A Corbin woman and a Whitley City woman were among the seven winners in the 2024 Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area photo contest.
Photographers were invited to submit striking digital images highlighting the spectacular views, dark night skies, historic sites, recreational opportunities, and diversity of life in the park. Entries to the contest were judged by members of the Southern Appalachian Nature Photographers, according to a release by the National Park Service (NPS).
The winners of this year’s contest were:
- First Place – Flora and Fauna Category: “Hooded Warbler” by Peggy Yaeger of Corbin, Kentucky.
- First Place – Dark Skies Category: “Aurora Borealis at Blue Heron” by Brittany Troxell of Whitley City, Kentucky.
- First Place – Youth Category: “Black & Gold Flat Millipede” by Kameron Byrd of Robbins, Tennessee.
- First Place – Human History: “Grave 3-2-24” by William Pettit of Mt. Washington, Kentucky.
- First Place – Recreation Category: “My Fisherman” by Denise Lewis of Crossville, Tennessee.
- First Place – Kentucky Landscapes: “Clouds Crown Yahoo Falls” by Liesl Little of Knoxville, Tennessee.
- First Place – Tennessee Landscapes: “A Cool Place” by Rick Ryan of Clinton, Tennessee.
Runners up in the contest included “Autumn Trail Scene” by Chad Steed of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; “Chestnut Ridge Trail in the Fall” by Renee Errett of Brownsville, Kentucky; “Aurora at Bandy Creek Pool” by Teresa Fischer of Knoxville, Tennessee; “Autumn Ridge Ride” by Debbi Exberger of Knoxville, Tennessee, and “Winter at Oscar’s” by Melinda Watters of Winfield, Tennessee.
Photographers are encouraged to grab their cameras and visit the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The park will be announcing its 2025 photo contest soon.
For more information on the Big South Fork, please call (423) 286-7275, or visit online at www.nps.gov/biso.
