The 14 winners of the third annual “Seasons of Izaak Walton” photo calendar competition were announced the the preserve’s photo selection committee last week.
The 14 winners of the third annual “Seasons of Izaak Walton” photo calendar competition were announced the the preserve’s photo selection committee last week.
The competition attracted 140 entries. One new development was an increased number of winning entries by out-of-state photographers who visited the Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve. Three of the 14 winners were from other states: California, Colorado and Ohio.
Since the contest started in 2019, there have been 550 entries. The number this year declined from the 200 in 2020, likely because of a public works project in the Preserve as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.
John Brinkman, president of the Izaak Walton board, said: “We are so pleased to offer once again, for the third year, our 2022 ‘Season’s of Izaak Walton’ photo calendar. A huge thank you to the Calendar Committee for their work and commitment for this effort. The winning photos again uniquely depict the beauty of Our Hidden Gem!”
An independent panel of five judges selected the winners:
- Front cover: ”Morning Reflections” by Topher Campbell, of Ladera Ranch, California.
- Back cover: “Best Friends” by Douglas Cole, of Homewood.
- January: ”In the Arms Of Sleep” by Ryan Patrick, of Homewood.
- February: ”Evening Calm” by Joe Przybylski, of Homewood.
- March: ”Twilight Bliss” by Tina Ray, of Homewood.
- April: ”Goosebumps” by Heather Marcum, of Thornton.
- May: ”Yellow Swallowtail Rising” by Paul Reis, of Oak Lawn.
- June: ”Frog Day Afternoon” by Howard Wolinsky, of Flossmoor.
- July: ”Summer Prairie Scene” by Jim Shover, of Homewood.
- August: ”Summer Breeze” by Kirk Snyder, of Denver, Colorado.
- September: ”Monarch Landscape” by Kathie Hazlett, of Galion, Ohio.
- October: ”Pumpkin” by Penny Shnay, of Park Forest.
- November: ”Settling Fog” by Laura Halfman, of Flossmoor.
- December: ”Bob Elf” by Martin Tully, of Homewood.
A video displaying all the entries by Kathie Hazlett, a Calendar Committee member, is available.
4 Seasons of Izaak from todd wittenberg on Vimeo.
Photographers described their work and the preserve as a setting.
Joe Przybylski, of Homewood, creative director at the University of Chicago, whose stark sunrise fills the February slot, said: “Izaak Walton is a photographer’s dream spot. You have amazing sunsets, diverse wildlife, and amazing trails to explore. It’s hard to take a bad picture at Izaak Walton.”
Paul Reis, a health industry executive from Oaklawn, whose seemingly levitating swallowtail represents May, said: “Izaak Walton is a beautiful, serene setting that I only recently discovered was an excellent photography environment. For years I attended youth baseball and softball games there, but since I brought my camera for the first time in 2021. I know I’ll return often.”
Californian Topher Campbell, whose Van Gogh-like landscape graces the cover, said: “On our frequent road trips from California to Homewood to visit our daughter, son-in-law, and three grandsons, our two labradoodles and I enjoy our daily hike through Izaak Walton Preserve.”
The winners were selected based on an objective mathematical analysis of the favorites selected by five independent judges with no ties to Izaak Walton Preserve.
Each judge submitted a ranking of 20 of their favorite shots to the HIWP volunteer Calendar Committee. The committee made all final decisions depending on the judge’s rankings, breaking ties with the public’s “likes” on Izaak Walton’s site on Facebook.
Details on the sale of the calendars will be announced soon.
The Calendar Committee is made up of local amateur photographers who often take photos at HIWP. They are: Kathie Hazlett, Heather Marcum, Tina Ray, James Shover, Penny Shnay and Howard Wolinsky. Frances Fullam and Wolinsky, both of Flossmoor, proposed the photo calendar in 2019.