The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has announced the winners of the 2021 Natural Resources Photo Contest, with the grand prize going to Nathaniel Peck of Flintstone for his dramatically captured photo of nature in action, “A Raven Having Breakfast.”
This year’s grand prize package includes $500, a Maryland State Parks Passport, a subscription to Maryland Natural Resource magazine, and five copies of the 2022 calendar with the winning image displayed on the cover.
Nearly 2,000 photos were submitted by more than 400 photographers in this year’s contest. In addition to the overall grand prize winner, the judges selected first through third place winners in four seasonal categories—winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Still to be determined is the “Fan Favorite,” which will be chosen by popular opinion on the department’s Facebook page. Followers are encouraged to “Like” and “Share” their pick when the photos are posted the week of September 13, with votes taken through September 27.
Here are the winners of the 18th annual Maryland Natural Resources Photo Contest:
Grand Prize: A Raven Having Breakfast by Nathaniel Peck of Flintstone
Winter:
First place: Short-eared Owl Hovering by Mitch Adolph of Lutherville
Second place: A Grebe’s Gaze by Michael Ocasio of Cottage Grove, MN
Third place: Snow-covered Jericho by Eric Larson of Bel Air
Spring:
First place: Green Tree Frog by Stephen Hayes of Baltimore
Second place: Icarus Makes It to the Sun by Madhuri Shenker of Elkridge
Third place: To The Trees by Heather K. Rees of Rising Sun
Summer:
First place: Rough Greensnake by James Rode of Dundalk
Second place: Monarch Caterpillar on Butterfly Weed by Marta Fiscus of Cumberland
Third place: Eastern Newt by Marta Fiscus of Cumberland
Fall:
First place: A Raven Having Breakfast by Nathaniel Peck of Flintstone
Second place: Prettyboy Otter by David Rivas of Newark, DE
Third place: Morning Walk by John Ruffa of Laurel