Our Gorge Connections
View the winners, honorable mentions, and finalists from Friends' seventh annual photo contest
Detail from Jesenia Robles' photo contest Grand Prize winning image (scroll down to view full photo in gallery)

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

Everyone who loves the Columbia Gorge has their own special ways of feeling connected to this unique natural environment and distinct Gorge communities contained within. Added together, the multitude of our connections forms a web of experience and inspiration resulting in a shared desire to see the Gorge protected for future generations to love.

Our Gorge Connections, Friends' seventh annual photo contest, provided an opportunity for anyone with a camera to showcase their most "connnective" Gorge images.

528 entries were received, and as always our judges had a difficult job selecting just a few winners and honorable mentions. Congratulations to the following photographers:

Special thanks to contest sponsor Pro Photo Supply, and to our judges: Paloma Ayala, Nic Raingsey, Vince Ready, and Sanjana Sachdeva.

  • Grand Prize winner: Jesenia Robles of Hood River, Oregon, for her photo "Hands With Apricots"
  • Category winners: Christopher Baker, Heidi Cardoza, Bill Kirkland, John Pfeil, Christian Platt, Daniel Rappaport, Zach Spidell
  • Camera Phone Sub-Category Winner: Robert Meyers
  • Honorable mentions: Christopher Baker, Joshua Barza, Justin Bernal, Heidi Cardoza, Carolyn Huber, Don Jacobson, Finn Lin, Robert Meyers, Daniel Rappaport, Kyle Rosso, Paul Thomson, Maggie Troxell

Questions about the photo contest? Contact Digital Communications Manager Stan Hall at stan@gorgefriends.org

Grand Prize Winner, Category Winners, and Honorable Mentions Gallery

Grand Prize winner Jesenia Robles - Hands with apricots
GRAND PRIZE WINNER Jesenia Robles (Hood River, Oregon) - "Hands With Apricots" Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 “My dad, Enrique, has always been in agriculture. His family comes from a long line of farmers in Zacatecas, Mexico....to me this picture represents my family history, and a beautiful cultural legacy of caring for the Earth and providing sustenance for generations.” Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7. Community & Culture
Scenic Eastern Gorge winner Christopher Baker Spring at Crawford Oaks
SCENIC EASTERN GORGE CATEGORY WINNER Christopher Baker (Portland) - Spring at Crawford Oaksâ„¢ Camera: Nikon D750 "My wife and I set out for the Crawford Oaks trailhead in early spring 2021 hoping to escape the Portland rain, but that did not happen. (It was) raining, super windy, and bitterly cold....Then the sky opened up a little and mother nature put on a show. We were in awe...witnessing a beautiful moment...it was one of those special, unexpected moments that we will never forget."
Wildlife winner - Heidi Cardoza - Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk in Hood River
WILDLIFE CATEGORY WINNER Heidi Cardoza (Hood River, Oregon) - Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk in Hood River Camera: Nikon D500
Wildflowers winner Bill Kirkland - Bitterroot at Catherine Creek
WILDFLOWERS & OTHER FLORA CATEGORY WINNER Bill Kirkland (Portland) - Bitterroot at Catherine Creek Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Camera phone winner - Robert Meyers - Columbia River view from Memaloose State Park
CAMERA PHONE SPECIAL CATEGORY WINNER Robert Meyers (Hood River, Oregon) - Columbia River view from Memaloose State Park Camera: Apple iPhone 13
