The winner of the 2012 John G. Mitchell – Environmental Conservation Award is
Mark Roger Bailey of California, formerly of Essex.

The Lyme, Old Lyme, Salem, Essex and East Haddam Land Conservation Trusts announced today the winners of their jointly sponsored amateur photo contest. The purpose of the contest was to focus on the celebrated and scenic countryside in those towns and its diversified wildlife. The ages of the photographers ranged from children to senior citizens.

This contest was made possible by the generous financial support provided by Lorensen Toyota, Oakley/Wing Group at Smith Barney, Evan Griswold at Coldwell Banker, Essex Savings Bank, ChelseaGroton Bank, Ballek Garden Center and Murtha Cullina LLP.

“There were so many wonderful pictures submitted that the judges had a difficult time selecting the winners” said Tony Sullivan, spokesperson for the conservation trusts.

The three independent judges are William Burt, a naturalist who has won acclaim for his books of wildlife photography: Rare and Elusive Birds of North America, Shadowbirds, and his recently released Marshes: The Disappearing Edens. Amy Kurtz Lansing, Curator at the Florence Griswold Museum and a Yale University doctoral candidate in the History of Art. She is also the author of Historical Fictions: Edward Lamson Henry’s Paintings of Past and Present and Rudy Wood-Muller, a photographic illustrator and designer. His first large exhibition was at the New York World’s Fair in 1964 and was followed by numerous other shows, including a one-man show at the Rochester Institute of Technology. A group of his photographs have been selected to be part of the Permanent Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

“This year an additional award was given out to honor one of our prior judges, John G. Mitchell, who passed away” said Sullivan. “John, who was one of the editors at National Geographic, dedicated his career to writing about the environment and conservation, so the award was for the best picture reflecting that subject.”

The categories and names of the winners are:

JOHN G. MITCHELL – Environmental Conservation Award

Mark Roger Bailey, California (Formerly Essex)

LANDSCAPES/WATERSCAPES

First Place:  
Skip Broom, Hadlyme

Second Place: 
April Surprenant, Salem

Third Place: 
Alexandria Hollwedel, Ivoryton

Honorable Mentions: 
Tom Nemeth, Salem
John Sargent, Quaker Hill
Gerry Graves, Old Lyme

PLANTS

First Place  (photo above): 
Tony Sullivan, Lyme

Second Place:
Cheryl Philopena

Third Place: 
Skip Broom, Hadlyme

Honorable Mentions: 
Jessica Nemeth, Salem
Linda Waters, Salem
Marian Morrissette, New London

WILDLIFE

First Place:  
Skip Broom, Hadlyme

Second Place: 
Harcourt Davis, Old Lyme

Third Place: 
Cheryl Philopena, Salem

Honorable Mentions:  
Marian Morrissette, New London
Hank Golet, Old Lyme
Mark Roger Bailey, Essex

CULTURAL/HISTORIC

First Place (photo above): 
Skip Broom, Hadlyme

Second Place:  
Carol Giese, East Lyme

Third Place:  
Mark Roger Bailey, California (Formally Essex)

Honorable Mentions:  
Lionel Williams, Essex
Jacquelyn Sanders, Old Lyme
Donald Quigley, Old Lyme

YOUTH

First Place (photo above):  
Emma Pennie, Old Lyme

Second Place: 
Meghan Buckley, Haddam

Third Place: 
Courtney Briggs, Old Saybrook

Honorable Mentions:  
Rebecca Johnson, Colchester
Samantha Barretta, Lyme
Hannah Patten, Old Lyme

All the winning photographs will be available for public viewing at Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library at 2 Library Lane in Old Lyme during the month of April. The photos can also be seen at http://landtrustsphotos.shutterfly.com/ or on the web sites of each of the sponsoring conservation trusts.