevator

The Youth Photographer category had two co-winners, including Ryan Betts of Hood River, OR. Ryan's image of a grain elevator was taken near Biggs Junction in December of 2019. The photo was taken using a Nikon D600 camera. His favorite outdoor activities in the Gorge are skiing and mountain biking.

(Category Winner) Wildlife- Tara Lemezis: Northern Pygmy Owl

The Wildlife category winner is Tara Lemezis of Portland, OR. Tara's image of the Northern Pygmy Owl was taken in Oct. 2019 at Sherrard Point on Larch Mtn., using a Nikon D500 camera. Tara followed vocalizations and found this fierce little beauty perched eye-level with her at the top of a fir tree. “I love the simplicity of the composition and visual interest of the tree branches all guiding the viewer’s eye to the owl perched on top.” - contest judge Vince Ready.

(Category Winner) Scenic Eastern Gorge- John Eric Lutz: Clouds over the Dalles Bridge

The Scenic Eastern Gorge category winner is John Eric Lutz, who divides his time between Hood River and Portland, OR. John's image, named "Clouds over The Dalles Bridge," was taken using a Sony DSC-RX 100 M4 camera. Contest judge Debbie Asakawa: "For me, the eastern Gorge is about the landscape in the sky. I love to be out there on cloudy, windy days and this image dramatically conveys all of that, including the whitecaps on the river."

(Category Winner) Nature + Nurture - Kristen McAlpine: Trail Stewards

The Nature + Nurture category winner is Kristen McAlpine of Portland, OR. Kristen's photo shows trail stewards resting on Upper Elowah Falls Trail, taken with an iPhone 5s during a Trail Keepers Oregon event on Sept. 19, 2019. Her photo was inspired by the feeling of community brought about by stewardship events. "Their valuable work is always done behind the scenes for us to enjoy later. There is not sense of self-interest but sacrifice and effort." - contest judge Paloma Ayala.

(Category Winner) Community + Culture- Matthew Smith: Rowena Curves

The Community + Culture category winner is Matthew Smith of Vancouver, WA. When asked about what inspired this photo, Matthew said, "(The highway's designers) pioneered a new era of civil engineering, building roads not just as means of travel but also with an elegance to take travelers through all the natural beauty along the route." Contest judge Debbie Asakawa: "The angle of this shot perfectly conveys how the historic highway follows the curves of the topography in the Gorge."

(Category Winner) Scenic Western Gorge- Tula Top: Black cottonwoods

The Scenic Western Gorge category winner is Tula Top of Portland, OR. Taken from the overlook on Gorge Trail #400 just past Ponytail Falls, with Canon 5D Mark II camera. “A beautiful abstract image that combines elements of color and texture so beautifully. I love the way it suggests a small cluster of trees holding their leaves to fend off winter, while the rest have succumbed to the changing of the season.” - contest judge Vince Ready

(Category Winner) Wildflower- Tula Top: Arrowleaf Balsamroot

The Wildflower category winner is Tula Top of Portland, OR. Titled "Hello, Sunshine," it was taken on the Rowena Plateau, using a Sony a7Rii camera. Tula planned this image for a long time, awaking early to arrive by sunrise to capture it. Contest judge Debbie Asakawa: "Pharrell Williams' song 'Happy' pops into my head at seeing this, and we all need a little bliss right now. I've seen a lot of photos of balsamroot but none have been composed quite like this one."

(Hon. Mention) Wildlife- Tim Archer: Hummingbird

This photo contest honorable mention in the wildlife category comes from Tim Archer of Vancouver, WA. Tim's image was taken at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The image was taken using a Olympus OMD EM1 camera. Tim noted there seems to be a lot of hummingbird activity at Steigerwald, especially early in the morning.

(Hon. Mention) Scenic Eastern Gorge- Lois Bancroft: Sand Dunes

This photo contest honorable mention in the scenic Eastern Gorge category comes from Lois Bancroft. Lois' image was taken in December of 2019. The photo was taken using a Canon EOS 5D Mark III. The image captures a unique perspective of the Gorge that isn't often photographed. The sand dunes were photographed above I-84 East.

(Hon. Mention) Wildlife- Elizabeth Betts: Monarch butterfly

This photo contest honorable mention in the wildlife category comes from Elizabeth Betts of Hood River, OR. Elizabeth's photo of the monarch butterfly was taken in Hood River over the summer. The image was taken using a Nikon D40X camera. She noted that with constantly moving wings, she had to take many butterfly photos to get just a single good one. She said the scenery of the Gorge, which is constantly changing with the seasons, inspires her nature photography and the moments she captures.