Community & Culture winner - John Pfeil Diver into Columbia at sunset
COMMUNITY & CULTURE CATEGORY WINNER John Pfeil (Portland) - Devin Graham (30) dives into the Columbia River one last time for the season while beach-goers begin the long walk back to the parking lot during sunset at Rooster Rock State Park. Crown Point is visible in the distance. Camera: Fuji X-T2
Scenic Western Gorge winner Christian Platt - Sunset over the Columbia River from Hamilton Island near North Bonneville Scenic Western Gorge
SCENIC WESTERN GORGE CATEGORY WINNER Christian Platt (Portland) - Sunset over the Columbia River from Hamilton Island near North Bonneville Camea: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Waterfalls winner Daniel Rappaport unnamed falls Upper McCord Creek
WATERFALLS CATEGORY WINNER Daniel Rappaport (Corbett, Oregon) - Unnamed Falls, Upper McCord Creek Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Youth Photographer winner Zach Spidell age 14 - A foggy day on larch mountain
YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHER CATEGORY WINNER Zach Spidell (age 14, Portland) - A foggy day on Larch Mtn.
Honorable mention - Christopher Baker -
HONORABLE MENTION Christopher Baker (Portland) - "Angels at Play" Camera: Nikon D750 "A Friday morning, pre-work hike at Angel's Rest. One of the first trails that I hiked when I came to Oregon in 1996....It is experiencing a lot of use though....It has become a popular spot for car prowlers as well. I'm not sure what the solution is, but it's disheartening. It offers us so much beauty that should be respected."
Honorable mention - Joshua Barza - Snowy sunset
HONORABLE MENTION Joshua Barza (Husum, Washington) - Snowy sunset, eastern Gorge Camera: Apple iPhone 12 Mini
Honorable mention Justin Bernal Silver Star Mtn
HONORABLE MENTION Justin Bernal (Portland) - Silver Star Mtn. Camera: Sony ILCE-7RM2
Honorable mention - Heidi Cardoza - Cedar waxwing
HONORABLE MENTION Heidi Cardoza (Hood River, Oregon) - Cedar waxwing in Hood River Camera: Nikon D500
Honorable mention Carolyn Huber stormy spring evening on Dog Mtn.
HONORABLE MENTION Carolyn Huber (White Salmon, Washington) - Stormy spring evening on Dog Mtn. Camera: Samsung Galaxy G9
Honorable mention - Don Jacobson - Mosier Plateau from across Columbia
HONORABLE MENTION Don Jacobson (Portland) - Mosier Plateau from across Columbia Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Honorable mention - Finn Lin - Fun(gi) in the Gorge
HONORABLE MENTION Finn Lin (Portland) - Fun(gi) in the Gorge Camera: Nikon D3100
Honorable mention - Robert Meyers - Spring sunset from Memaloose Overlook
HONORABLE MENTION Robert Meyers (Hood River, Oregon) - Spring sunset looking west from the Memaloose Overlook trail near Mosier with lupines in full bloom. Camera: Apple iPhone 11 Pro
Honorable mention - Daniel Rappaport - approach to Ponytail Falls
HONORABLE MENTION Daniel Rappaport (Corbett, Oregon) - Approach to Ponytail Falls
Honorable mention - Kyle Rosso - Horsetail Falls
HONORABLE MENTION Kyle Rosso (Vancouver, Washington) - Horsetail Falls Nikon Z7
Honorable mention - Paul Thomson -
HONORABLE MENTION Paul Thomson (Vancouver, Washington) - "Fish on" Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II "An Osprey flies by showing off its catch. I shot this image from a boat while salmon fishing along Reed Island just west of Rooster Rock."
Honorable mention - Maggie Troxell (age 17 - Starvation Creek Falls
HONORABLE MENTION Maggie Troxell (age 17, Tigard, Oregon) - Starvation Creek Falls Camera: Apple iPhone X

