Virginia Outdoor Writers Association
Congratulations to our 2022 Collegiate Photography Winners!
The Virginia Outdoor Writers Association, VOWA, is pleased to present the winners of our 2022 Collegiate Photography Competition. These winners typify both scholarship and love of the outdoors. VOWA offers sincere congratulations to the winners and celebrates their outstanding work in this showcase.
FIRST PLACE
“Icelandic Beauty”
Kate MacArthur
University of Virginia
Kate MacArthur hails from Seattle, Washington and is currently a second-year student at the University of Virginia. Pursuing a major in Global Studies, with a focus on Global Sustainability, she also is minoring in French and Religion. Kate tells us “I’ve considered photography my greatest passion since I first picked up a camera in fourth grade and photographed flowers in my backyard. Today I document a range of subjects but might consider my favorite styles to be ruin and reflection photography. I also enjoy writing, playing ultimate frisbee, and traveling.” One of her goals in life is to “travel far and wide such that I can encounter and photograph as many diverse and intriguing people and landscapes as possible. I also hope to use my degree in Global Studies to one day live and work abroad.”
Kate’s stunning photo engages the viewer and shows the rugged landscape these Icelandic horses call home. Outstanding work Kate, congratulations!
Icelandic Beauty
SECOND PLACE
"Generations"
Elijah Grigsby
Virginia Tech
A junior at Virginia Tech, Elijah Grigsby is double majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation. He is from Loudoun County and enjoys learning and being in southwestern Virginia and the Appalachians while attending Virginia Tech. Elijah tells us that he got his start in photography while visiting family on the island of Bermuda.
Elijah’s work stood out to the judges for his well-done exposure in tricky lighting and his framing of the mother deer with her faun. Beautiful work Elijah!
Generations
THIRD PLACE
Noah Alderman
“View from the Blue Ridge”
Virginia Western Community College
Noah Alderman is soon to be a graduate of Virginia Western Community College. He is studying Visual Design which includes graphic design, layout design, and photography/videography. Noah grew up and continues to live in Roanoke Virginia, in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains which are a favorite subject of his photography with his Fujifilm mirrorless camera. While attending school, Noah works at WSLS 10 news as a photojournalist. In the future he hopes to move from the news business into entertainment or professional still photography.
Noah’s winning photo captures a gorgeous Blueridge scene leading the viewers eyes form the bright light in the background along the curve of the road and guard rail. Lovely image Noah!
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View from the Blue Ridge
HONORABLE MENTION
Emily Malone
“Parking Deck”
University of Mary Washington
Emily Malone is a Senior at the University of Mary Washington pursuing a degree in creative writing and sociology. Emily grew up in the Shenandoah Valley, which she describes as “one of the most beautiful places on earth, so it’s not much of a surprise I got into photography.” Emily was a photographer for her high school yearbook; she also loves writing, painting, and exploring. Currently Emily works as a direct care professional in a group home for adults with disabilities and hopes to continue this work after she finishes school and pursues her passions of photography and creative writing.
Emily’s image was a fun image for the judges, with the curve of the young man’s arm, nice lighting and the position of the figure in the image. Keep up the great photography Emily!
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Parking Deck
We thank Dominion Energy for a generous grant that supported our running of the VOWA Collegiate and High School competitions for youth engaged in photographing and writing about our beautiful outdoors. We at VOWA feel these competitions are so very important because they encourage the future communicators and stewards of our natural world.
We thank Lynda Richardson, Art Director Virginia Wildlife magazine, Robert Thomas of Robert Thomas Photography, and Marie & Milan Majarov of Majarov Photography for giving their time, patience, and expertise to judge our Collegiate Photography Contest.