Florida Park Service announces ‘Capture the Real Florida’ photo contest winners
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s park service division announced “Morning Glow” as the Professional/Hobbyist winner of its 2023 Capture the Real Florida contest.
“We received thousands of outstanding photos this year, making it challenging to select just three winners,” Florida Park Service Director Chuck Hatcher said. “What makes Florida State Parks so special, our diversity of wildlife, flora and geography, has been captured perfectly in these photos.”
According to the park service, 3,800 contest photos were submitted. Florida also offers photographers 175 state parks, trails and historic sites to capture “beautiful backdrops for recreational and nature-based photos.”
“Morning Glow,” photographed by John Hootman, was taken at Manatee Springs State Park near Chiefland. The photo’s grand prize included a $2,500 B&H Photo gift card, Florida State Parks’ stand-up paddleboard, hammock and promotional package as well as a Family Annual Entrance Pass.
“Getting up early in the morning is essential to capture the wildlife here. It is always a big inspiration for my photography, and this morning proved to pay off big,” Hootman said. “As the sun ascended, the combination of the fog and sun created a near-picture-perfect combination that stopped me in my tracks.”
Coming in second place, “Blue Grace” was photographed by Curt Mason at Ichetucknee Springs Park near Fort White. The third place winner, Beverly Eaton, photographed “American Alligator Chill” at Myakka River State Park near Sarasota.
Both received a Florida State Parks’ stand up paddleboard, hammock, and promotional package for their submissions.
Capture the Real Florida winners also were selected in the contest’s Student and Mobile Phone divisions.
“It Never Ceases,” photographed by Hope Bartlin, took home the top prize in the Student category. The shot was taken at Hillsborough River State Park near Tampa.
“This particular day was relatively overcast and not the best time of day for wildlife, but the river was almost the clearest I’ve ever seen it,” Bartlin said. “I wanted to try and capture the flow of the water, and being that it as darker out it was the perfect occasion to just sit with a slow shutter and let my lens drink it all in.”
Submitted by Tiffany Grandstaff, “Reflection” won first place in the Mobile Phone division. It was shot at Honeymoon Island State Park near Dunedin.
“On my daily sunset walk at Honeymoon Island State Park, I noticed my fiance staring into this puddle of reflection. The colors that evening seemed to melt into this puddle, creating a glimpse into something otherworldly,” Granstaff said.
