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2023 Photo Contest Results

Winners of the annual 2023 Friends of Black Bayou photo contest have been named! Congratulations to each and every photographer who entered the contest.
Best of Show - Patches by Jeff Perot 2023 Friends of Black Bayou Lake NWR Photo Contest 2023
2023 Best of Show Winning Photo "Patches" by Jeff Perot

 Best of Show:  Charlie Heck Memorial Best of Show
 
“Patches” by photographer Jeff Perot
​

All photos in the contest were taken at the North Louisiana Refuges Complex, which includes
  • Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge,
  • D’Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge,
  • Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge,
  • Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge, and
  • Handy Brake National Wildlife Refuge.
Amateur Division
Wildlife:
1st place—“Hunting Season” by Cyndy Hardaker; 2nd place—“Smiling on the Bayou” by Daniel Spillers; 3rd place—“Tree Frog” by Amanda Walker;
​Honorable Mention—“Breakfast in Bed” by Janet Knott and “Sneak Peek” by Ani Girey
Birds:
1st place—“Sharing Is Caring” by David Hester; 2nd place—“Barred Owl” by Cyndy Hardaker; 3rd place—“Tiny Bite for Breakfast" by Sharon Dear;
--Hidden” by Sharon Dear; Honorable Mention—“Breakfast in the Bayou” by David Hester.
Scenic:
1st place—“Deadwood in the Bayou” by Janet Knott; 2nd place —“We’ve Got to Get Ourselves Back to the Garden” by Alison L. Tugwell; 3rdplace—“Standing Solo” by Ani Girey; Honorable Mention—“A Moment of Reflection” by Anne Carpenter.
People on the Refuge:
1st place—“Reflections” by Holly Honeycutt; Honorable Mention—“Sweet Sunset” by Holly Honeycutt and “Look at the Lilypads” by Ani Girey.
Micro/Macro:
Honorable Mention—“Butterfly Delight” by David Hester and “Bayou Xmas Ornament” by Ani Girey.
Plants:
1st place—“The Flower Wrapped in Dreams and Pieces” by Alison L. Tugwell; 2ndplace—“Dew on Waterlily” by Amanda Walker; 3rd place—“Home Is Where the Honey Is” by Ani Girey;
Honorable Mention—“Fungus Gills” by Amanda Walker.
​Youth Division
Wildlife:
1st place—“Catching a Ride” by Lexi Harper; 2nd place—“Up Top” by Evan Harper; 3rd place—“Get a Grip” by Grayhm Skelton; Honorable Mention—“Back Off” by Lexi Harper.
Birds:
1st place—“Got You!” by Lexi Harper;
2nd place—“Blue Blood” by Grayhm Skelton; 3rd place—“Too Hot to Handle” by Evan Harper;
Honorable Mention—“Help! My Lunch Is Stuck!” by Lexi Harper; Honorable Mention “Touchdown” by Grayhm Skelton
Scenic:
1st place—“We Made It!” by Lexi Harper; 2nd place—“Tip Top” by Evan Harper; Honorable Mention—“Peaceful” by Lexi Harper.
People on the Refuge:
1st place—“Heeey!” by Evan Harper; 2nd place—“Sometimes You Need a Different View” by Lexi Harper; 3rd place—“Saturday Stroll” by Natalie Atkins.
Micro/Macro:
1st place—“Yikes!” by Evan Harper; 2nd place—“You Can’t Get Me!” by Lexi Harper; Honorable Mention—“Intriguing” by Lexi Harper and “Purple Beauty” by Evan Harper.
Plants:
1st place—“Purple Beauty!” by Lexi Harper; 2nd place—“Beautiful” by Evan Harper; Honorable Mention—“Swamp Beauty” by Evan Harper and “Sun Kissed!” by Lexi Harper.
Professional Division
Wildlife:
1st place--“Pigpen” by Kathy Dage; 2nd place--“Smile for the Camera” by Monica Boudreaux; 3rd place—“Napping Giant” by Jeff Perot; Honorable Mention—“Peek-a-Boo” by Monica Boudreaux.
Birds:
1st place—“Black Bayou Ballet” by June Salomon; 2ndplace—“The Colors of the Rainbow” by Monica Boudreaux; Honorable Mention—“Fall Hunting Season” by Monica Boudreaux and “Against the Wind” by Kathy Dage.
Scenic:
1st place—“Morning Peace” by Monica Boudreaux; 2nd place—“Alone” by Aaron Godair; 3rd place—“Sunrise with an Alligator” by June Salomon; Honorable Mention—“Perfect Beginning” by Jeff Perot.
People on the Refuge:
Honorable Mention—“Guardian of the Refuge” by Monica Boudreaux.
Micro/Macro:
1st place—“Snoozzzzzze” by Aaron Godair; 2nd place—“Good to the Last Drop” by Kathy Dage.
Plants:
1st place—“Top Hat and Tails” by Kathy Dage; 2nd place—“Company of Liatris” by Monica Boudreaux; Honorable Mention—“They Call Me Mellow Yellow” by Kathy Dage and “Morning Flare” by Monica Boudreaux.

PLEASE LET US KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION INCORRECT. Our volunteers have made all efforts to attribute each photo properly, and get all the names and titles correct.  BUT we are humans, and if we missed something or made an error, we want to know. Please email any corrections to friendsofblackbayou@gmail.com and let us know what needs correction. It will be helpful to have the words "PHOTO CREDIT CORRECTION" in all caps in the subject line of your email. THANKS for helping us get it right! 
 
FoBB board member Leslie Calhoun was chair of the contest this year, with assistance from Kimberly Paxton and Ann Bloxom Smith. Judges were three professional photographers who evaluated the entries in youth, professional, and amateur divisions. 

All the first-place photos will be printed and displayed in the Refuge Visitor Center at the Fall Celebration,
Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 9 am-2 pm. All the ribboned photos will also be displayed as a slide show in the Visitor Center.
Thank you to each and every photographer who took a photo and submitted it to the 2023 Photo Contest.  Your submission is an important part of helping conserve wildlife.  Through the years, photos can help show the ebb and flow of life as time changes the refuge.  Whether your photo is listed here as a "winning photo" or not, your photography at a refuge makes you a WINNER!  Congratulations to All!