Out of more than 315 submissions, eight photographers were selected to receive top awards for their photos in the 17th annual “Essence of Bellingham” Photo Competition.
- Best of Show – 1st Place – “Robin” by Jeffrey Barclay
- Best of Show – 2nd Place – “Lummi River Estuary off Red River Rd” by Vanessa Story
- Best of Show – 3rd Place – “All Lined Up” by Allen Leaf
- Best of Class – 5-8 Grade – “New Life” by Samantha Sporn
- Best of Class – 9-12 Grade – “Mystery Women” by Averi Evans
- Best of Class – College – “Subdued Fog” by Tristan Jones
- Best of Class – Professional – “Snowy Lake Padden” by David Veatch
- Climate Action Award – “Street Surfing” by Rochelle Parry
Along with top winners, 55 photos also received best of category and honorable mention awards.
Due to COVID restrictions, the public display of winning entries was postponed for the 2020 and 2021 competition years. Later this year there will be a public display in City Hall that will include the top photos from all three years (2020-2022).
The competition is sponsored by the City of Bellingham and the Whatcom Museum. Submissions were juried by representatives from the Whatcom Museum and the City of Bellingham. Winning entries were selected based on how well they captured the essence of Bellingham and the quality of the photograph.
All entries will be added to Whatcom Museum’s photo archives and may appear on BTV or in other City publications. An online photo gallery of this year’s entries, a complete list of awards, and details about the next competition are available on the Essence of Bellingham Photo Competition page. Entries for next year’s competition are being accepted now through May 1, 2023.
