Judges faced
difficult decisions in selecting the winners of the Lakeside
News/Lake Lanier 50th Anniversary photo contest. With nearly 150
entries in four categories, the subject matter ranged from
youngsters having fun fishing to picturesque views of the lake and
sailboats at sunset.
The grand
prize winner is Melita Reeves of Tucker, whose photo of herself and
her dog silhouetted at sunset wowed the judges. Reeves won the $500
cash prize. “It had all the elements of a day at the lake,” said
Vernita Loveridge with the Marina Operators of Lake Lanier. “It
captures a moment, is good technically and evokes so much of what
the lake is about,” said Su Anderson, staff photographer with the
Gwinnett Daily Post.
Other judges
include Cheryl Smith, northeast Georgia regional tourism
representative with the Georgia Department of Economic Development;
Vicki Barnhorst, executive director of the Lake Lanier Association;
and Alan Hope, publisher of Lakeside News.
In addition to
being displayed in this month’s issue of Lakeside, the first place
photos will be used in the 50th Anniversary Lake Lanier Association
Commemorative Cookbook. A selection of photos also will appear in
the Gwinnett Daily Post. “This will be the perfect addition to our
commemorative cookbook,” Barnhorst said. “The beauty of the lake
will be preserved in these photos for years to come.” The winning
entries are also being posted on the Georgia Tourism site for
Northeast Georgia.
“It was
amazingly difficult to choose winners,” Smith said. “There were so
many great photographs – dramatic, soothing, filled with action,
reflecting emotion. Although we were limited by selecting three
winners in each category and an honorable mention in each, everyone
who entered is a winner."
Results
Grand Prize
Grand
prize: Melita Reeves, Tucker, GA: Melita and her dog, Jazz,
share a sunset together.
First Place
1st place,
Boating/Sailing: Melissa Prosser, Roswell, GA: Michael and buddy
Buss chillin’ on Lanier.
1st place,
Lake Beauty: Lori Puentes, Cumming, GA: Sunset fires through an
island on Lanier.
1st place,
Fishing: Ruby Norman, Alpharetta, GA: Big rod, little fish as
Dean Norman lands a catch.
