Picturing Protection
View the winners, honorable mentions, and finalists from Friends' sixth annual photo contest
Detail from Down The Middle - Dry Creek Falls by Dan Hawk, photo contest Grand Prize winner (scroll down to view full photo in gallery).

Friends of the Columbia Gorge Presents the Winners, Honorable Mentions, and Finalists of Our Sixth Annual Photo Contest

The upcoming 35th anniversary of the enactment of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act presented photographers an opportunity to capture what decades of Gorge protection look like.

For Friends of the Columbia Gorge's sixth annual photo contest, Picturing Protection, shutterbugs were offered the opportunity to capture a bounty of visual delights—astonishing landscapes, vibrant communities, diverse flora and fauna, and more—that decades of conservation efforts in the Gorge have made possible.

Special thanks to contest sponsor Pro Photo Supply, and to our judges: Paloma Ayala, Beth Nakamura, and Vince Ready.

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

  • Grand Prize winner: Dan Hawk of Portland, Oregon, for his photo "Down the Middle (Dry Creek Falls)"
  • Category winners: Dan Hawk, Pratyush Jaiswal, Bill Kirkland, Laura Payne, Karen Reeves, Jan Sonnenmair, Aidan Sweet
  • Honorable mentions: Mark Brunsman, Bill Kirkland, Regis Krug, Robert Meyers, Sharon Philpott, Daniel Rappaport, Linda Steider, Rachel Witmer

Grand Prize Winner, Category Winners and Honorable Mentions Gallery

Down the Middle, Dry Creek Falls / Dan Hawk / (Grand Prize Winner) (Scenic Western Gorge)
Down the Middle, Dry Creek Falls / Dan Hawk / Taken with: Sony ILCE-7RM3 (Grand Prize Winner) (Scenic Western Gorge)
Fishing at Cascade Station / Jan Sonnenmair / (Gorge Community Life - Category Winner)
Fishing at Cascade Station / Jan Sonnenmair / (Gorge Community Life - Category Winner)
Fishing platform and Bridge of the Gods / Dan Hawk / (Human Works - Category Winner)
Fishing platform and Bridge of the Gods / Dan Hawk / Taken with: Sony ILCE-7RM4 / (Human Works - Category Winner)
The day after Christmas at Rock Creek, Mosier, Oregon / Laura Payne / (Scenic Eastern Gorge - Category Winner)
The day after Christmas at Rock Creek, Mosier, Oregon / Laura Payne / Taken with: Fuji X10 / (Scenic Eastern Gorge - Category Winner)
Starvation Creek in fall / Karen Reeves / (Scenic Western Gorge - Category Winner)
Starvation Creek in fall / Karen Reeves / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark III (Scenic Western Gorge - Category Winner)
Look underneath / Pratyush Jaiswal / (Wildflowers and other flora - Category Winner)
Look underneath / Pratyush Jaiswal / (Wildflowers and other flora - Category Winner)
Female northern harrier hunting at sunset, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge / Bill Kirkland / (Wildlife - Category Winner)
Female northern harrier hunting at sunset, Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge / Bill Kirkland / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Wildlife - Category Winner)
Vista House Starview / Aidan Sweet / (Youth Photographer - Category Winner)
Vista House Starview / Aidan Sweet / (Youth Photographer - Category Winner)
Evening, Dalles Mountain / Mark Brunsman / (Scenic Eastern Gorge - Honorable Mention)
Evening, Dalles Mountain / Mark Brunsman / (Scenic Eastern Gorge - Honorable Mention)
Great Blue Heron catching Garter Snake, Columbia River / Bill Kirkland / (Wildlife - Honorable Mention)
Great Blue Heron catching Garter Snake, Columbia River / Bill Kirkland / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Wildlife - Honorable Mention)
Morning Glory Sunrise from Rowena / Regis Krug / (Scenic Eastern Gorge - Honorable Mention)
Morning Glory Sunrise from Rowena / Regis Krug / Taken with: iPhone 7 Plus (Scenic Eastern Gorge - Honorable Mention)
Balsamroot and Memaloose sunset / Robert Myers / (Wildflowers and other flora - Honorable Mention)
Balsamroot and Memaloose sunset / Robert Myers / Taken with: iPhone 11 Pro (Wildflowers and other flora - Honorable Mention)
Balsamroot and lupine at sunrise, Rowena Crest / Sharon Philpott / (Wildflowers and Other Flora - Honorable Mention)
Balsamroot and lupine at sunrise, Rowena Crest / Sharon Philpott / Taken with: Sony ILCE-7RM3 / (Wildflowers and Other Flora - Honorable Mention)
Wahclella Falls in winter / Daniel Rappaport / (Scenic Western Gorge - Honorable Mention)
Wahclella Falls in winter / Daniel Rappaport / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D (Scenic Western Gorge - Honorable Mention)
Painted Lady Resting on Rock / Linda Steider / (Wildlife - Honorable Mention)
Painted Lady Resting on Rock / Linda Steider / Taken with: NIKON D500 (Wildlife - Honorable Mention)
Pika singing to its neighbors, Wyeth trail / Linda Steider / (Wildlife - Honorable Mention)
Pika singing to its neighbors, Wyeth trail / Linda Steider / Taken with: NIKON D500 (Wildlife - Honorable Mention)
Dog Mountain in November / Rachel Witmer / (Scenic Western Gorge - Honorable Mention)
Dog Mountain in November / Rachel Witmer / Taken with: iPhone 6s (Scenic Western Gorge - Honorable Mention)