(Hon. Mention) Wildlife- Bill Kirkland: Great Blue Heron

This photo contest honorable mention in the wildlife category comes from Bill Kirkland of Portland, OR. Bill's image was taken at Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge in November 2019. The image was taken using a Canon EOS 5D Mark 4 camera. Bill was surprised when the heron landed on the gravel just yards away from him; he knew if he stayed still it would take off and be in close range at eye level. He was intrigued by the rich blue colors of the heron.

(Hon. Mention) Wildflower- Trevor Leahy: Tiger Lillies

This photo contest honorable mention in the wildflower category comes from Trevor Leahy of Bend, OR. It was taken on the Wahkeena to Multnomah Falls Loop in summer of 2019, an area recovering from the Eagle Creek fire. The image was taken using a Pentax K70 camera. Trevor said, "Tiger lilies are beautiful as-is, but to see them growing against a backdrop of such devastation is both sad and hopeful."

(Hon. Mention) Scenic Western Gorge- Daniel Rappaport: Ice Leaf, Ruckel Creek

This photo contest honorable mention in the scenic Western Gorge category comes from Daniel Rappaport of Corbett, OR. Daniel's image was taken at Ruckel Creek in December of 2013. The image was taken using a Canon 5D MkII camera. Daniel says he naturally connects with riparian spots like this and in this moment "[he] was framing the flowing water when the ice covered twig caught [his] eye." He noted that the photo is unedited, other than being converted to black and white.

(Hon. Mention) Scenic Western Gorge- Daniel Rappaport: Wapato, Mirror Pond

This photo contest honorable mention in the scenic Western Gorge category comes from Daniel Rappaport of Corbett, OR. Daniel's image was taken at Mirror Pond, a part of Rooster Rock State Park. The image was taken using a Canon 5D MkII camera. The flowers called wapato inspired Daniel so much that he submerged his tripod two feet deep into the water to take the photo: "When I visited and found wapato blooming, I was in heaven."

(Hon. Mention) Wildflower- Daniel Rappaport: Grass Widows, Catherine Creek

This photo contest honorable mention in the wildflower category comes from Daniel Rappaport of Corbett, OR. Daniel's image was taken at Catherine Creek in March of 2015. The image was taken using a Canon 5D MkII camera. The deep purple flowers pictured are called grass widows. His image is inspired by the beauty of the wildflowers that begin to bloom and mark the beginning of spring.

(Hon. Mention) Community + Culture- Matthew Smith: Milky Way Over the Beehive

This photo contest honorable mention in the community and culture category comes from Matthew Smith of Vancouver, WA. Matthew's image "Milky Way Over the Beehive" was taken at Vista House at Crown Point. Matt shared that he often spends hours researching a subject before he visits. His inspiration behind each of his photos is to create a story. Matt hopes to inspire the audience to connect more deeply with this subject and the rich geological, cultural, and natural history of the Gorge.

(Hon. Mention) Scenic Western Gorge- Matthew Smith: Eagle Creek Burn from Sherrard Point

This photo contest honorable mention in the scenic Western Gorge category comes from Matthew Smith of Vancouver, WA. Matthew's image was taken from Sherrard Point in November 2019. "Stunning composition and tones. The Gorge offers different angles and light potentials year round." - contest judge Paloma Ayala.

Finalists Gallery

Preliminary judging of the Nature + Nurture photo contest was performed by Friends of the Columbia Gorge staff. Of the 568 photos entered in the contest, approximately 75 reached the final round of judging, performed by an outside panel of three seasoned photographers (two professional, one amateur) with experience in conservation advocacy. While the photos below were not selected as winners or honorable mentions, they are distinguished by their finalist status and are eminently worthy of showcase.

Vista House, Rainbow / Tracey Aue / Taken with an Olympus E-M5MarkII /(Scenic Western Gorge)

Cascade Lily (LiiumWashingtonianum) / Lois Bancroft / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III / (Wildflower)

Angels Rest, sunset / Justin Bernal / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Bee on flower / Hailey Betts / Taken with a Canon PowerShot G16 / (Youth Photographer)

Lone Pine Tree Abandoned Village / Ryan Betts / Taken with a Nikon D600 / (Youth Photographer)

Cape Horn, Rainbow / Lydie Boyer / Taken with an iPhone 6s / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Wildflowers at sunrise, Tom McCall Point / Neil Cadsawan / Taken with an iPhone 8 Plus / (Wildflower)

Multnomah Falls, Night time / Patrick Campbell / Taken with a Nikon D850 / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Sherrard Point, Moon rising behind Mt. Hood / Patrick Campbell / Taken with a Nikon D800 / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Angel's Rest, Friends guided sunset hike / Steve Carples / Taken with an iPhone 7 / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Angels Rest, Independence Day Sunrise / Kristi Craven / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Crown Point, Birds taking flight at sunset / Kristi Craven / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge / Brad Cummings / Taken with an Olympus E-410 / (Nature & Nurture)

Old Washougal Piers / Brad Cummings / Taken with a Nikon D7100 / (Community & Culture)

