“Best in Show”
Morning Breath by Chris Dahl
Congratulations to everyone who entered the GNPA EXPO 2026 Post Contest! This year’s competition featured an impressive 293 images, showcasing an extraordinary range of talent, creativity, and dedication from photographers in both the Advanced and Intermediate divisions.
Over two exciting days, participants enjoyed 17 field trips led by eight dedicated leaders who generously shared their knowledge, experience, and passion for photography. From capturing Jekyll Islands golden and blue hours along the beautiful beaches, peaceful night skies, to exploring historic areas and treasures that many had never seen before and even venturing into the unique landscape of the Okefenokee, photographers found endless opportunities to create memorable images. A heartfelt thank you to our field trip leaders, Jamie Anderson, Ray Silva, Doug Flor, Horace Hamilton, Jerry Black, Chris Dahl, Janet Newton and Liz Esarove for making these experiences possible.
This year also included four additional days during The Extended Cut on Jekyll Island, giving participants even more time to explore, learn, and photograph on their own.
Congratulations to our Advanced and Intermediate Division winners. However, every entrant should be proud of the passion, effort, and artistic vision reflected in their work. Thank you for making GNPA EXPO 2026-Jekyll Island a remarkable celebration of photography, fellowship, learning, and creative excellence.
Thank you to our Judges-all images were judged anonymously:
- Horace Hamilton-Peaceful Nightscape-Jekyll
- Liz Esarove-Swamp Safari-Okefenokee-Folkston
- Ray Silva-Sunrise/Sunset-Jekyll
- Chris Dahl-Birds of Any Feather-Jekyll
- Jerry Black-Historic Landmarks & Jekyll Treasures-Jekyll
- Doug Flor-Coastal Close-Ups-Jekyll
- Lee Friedman-Jekyll Island-The Extended Cut
CONGRATULATIONS-INTERMEDIATE PHOTOGRAPHERS:
1b-Peaceful Nightscapes-Intermediate:
-
- 1st-*Milky Way-Mike Thornton-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Milky Way and Driftwood-Mike Thornton-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Rocket Launch Over Driftwood Beach-Lauren Desko-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Decorated with Starlight-Dee Dee Brown
- HM-Heavenly Swirls-Sam Crews
- HM-Awe in the Universe-Linda Baker
- HM-Space Invader-Ritsa Zaharis
2b-Swamp Safari-Intermediate:
-
- 1st-*Simply Amazing-Sam Crews-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Smokey Swamp Sunrise-Linda Baker-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Time to Eat-Crystal Berry-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Ansel’s Swamp-Linda Baker
- HM-Swamp Awakening-Dee Dee Brown
- HM-Wall of Mirrors-Sam Crews
3b-Sunrise/Sunset-Intermediate:
-
- 1st-*Morning Glory-Ritsa Zaharis-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-The Morning Star-Crystal Berry-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Daybreak-Ritsa Zaharis-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Serenity-Dee Dee Brown
- HM-Sunrise Driftwood Beach-Mike Thornton
4b-Birds of Any Feather-Intermediate:
-
- 1st-*No Catch This Time-Linda Schultz-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Skimming the Surface-Linda Schultz-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Colorful Green Heron-Linda Schultz-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Crown of Crimson-Linda Baker
- HM-Father Daughter Dance-Linda Baker
- HM-Trying to Swallow-Linda Schultz
5b-Historic Landmarks & Jekyll Treasures-Intermediate:
-
- 1st-*Keeping Watch-Linda Baker-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Juxtaposition-Sam Crews-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-The Clubhouse-Ritsa Zaharis-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Historic Oak-Ritsa Zaharis
- HM-In the Shadow of the Palm-Crystal Berry
6b-Coastal Close-Ups-Intermediate:
-
- 1st-*Fan Dancer-Sam Crews-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Golden Glow-Lauren Desko-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Busy-Sam Crews-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Beach Tree Root-Ry Alford
- HM-Pink Spiral-Lauren Desko
- HM-Waves of Sand-Lauren Desko
7b-Extended Cut-4 days-Jekyll Island-Intermediate:
-
- 1st-*Swirling Tears-Linda Baker-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Painted Sky-Dee Dee Brown-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Sunset St. Andrews Beach-Mike Thornton-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Hint of Pink-Linda Baker
- HM-Morning Glow-Dee Dee Brown
- HM-Muffy-Sam Crews
CONGRATULATIONS-ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHERS:
1-a-Peaceful Nightscapes:
-
- 1st-*SpaceX Falcon 9-Jamie Anderson-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Galactic Reach-Jamie Anderson-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Clam Creek Star Trails-Jimmy Day-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Clam Creek Under the Lights-Ray Silva
- HM-Obscured-Nicolette Dunn
- HM-The Night the Falcon Flew-Cindy Crews
2a-Swamp Safari:
-
- 1st & Best in Show-Morning Breath-Chris Dahl-$100 Amazon
- 2nd-Stealth-Janet Newton-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Grasspinks-Ray Silva-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Copper Sunrise-Janet Newton
- HM-Okefenokee Sunset-Jay Payne
- HM-Swamp Serenity-Nicolette Dunn
3a-Sunrise/Sunset:
-
- 1st-*Brantley Fire at Sunset-Steve Kendell-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Make A Wish-Cindy Crews-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-South Beach Sunrise-Jerry Black-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Highway to Heaven-Suresh Yeola
- HM-Sunrise at Driftwood Beach-Jay Payne
- HM-Sunrise-Emil Powella
4a-Birds of Any Feather:
-
- 1st-*Fishing Egret-Jimmy Day-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Now What-Jim Squires-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Ready for Takeoff-Ken Smith-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Breakfast Challenge-Steve Kendall
- HM-The Razor Glide-Cindy Crews
5a-Historic Landmarks & Jekyll Treasures:
-
- 1st-*Haunted Horton-Ray Silva-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Spanish Moss-Sarita Yeola-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Jekyll Valentine-Liz Esarove-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Driftwood-Emil Powella
- HM-Tides on Driftwood-Jamie Anderson
6a-Coastal Close-Ups:
-
- 1st-*Sand Patterns-Steve Kendall-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Braided Sand-Suresh Yeola-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Ascent-Jill Howard Church-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Ornament of the Sea-Liz Esarove
- HM-Sand Patterns-Sarita Yeola
7a-Extended Cut-4 days-Jekyll Island:
-
- 1st-*Pelican Dive-Jamie Anderson-$50 Amazon
- 2nd-Dairy Silo-Janet Newton-$25 Amazon
- 3rd-Emerging Star-Janet Newton-$15 Hunt’s
- HM-Buzzerella-Vivian Lynch
- HM-Took My Breath Away-Janet Newton
Congratulations to all of our winners. To determine the overall “Best in Show” winner, all 7 judges anonymously evaluated the 14 category *1st Place* winning images.
A special congratulations to Chris Dahl, whose stunning photograph Morning Breath, captured in the Okefenokee, was selected as the “Best in Show”.
To view all of the winning images, [CLICK HERE]