8th Annual OIWC-GNPA Photo Contest – Call for Entries!

by Jamie Anderson | Jul 27, 2026 | Competitions, WHATS HOT

SAVE THE DATE

Call for Entries Begins • August 1, 2026

The 8th Annual Oatland Island Wildlife Center–Georgia Nature Photographers Association Photo Competition is almost here!

Whether your passion is breathtaking coastal scenery, intimate wildlife encounters, or expressing your artistic vision through creative nature photography, this year’s competition offers an exciting opportunity to showcase your best work while celebrating the natural beauty of the Southeast.

2026 Competition Categories

Important Dates

• Entries Open: August 1, 2026
• Entry Deadline: August 21st, 2026 at 10pm.
• Notification of Accepted Images: September 1st, 2026
• Framed Print Delivery Deadline: September 30th, 2026
• Hand Delivery Date: October 1st by 11:00am
• Exhibition Duration: October 1st, 2026 thru January 31st, 2027
• Awards and Opening Celebration: October 10th, 10:30am
• Exhibit Takedown: February 1st, 2027

Open to GNPA Members Only
We encourage photographers of every skill level to participate. Begin selecting your favorite images now, prepare your entries, and mark your calendar for August 1st!

Login First and then Click the Link below to View or Enter the Contest Here:

We can’t wait to see your vision of the Southeast through your lens.
Good luck—and happy shooting!

2026 GNPA Jekyll Island Expo Contest Winners

by Jamie Anderson | Jun 3, 2026 | Competitions, WHATS HOT

“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:

1. Horace Hamilton-Peaceful Nightscape-Jekyll
2. Liz Esarove-Swamp Safari-Okefenokee-Folkston
3. Ray Silva-Sunrise/Sunset-Jekyll
4. Chris Dahl-Birds of Any Feather-Jekyll
5. Jerry Black-Historic Landmarks & Jekyll Treasures-Jekyll
6. Doug Flor-Coastal Close-Ups-Jekyll
7. Lee Friedman-Jekyll Island-The Extended Cut

CONGRATULATIONS-INTERMEDIATE PHOTOGRAPHERS:

1b-Peaceful Nightscapes-Intermediate:

• • 1^st-*Milky Way-Mike Thornton-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Milky Way and Driftwood-Mike Thornton-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-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:

• • 1^st-*Simply Amazing-Sam Crews-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Smokey Swamp Sunrise-Linda Baker-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-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:

• • 1^st-*Morning Glory-Ritsa Zaharis-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-The Morning Star-Crystal Berry-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-Daybreak-Ritsa Zaharis-$15 Hunt’s
  • HM-Serenity-Dee Dee Brown
  • HM-Sunrise Driftwood Beach-Mike Thornton

4b-Birds of Any Feather-Intermediate:

• • 1^st-*No Catch This Time-Linda Schultz-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Skimming the Surface-Linda Schultz-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-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:

• • 1^st-*Keeping Watch-Linda Baker-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Juxtaposition-Sam Crews-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-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:

• • 1^st-*Fan Dancer-Sam Crews-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Golden Glow-Lauren Desko-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-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:

• • 1^st-*Swirling Tears-Linda Baker-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Painted Sky-Dee Dee Brown-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-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:

• • 1^st-*SpaceX Falcon 9-Jamie Anderson-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Galactic Reach-Jamie Anderson-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-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:

• • 1^st & Best in Show-Morning Breath-Chris Dahl-$100 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Stealth-Janet Newton-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-Grasspinks-Ray Silva-$15 Hunt’s
  • HM-Copper Sunrise-Janet Newton
  • HM-Okefenokee Sunset-Jay Payne
  • HM-Swamp Serenity-Nicolette Dunn

3a-Sunrise/Sunset:

• • 1^st-*Brantley Fire at Sunset-Steve Kendell-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Make A Wish-Cindy Crews-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-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:

• • 1^st-*Fishing Egret-Jimmy Day-$50 Amazon      
  • 2^nd-Now What-Jim Squires-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-Ready for Takeoff-Ken Smith-$15 Hunt’s
  • HM-Breakfast Challenge-Steve Kendall
  • HM-The Razor Glide-Cindy Crews

5a-Historic Landmarks & Jekyll Treasures:

• • 1^st-*Haunted Horton-Ray Silva-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Spanish Moss-Sarita Yeola-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-Jekyll Valentine-Liz Esarove-$15 Hunt’s
  • HM-Driftwood-Emil Powella
  • HM-Tides on Driftwood-Jamie Anderson

6a-Coastal Close-Ups:

• • 1^st-*Sand Patterns-Steve Kendall-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Braided Sand-Suresh Yeola-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-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:

• • 1^st-*Pelican Dive-Jamie Anderson-$50 Amazon
  • 2^nd-Dairy Silo-Janet Newton-$25 Amazon
  • 3^rd-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 *1^st 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]