12th Annual Photo Contest
Categories: Landmarks, River Towns, Susquehanna Adventures, and Wildlife
Entry period: 2023
Traveling Gallery Locations
2023
October & November – Switchboard Studios & Gallery, Columbia, PA
December – Public Library for Union County, Lewisburg, PA
2024
January – Capitol Building Rotunda, Harrisburg, PA
February – Bald Birds Brewing Company, Jersey Shore, PA
March – Avenue 209 Coffeehouse, Lock Haven, PA
April – Blough-Weis Library, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA
May – The Kind Cafe, Selinsgrove, PA
June & July – Old Forge Brewing Company, Danville, PA
August & September – Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock, PA
Winners
The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership (SGP) is pleased to announce the winners of the 12th Annual Susquehanna Greenway Photo Contest, Treasured Towns and Landscapes of the Susquehanna.
Entries from all across the state poured in during the three-month contest period, which ran from April 2023 to June 2023. Contest categories included Susquehanna Landmarks, Treasured River Towns, Susquehanna Adventures, and Wildlife.
Please note, the following images are displayed in accordance to a limited license awarded to the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership by the photographers. All copyrights to these images are reserved by the noted photographer. Do not duplicate or reproduce these images without the written consent of the given photographer.
1st Place & Grand Prize Winner: Ryan Sotelo
Category: River Towns
Location: Bloomsburg, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “While on my way to attend the Bloomsburg Fair, I noticed the sky was starting to develop intense colors from a recent hurricane. I quickly made my way to the town park and sent up my drone to grab some shots of the storm clouds as they floated over the Susquehanna!”
2nd Place Winner: Kari Hultman
Category: River Towns
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “The city looked so pretty this particular evening, especially with the lights beneath the bridge. I took this photo from City Island with my drone.”
3rd Place Winner: Rita Scholl
Category: River Towns
Location: Sunbury, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “This is a photo of the Sunbury fireworks. There are always a lot of boats on the river with people enjoying the show.”
1st Place Winner: Jimmy Tighe
Category: Susquehanna Adventures
Location: Sunbury, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “Went over to the Fiber Dam in Sunbury Pennsylvania to photograph the sunset. When I saw this couple down on the rocks fishing during the sunset I stopped what I was doing and got a few photos of them fishing as the sun was going down.”
2nd Place Winner: Steph Lord-Wetherington
Category: Susquehanna Adventures
Location: Clearfield, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “My roots run deep on the banks of the Susquehanna River. As a child my father took us to the West Branch each summer. He sparked wonder and curiosity and taught us to deeply respect and appreciate the natural world. My father is no longer with us but that admiration that he sparked in me now overflows to my daughter, his granddaughter. Though he isn’t physically here I believe his legacy lives on in these special moments with us along the banks of the Susquehanna. Just like we shared many years ago. This photo captures a blissful moment with my daughter Cora along the West Branch in Clearfield County, Penn, one of the very same spots my father took me.”
3rd Place Winner: Alex Maleski
Category: Susquehanna Adventures
Location: West Falls, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “This picture was taken on the last day of a three day canoe camping excursion that totaled thirty eight miles. This was our second self guided river weekend and miraculously no one flipped their vessel. Shortly after breakfast our crew of twenty paddlers (nine canoes, two kayaks) all grouped together for a few drone shots and videos. It was a perfect shot of everyone and the low water made a beautiful contrast with the dry river bed. It did however make contact with the bottom of our canoes.”
1st Place Winner: Kerri Batrowny
Category: Landmarks
Location: Bainbridge, PA
Story Behind the Shot:“For years the White Cliffs of Conoy were on my list of local things to see after I saw a friend post a picture of the Cliffs on Instagram. For my husband’s birthday we went to Lancaster, got some good food, and did the short hike to get to the Cliffs. We decided to stay until sunset which meant walking back for a little in the dark but it was worth it!”
2nd Place Winner: Michael Yatsko
Category: Landmarks
Location: Dauphin, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “This photo was taken on a scouting mission to the Lady of the Susquehanna for another photo I have planned. We set out from the Fort Hunter boat launch and paddled upstream to the statue. Luckily we got there right as the sky lit up and I was able to capture this image.”
3rd Place Winner: Dustin Underkoffler
Category: Landmarks
Location: Dauphin, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “There is a tough hike to the top of the mountain above Dauphin. It is well worth the effort to obtain this view. You can see the Statue of Liberty way down below.”
1st Place Winner: Rita Scholl
Category: Wildlife
Location: Selinsgrove, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “While kayaking on the Susquehanna river near Selinsgrove, we stopped at an island to stretch our legs and saw this killdeer along the water’s edge.”
2nd Place Winner: Andrew Hayter
Category: Wildlife
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “Water Snake of unknown type, well camouflaged sticking its tongue out in search of food. Wildwood Park, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania”
3rd Place Winner: Mark Boyd
Category: Wildlife
Location: Conestoga, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “While out hiking, I noticed this beautiful red morph Screech Owl perched on the edge of this hole, catching the warm sun on a cold winters day. I didn’t have my camera, of course, so I went back home grabbed my camera and when I came back he was not perched at the edge of this hole anymore. I was disappointed. I decided to wait him out and eventually he emerged from the hole after sunset during the blue hour giving me this surprised look.”
1st Place Winner: Brian Anderson
Category: People’s Choice
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “As a newer resident, I have not lost my excitement for the trains and train bridges in Harrisburg. Planned by the visibility and the clouds I quickly made my way down to the train bridge by Rt 83 and camped until the sun was peeking through the aches of the train bridge. You can see the ice upriver from the bridge still in the process of breaking up.”
2nd Place Winner: Jimmy Tighe
Category: People’s Choice
Location: Sunbury, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “After we had a little rain storm in the area, I headed down to the Shamokin Dam Marina and got this rainbow over the Susquehanna River and the town of Sunbury Pennsylvania.”
3rd Place Winner: Dustin Underkoffler
Category: People’s Choice
Location: Marietta, PA
Story Behind the Shot: “I love having the Northwest River Trail close to my house. I can jump on my bike and ride for miles. On this day I took a friend to a spot I enjoy in Marietta. Chiques Creek flows into the Susquehanna under an old railroad bridge. When the water is low, this area also has somewhat of a beach to sit and relax.”