Finalists Gallery

Cape Horn Lookout / Christopher Baker / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Cape Horn Lookout / Christopher Baker / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Starry night in the Locks / Justin Bernal / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Starry night in the Locks / Justin Bernal / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Gorge Community Life / Justin Bernal / (Human Works)
Gorge Community Life / Justin Bernal / Taken with: Sony ILCE-7RM2 (Human Works)
Silver star looking over the Gorge / Justin Bernal / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Silver star looking over the Gorge / Justin Bernal / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Cattails / Hailey Betts / (Youth Photographer)
Cattails / Hailey Betts / Taken with: NIKON D600 (Youth Photographer)
Old Orchard Equipment / Hailey Betts / (Youth Photographer)
Old Orchard Equipment / Hailey Betts / Taken with: Nikon NIKON D600 (Youth Photographer)
Walk through Deschutes River State Recreation / Michael Campbell / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Walk through Deschutes River State Recreation / Michael Campbell / Taken with: iPhone 11 (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Winter Rowena Cyclist / Drew Coleman / (Human Works)
Winter Rowena Cyclist / Drew Coleman / (Human Works)
Mountains and clouds / Lisa Ensele / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Mountains and clouds / Lisa Ensele / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Columbia Hills State Park view/ Gary Gilardi / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Columbia Hills State Park view/ Gary Gilardi / Taken with: NIKON D810/ (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Autumn along the Pocket Park Trail / Gary Gilardi / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Autumn along the Pocket Park Trail / Gary Gilardi / Taken with: NIKON D7500 (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Horesthief Lake viewed from Columbia Hills / Paul Halliday / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Horesthief Lake viewed from Columbia Hills / Paul Halliday / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Tunnel Trail, Summer 2020 / Marcy Jacobs / (Gorge Community Life)
Tunnel Trail, Summer 2020 / Marcy Jacobs / Taken with: iPhone 11 Pro (Gorge Community Life)
Labyrinth, Oaks, and Columbia River / Don Jacobson / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Labyrinth, Oaks, and Columbia River / Don Jacobson / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Fungus On Fungus / Don Jacobson / (Wildflowers and other flora)
Fungus On Fungus / Don Jacobson / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Wildflowers and other flora)
Harvest Brodiaea, Brodiaea coronaria / Don Jacobson / (Wildflowers and other flora)
Harvest Brodiaea, Brodiaea coronaria / Don Jacobson / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Wildflowers and other flora)
Howell's Bordiaea, Triteleia grandiflora / Don Jacobson / (Wildflowers and other flora)
Howell's Bordiaea, Triteleia grandiflora / Don Jacobson / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Wildflowers and other flora)
Sunrise Sorbet / Cody Keto / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Sunrise Sorbet / Cody Keto / Taken with: Sony ILCE-7RM2 / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Female Northern Harrier / Bill Kirkland / (Wildlife)
Female Northern Harrier / Bill Kirkland / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Wildlife)
Male Northern Harrier hunting / Bill Kirkland / (Wildlife)
Male Northern Harrier hunting / Bill Kirkland / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Wildlife)
Great Blue Heron with feathers imitating the adjacent grasses / Bill Kirkland / (Wildlife)
Great Blue Heron with feathers imitating the adjacent grasses / Bill Kirkland / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Wildlife)
River Otter relaxing in the Klickitat River near Lyle, WA / Bill Kirkland / (Wildlife)
River Otter relaxing in the Klickitat River near Lyle, WA / Bill Kirkland / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Wildlife)
