The Nature Conservancy: 2022 Arizona Student Photo Contest Winners

New Milford CT

19 May, 2022

2:40 PM

Description

Press release from The Nature Conservancy: May 18, 2022 Students from across Arizona impressed professional photographers in the 9th "Adventures in Nature" Photo Contest. This year, around 900 photos were entered by Arizonans—ages 13-18—engaged in the creative contest. The esteemed panel of judges included photography editor at Arizona Highways magazine, Jeff Kida, professional photographer and photography instructor Suzanne Mathia, director of photography at Tucson Daily Star, Rick Wiley, and corporate and architectural photographer Mark Skalny. Kaden VanDuyne of Gilbert took first place for "Superstition Mountains at Sunset." During the awards ceremony, Kaden shared that he does photography with his dad and that his family has a "hurry up and wait mentality," traveling across the state to Arizona's most iconic landscapes and patiently waiting for the right moment to capture the best photos. Adrian Hanna of Scottsdale received honorable mention for "A Snowy Afternoon in Boynton Canyon." "We went out on a very cold day and I remember my hands were very cold but there were so many amazing things to take pictures of so I just kept taking pictures," said Hanna. While backpacking in Sycamore Canyon, Corbin Rouette of Prescott was keeping his eye out for wildlife on the trail. A butterfly was perched on some gnarly bark, enabling him to seize a beautiful moment. Rouette received honorable mention for "Green Comma Butterfly." Corbin said he learned how to take photos using film, which required him to be patient and disciplined. "Young people are the future of conservation and their future depends on their understanding and ability to advocate on behalf of nature and our environment," said Dan Stellar, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Arizona. Winners will receive up to $10,000 in prize money plus photo books and other gifts. They are: Adrian Hanna, Scottsdale Carrick Webb, Phoenix Corbin Rouette, Prescott Kaden VanDuyne, Gilbert Katie Piscopo, Gilbert Zada Prince, Tucson Winning photos will be published by the sponsors: The Nature Conservancy in Arizona, Arizona Highways magazine and Cox Communications. The winners are also eligible for a photography workshop from Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. Stay tuned for information coming soon about photography workshops held in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Arizona Highways and Cox Communications to encourage student nature photography throughout the year. This press release was produced by The Nature Conservancy. The views expressed here are the author's own.