WINNERS OF THE 2013 "Imagining a World Beyond Toxics" PHOTO CONTEST
Kudos to all the talented photographers and amazing bee photos! We hope you had as much fun submitting them, and watching and voting on Facebook as we did. This year the judges were truly impressed with the fact that there were so many simply wonderful photos submitted! For all of us, the top 5 stood out. | Read the press release
Thank you, The Kiva, Eugene's Downtown Grocery Store for sponsoring our "Beauty of the Bee" Photo Display. (Contact us if you'd like to show this exhibit in your location.)
FIRST PLACE
"The Measure of a Bee" by Autumn Steam
Why is it important to save our bees?
Autumn: Bees help pollinate the food we eat, but beyond that, they are simply amazing creatures and we need to save them.
SECOND PLACE
"Bee and Borage" by Catia Juliana
Photo by Catia Juliana
Why is it important to save our bees?
Catia: Healthy gardens need healthy bees. We need protection for our pollinators.
THIRD PLACE
Bee on white bean flower by Judit Covarrubias Garcia
Photo by Judit Covarrubias Garcia
Why is it important to save our bees?
Judit: Bees may seem like just another insect, or some cartoon on a box of cereal... but these little creatures are in fact vital instruments in the propagation of life. Without bees pollinating our world we would soon be left with a minimal vestige of life as we know it.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
"Honey I'm Working, I'll Be Home Soon" by Don Schwartz
Photo by Don Schwartz
Why is it important to save our bees?
Don: Bees are integral and vital to all plant life in our world.
"Honey Bee and American Lotus Blossom" by Michael McCaffrey
Photo by Michael McCaffrey
Why is it important to save our bees?
Michael: Areas of China were cavalier about using pesticides and now bee-less, humans have to pollinate crops by hand!
CONTEST WINNER RESPONSES
"I am so honored and incredibly proud of being a part of this." ~ Autumn Steam, 1st Place Winner
"Thank you for the great honor of being selected! I've been so enjoying photographing the bees in my garden, I'm thrilled to share an image for such a great cause!" ~ Catia Juliana, 2nd Place Winner
"I am honored to have my photograph chosen for your traveling exhibition. Thanks for your work in the name of bees." ~ Don Schwartz, Honorable Mention
We have created a poster-sized traveling photo display, "The Beauty of the Bee," from the TOP winners and from favorites among Facebook voters and Beyond Toxics staff (see below). The photography exhibit will be used in a number of events around Oregon in the coming months to raise awareness about the plight of bees. Stay tuned for more details....We will also be developing a slide show that will feature many of the images below. Our aim is to improve the public's appreciation for the beauty and value of our bee friends and these beautiful images will add a great deal to that intention.
See a number of our favorite choices below. BIG thanks to all who entered and to all who give their love and attention to bees everywhere!
Director’s Choice (a favorite of our Executive Director, Lisa Arkin)
"Bee seeing you!" by Marie Sweeten
Photo by Marie Sweeten
Why is it important to save our bees?
Marie: So that we can continue to eat!
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Winner of most Facebook votes
Got Pollen?" by Kerry Terrel
Photo by Kerry Terrel
Why is it important to save our bees?
Kerry: Bees are vital to the agricultural industry which in turn sustains humanity.
MORE...
Photo by Dylan Byrnes
Photo by Dylan Byrnes
Title: Bee on Purple Flower
Why is it important to save our bees?
Bees are not only amazing creatures, but essential to the health of our planetary ecosystem.
Photo by Rachel Kinsey
Photo by Rachel Kinsey
Title: Flower Power Busy Bee
Why is it important to save our bees?
We, as humans are responsible for preserving our earth and respecting, and protecting it's occupants.
Photo by Cole Keister
Photo by Cole Keister
No title
Why is it important to save our bees?
Bees are a very important part of our ecosystem. Without them, many of the plants and flowers we love, would disappear.
Photo by Catherine Nahas
Photo by Catherine Nahas
Title: Honey bee and milkweed
Why is it important to save our bees?
Bees are important pollinators, all crops including food depend on them.
Photo by Katie Montgomery
Photo by Katie Montgomery
Title: Bee and Sweet Pea
Why is it important to save our bees?
The gifts of the bees are countless. By protecting these pollinators we are supporting the biodiversity of the Earth.
Photo by Nichole Shipman
Photo by Nichole Shipman
Title: The Circle of Life
Why is it important to save our bees?
Currently, bees are murdered by pesticides. Without them, they wont pollinate and it's all part of the circle of life.
Photo by Ingrid Wendt
Photo by Ingrid Wendt
Title: Bee in My Flowerbox Asters
Why is it important to save our bees?
The future of all that blooms depends upon the survival of bees. Think of a future with no apples. It's in your hands.
Photo by Todd McNally
Photo by Todd McNally
Title: Bee on milkweed.
Why is it important to save our bees?
Putting it simply bees are essential to all life and its our responsibility to protect them. Period.
Photo by Joan Budai
Photo by Joan Budai
Title: Bumble Bee on Swamp Milkweed
Why is it important to save our bees?
Pollination is essential to maintain a healthy planet and bees are indispensable pollinators! Ban neonicotinoids!
Photo by Rebecca Finley
Photo by Rebecca Finley
Title: Another day at the office
Why is it important to save our bees?
Bees are vital to our system of agriculture, and their byproducts have unique dietary benefits and medicinal properties.
Photo by Chad Bringan
Photo by Chad Bringan
Title: Brave Bee on a Burning Sun
Why is it important to save our bees?
Bees play a crucial role in our ecosystem. Without their pollination our world would quickly decay!
Photo by Jessica Masterson
Photo by Jessica Masterson
Title: Happy Bee on Pink Zinnia in Southern Florida
Why is it important to save our bees?
They are essential to our pollinating plants
Photo by Margaret Anderson
Photo by Margaret Anderson
Title: Honey bees are our friends
Why is it important to save our bees?
For pollination and honey production.
How we chose the winners
There were four judges involved: Katherine Harnedy, professional photographer (http://www.katehphoto.com/); Lisa Arkin, