Photo of elusive bobcat wins 5th annual Conservation Foundation's People's Choice contest
A portrait of a bobcat – a stealthy animal not often seen in daylight although their numbers in Florida are abundant – won best-in-show for the People's Choice competition in the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast's fifth annual virtual Summer Photo Contest.
People's Choice voting was conducted on Facebook between July 1 and Sept. 2 and the most liked/loved image in five categories was recognized as a People’s Choice winner.
The Conservation Foundation invited photographers of all ages and experience levels to submit their original work showcasing the beauty of natural Florida to the online competition. Over 300 photographs from across the state were submitted. A panel of experts previously selected winners in five categories and a best-in-show. When making their decisions, jurors weighed composition, color, contrast, point of view, whether the image told a story, and how well the image fit the category.
The People's Choice bobcat photo – "If Looks Could Kill" – was taken by Chris St. Michael and won the It’s A Wild Life category. Bobcats are found throughout Florida in deep forest, swamps, and hammock land, ranging 5-6 square miles in rural areas and 1-2 miles in suburban areas, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
In addition, the People’s Choice category winners are:
· The Big Picture: "Morning Bliss" by Ernest Gonzalez.
· The Art of Nature: "Falling Embers" in the Moonlight’ by Anthony Berry.
· It’s A Wild Life: "If Looks Could Kill" by Chris St. Michael.
· Old Florida Charm: "Blackburn Point Bridge" by Cathleen Nardi.
· Youth Perspective: "Light in the Darkness" by Grace Deciantis.
The full gallery may be viewed at conservationfoundation.com/summerphoto2024 or by visiting Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast on Facebook.
The Conservation Foundation protects land and water in Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature through collaborations with individuals, groups, organizations, and government. Learn more at conservationfoundation.com.
Submitted by Sam Valentin
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Gulf Coast Conservation Foundation names People's Choice photo winners