Grand Prize - Calendar Cover:

You’ve got to feel the winter when you see our Grand Prize photo taken by Patrick Shiflet. It was a bitterly cold morning early in 2009 when Pat passed this scene by the old mill on Nazarene Church Road at Spring Creek west of Bridgewater. He went back to get his camera so he could show this beautiful scene to his wife – and now we get to enjoy it, too! Pat has two daughters, so keeps his camera close by for those great family photo ops. He lives on Hemlock Cove Lane and works at Mill Cabinet Shop.

January:

Photographing the Shenandoah Valley in the winter, Rick Dickey, resident of Woodstock, goes out early before the sun can melt the snow away. Rick has a passion for photography, since he sold the “Grit” newspaper, in 1956, for enough points to buy his first camera. This picture of the red barn and Edinburg Gap from Moose Road, in Woodstock, shows the beauty typical of the Valley.

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February:

Mwizenge S. Tembo is currently Associate Professor of Sociology who has taught at Bridgewater College for 19 years. He was first introduced to photography as a hobby when he was a young boy and his father bought him a small cheap plastic camera in the mid 1960s in his native country of Zambia in Southern Africa. He took this photograph while driving along the North River in Bridgewater during one snowy morning when school was closed. He enjoys sharing and discussing the challenges and pleasures o fwriting and photography.

March:

These lovely spring redbuds near Zion Mennonite Church on Daphna Road near Broadway were captured by Al Crigler of Franklin, WV. He enjoys driving through our beautiful Valley countryside and is sure to have his camera along. After working and living in Washington DC for many years, he moved back to his native WV hometown upon retirement.

April:

Patrick Kyger, a part time farmer and retired firefighter from Port Republic, captured this colorful rainbow from his deck at Critter Haven Farm just after a spring thunderstorm. Most of his photography is of his children and family, but this scene was so special he grabbed his Canon digital camera to preserve it.

May:

This adorable barn kitty was playing in the yard when Vicki Schuck helped her pose for this portrait. Vicki lives on a farm on Mountain Valley Road outside Keezletown, and bottle fed this kitten after she was orphaned. Vicki has always enjoyed photography, and since moving back to the farm sees picture opportunities all around.

June:

Shaunna Bowers of Basye, Virginia captured a shot of this winged jewel buzzing up to the feeder one morning. Often times they are too busy chasing each other and eating to even pay much attention to her presence so she is able to observe closely. There have even been times she's felt their wings flutter against her cheek. "I never take their presence for granted because just like that they are gone until the following spring!"

July:

The fireworks display at Gypsy Hill Park (in Staunton) is an annual favorite show for Peggy Stewart of Grottoes. Her brother lives near the park, and Peggy has tried for years to get a good shot of the July 4th fireworks; she used a tripod and tooks lots of shots to get this one. After receiving a Canon Rebel camera in 2009 she has taken photography classes at BRCC to improve her technique. Peggy is a mother of two and grandmother of four, and finds lots of opportunity for pictures.

August:

This picturesque log cabin is at Elizabeth Furnace in Shenandoah County and caught the eye of Karen Mussleman of Harrisonburg while out on a Sunday drive. Karen enjoys her photography hobby and has upgraded to a Canon Rebel XSI camera. She joins other photography buffs in classes offered by Picture University with several local professional photographers sharing their wealth of experience.

September:

The fall leaves at Meems Bottom near Mt. Jackson were at peak color when Ruth Dellinger of Woodstock took this spectacular shot. She had visited this spot several times to get the perfect picture. Ruth took up her photography hobby about 3 years ago for an enjoyable outlet after managing apartments; she uses an Olympus E500 digital camera.

October:

Matt Funkhouser of Broadway took this photo near Bergton during a relaxing Sunday afternoon drive.  He says, "My family and friends love to pack a picnic lunch, and drive the back roads during the fall season to view the beautiful landscapes, leaves and wildlife.  It is time well spent with family and friends, viewing Gods handiwork, and the anticipation of what you may see around each turn."

November:

Shaunna Bowers has a second winning shot of this breathtaking Basye sunrise. It was taken on a crisp fall morning at her parent's home just before she left for work. "I now live in town and miss those mornings of catching the sun and the beautiful hues as it starts to peak up over the mountains. I love the valley and all its beauty."

December:

Red berries, green holly leaves, and bright white snow certainly get us in the December mood! Nancy Runion of Timberville took this shot when arriving at work one morning at Agri of Virginia, and had her trusty camera handy in the car. Nancy enjoys photography and says “once you start taking pictures and enjoy it, you see pretty pictures everywhere!”

Honorable Mentions:

Matt Funkhouser, our October winner, also took this photo near his home on Springbrook Road.  Matt says, "It was a cold spring morning in April, and I was out enjoying a cup of coffee and the fresh morning air.  The morning sun was trying its best to burn through the thick fog over the horse farm giving it a surreal look. It was truly a beautiful morning."

Garrett Baldwin of Harrisonburg is an outdoorsman and visits Lake Shenandoah often. He took this photo during a fishing trip, and edited the colors using Photoshop software. He took up the photography hobby recently, and uses a Sony VSLR A100 digital camera.

This typical Valley summer farm scene off state route 55 west of Strasburg was taken by George Hoffman of Strasburg. He is a technology manager at LFCC, loves photography, and is interested in all kinds of visual arts. He remarks “I just loved the contrasts of blue sky, green grasses, and brown fields” in this view.

This almost-tame little guy was showing off for Marilyn Hooven VMD of Criders in her backyard. The family nicknamed him "Earl" the squirrel, and he seemed to have a dandelion halo in this shot. Marilyn runs the German River Veterinary Clinic in Criders and loves nature photography.

Rufus Huffman has been a family physician in Bridgewater for 31 years.  He purchased a new camera in May and says "I’ve have had fun learning how to use it and attempting to improve my photography skills. This picture was taken at Wildwood Park in Bridgewater."

Tiffany Knupp of McGaheysville enjoys visiting Big Meadows on the Skyline Drive with her family, and used her zoom 35MM camera to get this great shot of a quiet fawn hiding in the summer grass and flowers. She has been a photography hobbyist for quite a while, and says she “enjoys the challenge of capturing the moment.”

Vicki Shuck, our May winner, also took this great close up of one of her husband’s roses just after a late summer evening rain.

These swans at Silver Lake in Dayton formed a perfect heart for Johnny Werner and his quick camera. Johnny lives in Broadway and was on a trip to purchase garden goodies on a pretty summer day, and had his camera ready for just such a perfect scene. He says the swans had their head under water and he was lucky to catch this pose.

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