Multilayered cliffs with trees and light, taken from Catherine Creek hike / Becky Kuperstein / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Multilayered cliffs with trees and light, taken from Catherine Creek hike / Becky Kuperstein / Taken with: Panasonic DMC-GX85 (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Sunset Glow at Vista House / Becky Kuperstein / (Human Works)
Sunset Glow at Vista House / Becky Kuperstein / Taken with: Panasonic DMC-GX85 (Human Works)
Bee flying toward a glacier lily / Becky Kuperstein / (Wildflowers and other flora)
Bee flying toward a glacier lily / Becky Kuperstein / Taken with: Panasonic DMC-GX85 / (Wildflowers and other flora)
The End of the Rainbow / Patricia March / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
The End of the Rainbow / Patricia March / Taken with: iPhone 8 / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Coyote Wall Recreation Area, east of Bingen, WA / Robert Meyers / (Wildlife)
Coyote Wall Recreation Area, east of Bingen, WA / Robert Meyers / Taken with: NIKON D5500 / (Wildlife)
Abundant Balsamroot and Lupine glowing on Chatfield Hill / Robert Meyers / (Wildflowers and other flora)
Abundant Balsamroot and Lupine glowing on Chatfield Hill / Robert Meyers / Taken with: NIKON D5500 / (Wildflowers and other flora)
Looking west down the Columbia River Gorge from Mosier, Oregon / Robert Meyers / (Wildflowers and other flora)
Looking west down the Columbia River Gorge from Mosier, Oregon / Robert Meyers / Taken with: iPhone 11 Pro (Wildflowers and other flora)
Looking west from Ruthton Park / Robert Meyers / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Looking west from Ruthton Park / Robert Meyers / Taken with: iPhone 11 Pro (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Wahkeena Falls / Gary Quay / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Wahkeena Falls / Gary Quay / Taken with: Hasselblad 500CM (Scenic Western Gorge)
Latourell Falls / Gary Quay / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Latourell Falls / Gary Quay / Taken with: NIKON D810 (Scenic Western Gorge)
Early Morning Light, Cape Horn / Daniel Rappaport / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Early Morning Light, Cape Horn / Daniel Rappaport / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Weisndanger Falls / Daniel Rappaport / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Weisndanger Falls / Daniel Rappaport / Taken with: Canon EOS 5DS R / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Sunrise in the Gorge / Eric Schoenbeck / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Sunrise in the Gorge / Eric Schoenbeck / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Pika Eating Snack Behind Rock / Linda Steider / (Wildlife)
Pika Eating Snack Behind Rock / Linda Steider / Taken with: NIKON D500 (Wildlife)
Bald Eagle coming in for a landing near Lyle / Linda Steider / (Wildlife)
Bald Eagle coming in for a landing near Lyle / Linda Steider / Taken with: NIKON D500 / (Wildlife)
Pika Emerging from Rock Tunnel / Linda Steider / (Wildlife)
Pika Emerging from Rock Tunnel / Linda Steider / Taken with: NIKON D500 (Wildlife)
Follow the Light / Joel Thompson / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Follow the Light / Joel Thompson / Taken with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Sunrise from Carson Ridge / Chris Van Ness / (Scenic Western Gorge)
Sunrise from Carson Ridge / Chris Van Ness / Taken with: Canon EOS 80D (Scenic Western Gorge)
Cascade Locks Stern Wheeler / Chris Van Ness / (Gorge Community Life)
Cascade Locks Stern Wheeler / Chris Van Ness / Taken with: Canon EOS 80D / (Gorge Community Life)
Sunset Bliss / Kelsey Waldo / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Sunset Bliss / Kelsey Waldo / (Scenic Eastern Gorge)
Mariposa Lily / Steven Woolpert / (Wildflowers and other fauna)
Mariposa Lily / Steven Woolpert / Taken with: iPhone 8 (Wildflowers and other fauna)
Eye of the Tiger Wildflowers / Steven Woolpert / (Wildflowers and other flora)
Eye of the Tiger Wildflowers / Steven Woolpert / Taken with: iPhone 8 / (Wildflowers and other flora)
Autumn's Glory (Sumac) / Steven Woolpert / (Wildflowers and other flora)
Autumn's Glory (Sumac) / Steven Woolpert / Taken with: iPhone 8 (Wildflowers and other flora)