From coast to coast, America is home to a wide variety of spectacular state parks. These natural attractions are gifts that keep on giving, offering hiking, camping, swimming, wildlife viewing and outdoor adventure around every corner. It’s all about family, friends and community coming together in nature to enjoy, protect and give back to America’s state park system. And now, it’s also about capturing the special moment, sharing your experience and winning big!
America’s State Parks in partnership with Aspira recently hosted the 2018 America’s State Parks Photo Contest to build community around the unique moments captured at state parks across the country. The contest called for amateur photography entries in five categories, including Camping, Wildlife, Activities, Friends & Family and Scenic & Seasons. To be eligible to win, the photo must be an original work by an amateur photographer, taken at a state park in the U.S. over the past year. The contest ran June 1 through July 31, 2018 and received nearly 10,000 entries.
We are inspired by the 2018 America’s State Parks Photo Contest winners, and we want to share their photos and stories, to pass the inspiration on to you. The spirit of adventure is contagious!
These are the 2018 America’s State Parks Photo Contest winners.
Grand Prize Winner
Photographer: Karen Wong
Location: Sand Harbor State Park
State: Nevada
Prize: 7-day RV rental provided by Mighway
Karen Wong, a stay at home mom with two boys, had no previous photography experience. Her genuine passion for the area speaks through the raw photograph. The Wong family visited Lake Tahoe for the first time two years ago, and it quickly became a favorite lake destination. Stunning photos of Sand Harbor on Pinterest inspired a new visit to Nevada this summer. Despite efforts to arrive early and grab a spot on the beach, crowds already busied the prime real estate. Karen turned disappointment into opportunity and, while on a walk around Sand Harbor, captured this photo on her phone. What’s the next adventure for the Wong family? A road trip to explore Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada is high on the list, and their new RV rental can definitely make that dream a reality.
Scenic & Seasons Category Winner
Photographer: Zalman Wainhaus
Location: Lost Dutchman State Park
State: Arizona
Prize: $500 REI Gift Card
Zalman Wainhaus and his wife are new Arizona residents, now exploring the desert and mountain regions around Phoenix. His calming full moon landscape photo is a lesson in patience and perseverance. Zalman is interested in astronomy, and was inspired to experience this summer’s full moon rising over Lost Dutchman State Park. The only problem was, he had to juggle his work schedule and city traffic to reach the destination in time. Zalman was determined to capture the rising moon with the red light of the glowing mountains, but he considered turning around, questioning if he’d miss his moment while stopped in traffic. Onwards he drove, and when he arrived he had less than five minutes to make it happen. As it turned out, it was the perfect amount of time to get the perfect shot.
Camping Category Winner
Photographer: Kevin Durr
Location: Wellesley Island State Park
State: New York
Prize: $500 REI Gift Card
Kevin Durr is an avid outdoorsman who regularly enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, boating and skiing with his wife and three daughters. The warmth of the family bond and shared love for the outdoors shines through this campfire photo. You could call Wellesley Island the Durr family’s second home; they camp on the island every summer and plan to keep the tradition alive for the rest of their lives. Even though the campground is only a 20-minute drive from home, the magic of the outdoors allows them to feel worlds away from the stressors of day to day life. This particular night, the Durr family enjoyed s’mores at their waterfront campsite as the fire burned and the sun set over the river.
Activities Category Winner
Photographer: Jonathan Yost
Location: Kodachrome Basin State Park
State: Utah
Prize: $500 REI Gift Card
Jonathan Yost is a tribal agency community relations specialist by trade, and a hiking safety class leader and photography hobbyist by choice. There is an element of freedom in this photograph, perhaps because Jonathan and his wife recently purchased a camper van. Adventure is out there, and they’re ready to find it. This summer, Jonathan and his wife embarked on an impromptu road trip through Utah and the first stop was Kodachrome Basin State Park. At the end of a cliffside hiking trail, Jonathan captured the moment his wife stopped to gaze out into the basin in amazement. It’s a surreal sunset view that neither of them will soon forget. What’s next for the Yost duo? They’re hoping to explore Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur, California.
Wildlife Category Winner
Photographer: Justin Davis
Location: Denali State Park
State: Alaska
Prize: $500 REI Gift Card
For Justin Davis, a high school history teacher turned television professional, photography will only be a hobby, to ensure it’s always fun. On a recent trip to Anchorage, Alaska with his family, Justin drove through Denali State Park to see the sights and stop for photography opportunities. While enjoying the natural landscape, he spotted something spectacular. About 10 yards from the car, he witnessed a lynx on the hunt. Like the lynx, Justin was quick to act; he used a 400mm lens and took a few frames before the wild cat noticed him and disappeared. It was all about being in the right place at the right time.
Friends & Family Category Winner
Photographer: Linda Ruiz
Location: Rincon Beach Park
State: California
Prize: $500 REI Gift Card
Proud grandmother Linda Ruiz believes vacations in the great outdoors are all about family and fun. And what better captures the joy of childhood than this photograph? Linda visits Rincon in California often, and on this particular trip, her two oldest grandsons came together to play in the ocean and meet new friends on the shore. America’s state parks allow us to experience nature together, and the Ruiz family is inspiring families everywhere through this beautiful moment captured in time.
Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who participated in the 2018 America’s State Parks Photo Contest! Are you ready for an outdoor adventure? Plan your camping trip.