photography

This program visits two of North Georgia's most beautiful waterfalls, Tacoa Falls and Minnehaha Falls, where host Michael Skinner teaches us about landscape photography.

Then, Michael travels to Minnesota to photograph some beautiful winter wildlife. Photographing nature is one of the most popular and fascinating areas of photography. Like any craft or hobby, there is a learning curve.

With photography, applying knowledge means practice, practice means patience and perseverance. Once you have the basics then you can begin to develop your own distinct style using the elements of exposure and composition. And, as most photographers will tell you, a little bit of luck never hurts!

Grand Prize Winner – Paul Shimek

Paul started taking photographs about eight years ago when he took a class in nature photography and as he put it, "It virtually changed my life." His day job didn't change – Paul still to practices law – but his passion became photography.

As the winner of the Nature Photography Contest Paul joined the Georgia Outdoors crew on a production shoot at Callaway Gardens. The day started early at the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center where every day nearly a thousand butterflies flitter through the air. No shortage of photo opportunities there! Paul also got a special behind-the-scenes opportunity to photograph the magnificent birds of the birds-of-prey show.

See the Runners-Up and other great entries.

This year's Nature Photography Contest was a phenomenal success. We received so many great entries, choosing winners was extremely difficult. Take a look at all of the entries here and you'll see why. Thanks to everyone who participated and keep up the good work.

Ron Holt

As the grand prize winner of the Second Annual Georgia Outdoors Nature Photography Contest Ron joined the Georgia Outdoors crew on a production shoot at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. The day started early, but the rain kept the crew inside. Thankfully there are photography opportunities everywhere if you just look close enough.

When the rain started to clear it was time to head to the beach. As always, the beach afforded several photographic opportunities such as the rare sea oat the great white egret.

Another unique opportunity was a rookery of endangered wood storks nesting atop the pine trees, tucked deceptively behind a driving range and an amphitheater.

We also visited Driftwood Beach, located on the northeastern corner of Jekyll Island, and unmistakable evidence of the naturally occurring erosion process of the barrier islands.

And finally, saving the best for last, it was time for Ron to receive is prizes including a Nikon N-80 camera kit, a $200.00 gift certificate from Showcase Camera in Atlanta, and $200 worth of Fuji Film.

First and Second Place Winners...

Honorable Mentions

More Outstanding Photos...

The Third Annual Nature Photography Contest received a record number of entries this year. Over 600 photographs poured into our office! It was not only the large number of entries that made out judges decision so difficult, but it was the high quality of nearly every photograph. The crew here at Georgia Outdoors is especially proud of this. Perhaps a few tips have been picked up over the years by watching our Photo Contest episodes. We sure hope so and we look forward scouring through to more breathtaking photographs next year!

Grand Prize Winner – Emory Moody

"I had sent in quite a few pictures and it was a thrill getting the phone call telling me I had won!" answered Emory Moody during our interview of him for an episode of Georgia Outdoors. We met up Emory while he was enjoying part of his grand prize: a weekend at Barnsley Gardens. The Gardens provided a wonderful backdrop for Emory to continue his favorite hobby and snap some first-rate photographs. "It's unlike a lot of other places, its nice and quiet here walking around the gardens. The ruins are pretty unique, there's quite a bit of history associated with them."

Barnsley Gardens was originally built as a private mountain retreat for Godfrey and Julia Barnsley in the 1840s. Regrettably, Julia Barnsley died of a lung ailment before she was ever to truly enjoy the fully completed estate. After a year of mourning it is said that Julia's spirit returned to Godfrey in the fountain of the formal garden. Under her guidance the gardens and estate were finished. Members of the Barnsley lived on the estate until 1942 when the property was auctioned. When Prince Hubertus Fugger of Germany purchased the estate in 1988 the transformation into Barnsley Gardens, a luxury resort, began.

