America’s State Parks in partnership with ReserveAmerica is proud to share the winners of the seventh annual America’s State Parks Photo Contest. The judging panel viewed over 7,150 entries representing five categories: Scenic & Seasons, Activities, Wildlife, Family & Friends, and Camping.
Check out the winner stories below and get inspired for your next state park visit!
Grand Prize Winner
Photographer: Dinesh Chitlangia
Location: Vogel State Park, Georgia
Prize: $5,000 from Black Folks Camp Too and an Apex Club Membership from ReserveAmerica
Self-taught photographer Dinesh Chitlangia captured this prize-winning shot titled “Serene Morning to Reflect and Revive” with a Sony A7RIII full-frame camera. Dinesh’s photography journey started back in his high school days in India when he was invited to join a wildlife conservation movement at the Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal. Over the years, he has used various kinds of cameras, including film roll Yashica, Kodak, point-shoot digital, crop sensor, and now full-frame mirrorless. Some of his work has been displayed in juried events and exhibitions with Atlanta Photography Group. Dinesh works as a software engineer and has a strong interest in landscape and astrophotography, with a touch of cityscape and infrared photography.
“I have been visiting Vogel State Park every year since 2014. Catching the fall colors is always a matter of timing and it is getting increasingly difficult with changing/unpredictable weather patterns. I have always wanted to get a frame with a mix of foliage colors, early morning light, clouds in the blue sky, and the reflection on still water. Over the years, I have shot this location several times but never got all the elements that I envisioned. Finally, nature took it easy on me after 8+ years and let me have the shot.”
When asked what state parks mean to him, Dinesh said, “Amidst the bustling city life, a corporate job and life in general, state parks are like healing centers to me. Being in a state park means I get to enjoy nature’s tranquility concert with myriad natural sounds which are often lost in the city life – the sound of winds whispering through the trees, the bird song, the flowing water, etc.” Instagram: @dineshchitlangia
Scenic and Seasons Category Winner
Photographer: Marcin Zajac
Location: Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
Marcin is a landscape photographer originally from Poland and currently based in Northern California. When not chasing light with his camera, he works as a software engineer.
“I took this photo in May on a two-week road trip through southern Utah. I was taking advantage of the dark skies that Utah offers and visiting Goblin Valley State Park was one of the highlights of the trip. The sky here is exceptionally dark and the rock formations (hoodoos) make for a great foreground. I didn’t expect to see flowers blooming here, so that was a lucky surprise that really made the scene feel special.”
“I shoot with a Nikon D810. To take this image, I used a Tamron 15-30 lens to take advantage of its wide field of view to capture the flowers, the rock formations, and the night sky.
Activities Category Winner
Photographer: Terry Rogers
Location: Bear Mountain State Park, New York
Terry was born and raised in the Caribbean on the—twin islands of Trinidad & Tobago and—migrated to the U.S. some 36 years ago. “From my early youth, I have always had access to and read magazines the likes of National Geographic and Readers Digest (to name a couple) and have always been fascinated and captivated by the vivid photos and stories of animals, landscapes, people, and life around the world in general. The seed was planted and I knew that I wanted to shoot photos like those someday. When my wife gifted me a Canon Rebel T3i for Christmas over 10 years ago, I have not stopped photographing since.”
“I have always had an intense interest in learning about indigenous people everywhere; I feel a sense of honor and history being in their presence. I have been to a few Pow-Wow Celebrations in the New York area before, but this was the first time at Bear Mountain State Park. The event was so interesting (as with the others) with the sound of drums, dancing, traditional wear, and food. I began taking photos of all the performers, but this red blanket dancer seemed to have a special something to her dance. I cannot explain it, but she was so into her dance that it was noticeable. I just had to capture that moment in time. She actually won this event with her dance.”
Terry took this photo with a Canon EOS 80D and a Sigma 150mm—600mm zoom lens on a tripod.
Wildlife Category Winner
Photographer: Paulette Donnellon
Location: Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California
Paulette enjoys taking pictures of nature and wildlife as a hobby. When she isn’t taking pictures, she works for LEGO® Education and serves as a trustee for the San Diego County Board of Education in her spare time. Paulette also served nine years in the U.S. Army and was deployed during Desert Storm.
“I took the picture in Collins Valley in Anza Borrego Desert State Park which is located in Southern California. It is also the largest state park in California. To get to Collins Valley you either need a good set of legs or (what I used ) a high clearance 4×4 vehicle. I was slowly driving my Jeep when I noticed something different on a Cholla Cactus off to the left of me. I pulled out my binoculars and was surprised to see an antelope ground squirrel feasting on the dried-up blossoms. I immediately set the binoculars down and picked up the camera to start snapping pictures.”
“I have been visiting state parks since I was a child. I am awestruck by the beauty of the outdoors. Beauty can look many different ways. From the vast expanses of a desert below sea level, to the tallest mountains and to all of the living creatures that live within these incredible ecosystems. Photographs bring the beauty of these parks to those who may not have the means to visit them anytime soon. They can also bring back memories. I hope that my photographs inspire others the same way I’ve been inspired.”
Paulette took this photo using a Sony A1 camera and 200—600mm lens. Twitter: @sdpaulette Instagram: @photogpaulette
Friends & Family Category Winner
Photographer: Jerry Cowart
Location: Leo Carrillo State Park, California
The judges loved the way Jerry’s photo—titled “Fun at the Beach”—captures the great feelings that state parks bring when you share your adventures with others.
An award-winning graphic designer for over 40 years, Jerry became interested in photography during his tour in Vietnam in 1968—when he started carrying a Kodak 35MM Instamatic everywhere. Jerry now uses a Canon R5 and still carries his camera with him everywhere he goes.
“After I got back to the States, I enrolled full-time at Art Center College of Design, graduating in 1972 with a BA degree in advertising/graphic design. Through my love for graphic design, I got involved with some of the top photographers in the Los Angeles area, and photography has been a passion ever since.”
“My journey with photography is an ongoing and ever-evolving process that is buried deep in my soul. What I discovered is to enjoy the moment, to slow down each day, to love the sound of the shutter, and to admire all the beauty—for in the blink of an eye it will be gone. I see perfection in a world that is not always kind and loving. That once-in-a-lifetime moment is now caught in a photograph for all to see.”
Camping Category Winner
Photographer: Ryan Burger De Vries
Location: Straits State Park, Michigan
Ryan titled his photo “Camping by Mighty Mac,” and the judges thought it really captured a great camping vibe.
“I first crossed the Mackinac Bridge as a kid, in the back seat of our family minivan. On our first family trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, crossing the “Mighty Mac” made such an impression on me and I begged my parents to take us camping at Straits State Park the next summer. Even as a kid, I knew the Park has some amazing views of the Bridge!”
“This memory was always in the back of my mind when I started doing more photography and camping in 2020. Although I’d camped less often in the years since our regular family trips, quarantine and the pandemic naturally led me to spend more time outdoors. And I always had my camera with me!”
“As I started taking my photography more seriously, I was inspired by all the great camping photos I saw from other photographers. But, I never saw any shots from the waterfront sites at Straits, which I think are among Michigan’s most photogenic. Last year I booked super early and I finally got this shot that’s been in my head for years!”
Ryan used a Sony a7II camera with Tamron 28—75 f2.8 lens to capture this winning image.
Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who participated in the 2023 America’s State Parks Photo Contest!
Are you ready for an outdoor adventure? Plan your camping trip!