A photographer’s eye

The judges recently sifted through hundreds of entries in this year’s Morgan County Photo Contest and came up with five winners.

Sam Gray of Berkeley Springs took first place for Nature Photography for her closeup view called “Bee Paradise.”

Rennie Kahler of Sleepy Creek won first place in the Animal category for her picture of a scratching deer.

Pat Keys of Berkeley Springs took first in the Snow division for her photo of a person wading through the February snow. Due to the number of blizzard scenes, the judges made a special Snow category this year.

James Worley of Berkeley Springs garnered first place for People Photography for his “Summer Morning,” portraying two kids
at play.

Michael Pyles of Berkeley Springs won the Judge’s Choice award for his computer-aided photo called “Mmmm...Tastes Like Blueberries.”
The contest was sponsored by The Morgan Messenger. The first place winners can all be found in this week’s issue.

The winning pictures and some of the other entries will be used in a 2011 calendar planned for later this year. More of the eye-catching runners-up will appear in The Messenger throughout the next year.

Winners received a year’s subscription to The Messenger and will receive copies of the calendar.

Judges were Alison Carter, a frequent winner in past contests; Beth Curtin of the Chamber of Commerce; Laura Smith of Travel Berkeley Springs; and Dave Abner and John Douglas of The Messenger staff.

Start taking those photos now for next year’s contest!