Finalists Gallery

Myrna Anderson / 18 Mile Island
Myrna Anderson - 18 Mile Island Scenic Eastern Gorge
Myrna Anderson - Overlooking Mosier Valley in fall of 2021
Myrna Anderson - Overlooking Mosier Valley in fall of 2021 Scenic Eastern Gorge | Camera Phone
Cathy Avilez / Scenic view near Rowena Crest
Cathy Avilez - Scenic view near Rowena Crest Scenic Eastern Gorge
Judy Bair - Dinnertime
Judy Bair - Dinnertime Wildlife
Justin Bernal / Dalles Mountain Ranch
Justin Bernal, Dalles Mountain Ranch Scenic Eastern Gorge
Lydie Boyer - River, rainbow between Viento St Pk and Hood River
Lydie Boyer - Photo was taken between Viento St Pk and Hood River, and looks across to Cook-Underwood on the Washington side. Scenic Eastern Gorge
Heidi Cardoza - Barred Owl at Mayer State Park
Heidi Cardoza - Barred Owl at Mayer State Park Wildlife
Heidi Cardoza - Barred Owl in Rowena
Heidi Cardoza - Barred Owl in Rowena Wildlife
Heidi Cardoza - Dancing Fox Squirrels
Heidi Cardoza - Dancing Fox Squirrels in Hood River Wildlife
Heidi Cardoza - Violet-green Swallow in Hood River
Heidi Cardoza - Violet-green Swallow in Hood River at the port. Wildlife
Heidi Cardoza - Western Tiger Swallowtail resting on poppies
Heidi Cardoza - Western Tiger Swallowtail resting on poppies in Hood River. Wildlife
Kaitlyn Conrath -
Kaitlyn Conrath - "Something About Sweeney" Wildlife
Meagan Currier / Dalles Mountain Ranch
Meagan Currier - Looking Through at The Dalles Mountain Ranch Scenic Eastern Gorge | Camera Phone
Meagan Currier / The Dalles
Meagan Currier | Open door to history in The Dalles Scenic Eastern Gorge | Camera Phone
Meagan Currier - Gorge Views from Ruthton Park, Hood River
Meagan Currier - Gorge Views from Ruthton Park, Hood River Scenic Eastern Gorge | Camera Phone
Glenn Daman - Sunrise Cape Horn
Glenn Daman - Sunrise at Cape Horn Scenic Western Gorge
Brandi Delfosse - Summer Sunset in the Gorge
Brandi Delfosse - Summer Sunset in the Gorge Scenic Western Gorge
Tim Finnegan - Sunrise in the Gorge
Tim Finnegan - Sunrise in the Gorge: The sun breaks over the Columbia River Gorge from the Portland Women's Forum Scenic Viewpoint. Scenic Western Gorge
David Gorman / Vista House Sunset
David Gorman, Vista House Sunset Community & Culture
Michel Hersen - Wildflowers at Rowena Crest, sunset
Michel Hersen - Wildflowers at Rowena Crest, sunset Wildflowers & Other Flora
Lynda Herskovits - Panoramic , Oregon's Cliffs Along the Columbia River
Lynda Herskovits - Panoramic landscape of the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge. Scenic Eastern Gorge
Ann Hubard - Tiger lily along Wahkeena Falls Loop
Ann Hubard - Tiger lily along Wahkeena Falls Loop Wildflowers & Other Flora
Ann Hubard Wildflower on the Cape Horn Trail
Ann Hubard Wildflower on the Cape Horn Trail Wildflowers & Other Flora
Don Jacobson - Bigleaf Maple
Don Jacobson - Bigleaf Maple Wildflowers
Don Jacobson - Fairy Falls
Don Jacobson - Fairy Falls Waterfalls
Don Jacobson / From Mosier Plateau
Don Jacobson - From the Mosier Plateau Trail Scenic Eastern Gorge
Don Jacobson - Wahkeena Creek
Don Jacobson - Wahkeena Creek Scenic Western Gorge
Jarid Johnson - Fairy Falls
Jarid Johnson - Fairy Falls Waterfalls
Robert Launder - Hardy Creek
Robert Launder - Hardy Creek Scenic Western Gorge
John Leamy / Autumn View from Rowena
John Leamy / Autumn View From Rowena/Eastern Gorge/Iphone12 Scenic Eastern Gorge | Camera Phone
Sarah Manning - Weisendanger Falls
Sarah Manning - Weisendanger Falls Waterfalls / Camera Phone
Robert Meyers - Columbia River backwater reflection in Autumn at Rooster Rock State Park
Robert Meyers - Columbia River backwater reflection in Autumn at Rooster Rock State Park. Scenic Western Gorge | Camera Phone
Michelle Nutt - Falls Creek
Michelle Nutt - Falls Creek Scenic Western Gorge
Doug Owen - Women's Forum Sunrise
Doug Owen - Portland Women's Forum Viewpoint Sunrise Scenic Western Gorge
Doug Owen - Women's Forum Sunrise #2
Doug Owen - Portland Women's Forum Viewpoint Sunrise #2 Scenic Western Gorge
Daniel Rappaport - Dutchman Falls
Daniel Rappaport - Dutchman Falls Waterfalls
Daniel Rappaport - Fairy Falls and Monkeyflowers
Daniel Rappaport - Fairy Falls and Monkeyflowers Waterfalls
Daniel Rappaport - Upper McCord Creek
Daniel Rappaport - Upper McCord Creek Scenic Western Gorge
Daniel Rappaport - Upper Oneonta Creek, Fall Vine Maple
Daniel Rappaport - Upper Oneonta Creek, Fall Vine Maple Scenic Western Gorge
Jeff Risher - Sunrise over Balsamroot Field near Rowena Crest in the Spring.
Jeff Risher - Spring sunrise over balsamroot field near Rowena Crest in the Spring. Wildflowers
Kyle Rosso - Latourell Falls
Kyle Rosso - Latourell Falls Waterfalls
Kyle Rosso - Vista House
Kyle Rosso - Vista House at Sunrise Community & Culture
Jessica Stinson - Overlooking Gorge From Dalles Mountain Ranch
Jessica Stinson - Overlooking the Columbia Gorge from Dalles Mountain Ranch Scenic Eastern Gorge | Camera Phone
Paul Thomson / Escaping the Inversion
Paul Thomson - Escaping the Inversion "The sun breaking through the heavy cloud cover during one of the gorges weather inversion events when the cold air gets trapped at ground level." Scenic Eastern Gorge