Bald Eagle grasping in flight / Stephen Datnoff / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III / (Wildlife)

Eagle Creek fire burning at 2 AM / Stephen Datnoff / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III / (Nature & Nurture)

White Salmon (Pucker Huddle), Halloween sunset / Stephen Datnoff / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Beacon Rock, Looking West over the Gorge / Natalie Gaston / Taken with an iPhone 6s Plus / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Remnants of the Fire / Mark Hanna / Taken with a Google Pixel XL / (Nature & Nurture)

Catherine Creek, Sunrise / Cate Hotchkiss / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)

Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Sunrise & Fog / Cate Hotchkiss / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Memaloose State Park, Rainbow / Cate Hotchkiss / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)

Deschutes River State Recreation Area, Winter light / Cate Hotchkiss / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)

Mitchell Point, Winter sunrays / Cate Hotchkiss / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)

Rowena Plateau, Balsam root with Mt. Hood / Ann Hubard / Taken with a Sony ILCE-6300 / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)

Wahkeena Creek / Don Jacobson / Taken with a Nikon D300 / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Bald Eagle, Steigerwald Lake / Bill Kirkland / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / (Wildlife)

Northern Harrier, Steigerwald Lake / Bill Kirkland / Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV / (Wildlife)

Northern Harrier, Steigerwald Lake Bill Kirkland Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Wildlife)

Portland Women's Forum, Looking down to Vista House / AJ Meeker / Taken with an Olympus E-M1 / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Chatfield Hill, Eastern Gorge in the springtime / Robert Meyers / Taken with a Nikon D5500 / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)

Chatfield Hill, Balsamroot flowers in full bloom / Robert Meyers / Nikon D5500 / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)

Zen moment / Wasim Muklashy / (Wildflower)

"The Burn Area" / Wasim Muklashy / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Wildflowers at sunset, Tom McCall Preserve / Jesse Ortiz / (Wildflower)

Crown Point, Sunrise / Bill Partin / Taken with a Nikon D5500 / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Memaloose Hills, Beauty of Mt. Hood / Daniel Rappaport / Taken with a Canon EOS 5DS R / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)

Sherrard Point, Mt. St. Helens at Dawn / Daniel Rappaport / Taken with a Canon EOS 5DS R / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Cape Horn, Sunrise / Daniel Rappaport / Taken with a Canon 5D MkII / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Mosier Oregon, Sunset / Cathleen Rehfeld / Taken with a iPhone 8 Plus / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)

Larch Mountain Crater Loop Trail, Late morning fog / Dennis Reichelt / Taken with a Sony DSC-RX100M3 / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Portland Women's Forum, View of the Gorge / Dennis Reichelt / Taken with a Sony DSC-RX100M3 / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Coopey Creek, Color and light in the waterfall / Dennis Reichelt / Taken with a Sony DSC-RX100M3 / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Wahkeena Falls, Nature reborn / Ashley Rhoby / Taken with a iPhone 7 Plus / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Time will heal, Wahclella Falls / Becky Rittel / Taken with a Nikon COOLPIX P100 / (Nature & Nurture)

Tom McCall Point, Dancing in the Wind / Becky Rittel / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)

Ruthton County Park, View from above / Stan Robinson / Taken with a Canon EOS REBEL T3i / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)

Larch Mountain, Summer sunset / Stan Robinson / Taken with a Canon EOS REBEL T3i / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Larch Mountain, August sunset / Stan Robinson / Taken with a Canon EOS REBEL T3i / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Morning light on the old scenic highway / Stan Robinson / Taken with a Canon EOS REBEL T3i / (Community & Culture)

Larch Mountain, Mt. Hood at sunset / Stan Robinson / Taken with a Canon EOS REBEL T3i / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Gateway to Spring, Columbia Hills State Park / Matthew Smith / Taken with a Canon DSLR / (Wildflower)

Dragonfly resting, Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge / Michael Sulis / Taken with a Nikon D7200 / (Wildlife)

Common Yellowthroat collecting insects, Steigerwald: Michael Sulis

Common Yellowthroat collecting insects, Steigerwald Lake NWR / Michael Sulis / Taken with a Nikon D7200 / (Wildlife)

Punch Bowl Falls, Bigleaf Maple Leaf along the water / Tula Top / Taken with a Sony a7Riii / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Cascade Locks, Surviving trees / Tula Top / Taken with a Sony ILCE-7RM2 / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Punch Bowl Falls, Morning Light / Tula Top / Taken with a Sony a7Riii / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Wahclella Falls / Steve Zasadny / (Scenic Western Gorge)

Friends of the Columbia Gorge presents the winners, honorable mentions, and finalists of our fifth annual photo contest.

Grand Prize Winner, Category Winners and Honorable Mentions Gallery

Finalists Gallery

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