News from the River (Cont.)

Photo Contest Winners Announced (con't)

The Trinity River Photo Contest was a summer project for children and adults challenging them to get outdoors and photograph the 20 miles of the Trinity River Corridor that runs through Dallas. It was also an introduction for many of them to the river, the Great Trinity Forest, the Lower Chain of Wetlands, the Trinity River Audubon Center, and transportation projects such as the signature bridge, the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.

In October, four professional judges, reviewed all 350 photographs submitted and selected the winners in the Youth, Amateur and Pro groups. Photos were submitted in four categories: Architecture/Structures, Forest, River, and Wildlife. From the tiniest of creatures to the massive steel box girders and support columns of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, the photos began arriving shortly after the beginning of July. The 3rd place winner in the Youth Group and River Category was coincidently the first person who sent in photos for the contest. Nkonyezi Nanyamka displayed her eye for nature and concern for the river. Her photo featured litter along the banks of the Trinity.

“When I walked into the Trinity River Corridor Project office to judge the photos, I was immediately taken by the number of submissions and the quality of the images,” said Michael Hamtil, photo editor of the Dallas Morning News and one of the judges for the contest. The other judges working with Michael to evaluate the wide variety of photos were Jesse Hornbuckle, Reginald Loftin, and Allison Smith, all well known professional photographers. The judging was conducted blind without any information on the photos. The judges worked together looking purely at the photographic composition, content, quality, and style.
 

“New Trinity Sunrise”, Grand Prize Winner. Photographer: Paul Sokal