Emory also received as part of his prize package a Nikon camera kit, a $200 gift certificate from Showcase Camera in Atlanta, and $200 worth of Fuji Film. Emory told us about the photograph that netted him all this loot, "I was spending the weekend down in MacIntosh County and had gone over to Harris Neck Wildlife Preserve. I had been over there most of the morning just wondering around and right before I left, right on the main lake, there was a night heron. It was just sitting there and I started photographing him, took about three shots and then he started opening his mouth and really posing for me, so I wound up shooting close to an entire roll on that one bird. The one I sent in was the one that I liked the most. He was really posing good for me that day"

Emory also shared with us some tips for taking great nature photographs. "The main thing I would tell them is To Do It! The only way to get pictures is to go take them" explains Emory, "It takes a fair amount of patience and it takes a lot of getting dirty" While nature photography is Emory's passion, his full time job is with Southern Company though he confesses, "I considered photography as a career very seriously at one time, but with everything considered, I decided to keep photography as a hobby." Well we think that Emory might just have what it takes to be a successful professional photographer. Take a look at some of Emory's other work. Congratulations Emory!

First and Second Place Winners...

More Outstanding Photos

Take a look at some of Emory's other photographs

The Fourth Annual Nature Photography Contest is intended to solicit outstanding examples of amateur nature photography. This year we received and astonishing number of exceptional images.

First Place Winner – Pete Pattavina

"Well, I guess I was a bit surprised that I had placed in the contest," declared Pete Pattavina during our interview of him for an episode of Georgia Outdoors, "I was rushing to get the photographs in, always the last minute, like everything I do!" We met up Pete and his family at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation where he was a guest of Georgia Outdoors for two nights. Lake Oconee provided a wonderful backdrop for Pete to continue his favorite hobby and snap some first-rate photographs. " We were really amazed when we drove up, everything's great, manicured lawns and gorgeous views of the lake."

The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation is located just 75 minutes east of Atlanta on Lake Oconee. The resort draws on local history and culture as the foundation of the guest experience. Offering 81 holes of golf, a 26,000 square foot spa and lake activities, this luxury resort offers guests an unparalleled experience.

Pete actually achieved first place with two images that tied. He told us more about those images, "I took the winning image in my friends' front yard. Ah, he had just gotten this dog, Honky, a few months before, and I was trying to photograph it because it was such a unique looking dog. And, I think the dog was scared just about everything in the world. And, ah, just that one day, it laid down in the driveway and, ah, allowed me to set up my tripod and, ah, just snapped the photograph. But, ah, that's Honky the dog."

"The pitcher plants I took in Moultrie, Georgia at the Doe Run Natural Area. I was looking throughout this pitcher plant bog for a decent composition which was tough because the plants are so long and tall. Then I saw this group of three and as I was setting it up, this mosquito came underneath one of the pitcher's and just landed there. I should say also that the mosquitoes weren't only on the pitcher plants; we were all of us getting bit by mosquitoes, my wife, my dog, and myself. But, it was worth it in the end. That's probably one of my favorite photographs."

Pete also share some tips for taking great nature photographs. "I think probably the, the most important piece of advice that I would give people that wanted to get into nature photography is you really have to choose your time of day. Try to get out there right after sunrise and right before sunset. It's probably the time when I take ninety-percent of my photographs. Take a look at some of Pete's other work. Congratulations Pete!

2nd and 3rd Place Winners...

More Outstanding Photography

Take a look at some of Pete's other photographs:

Nature photography is a great way to experience the outdoors. It's a non-consumptive activity that leaves nothing behind, yet it provides nature lovers the chance to take something tangible away from their experience.

Georgia Outdoors has been encouraging people to get out and enjoy the art of nature photography for 5 years through our nature photography contest.

From the sandy shores of Jekyll Island to the lush gardens at Callaway, we've visited some very photogenic places with our winners. On this episode we take a look back at some of the amazing winners and amazing places we've seen in the process.

Web Resources

The winners' Prize Packages have included these fine "Georgia Getaways":

Callaway Gardens
A Pine Mountain, Georgia, resort inspired by nature with expansive natural surroundings.

Jekyll Island Club Hotel
This is Jekyll's only four star resort and National Historic Landmark.

Barnsley Resort
You'll find inviting cottages along tree-lined walkways at Barnsley Gardens. Set on a sophiticated county estate.

Ritz – Oconee
Stroll along the secluded shores of Lake Oconee. Enjoy outdoor tranquility and/or adventure with fishing, waterskiing and canoeing.

Unicoi State Park and Lodge
Nestled in the north Georgia mountains just two miles from the Alpine village of Helen, Unicoi is one of Georgia's most beloved state parks.

In Georgia, nature photography is a growing pastime. We tag along with the winners of the annual Georgia Outdoors nature photography contest on a trip to one of our beautiful state parks.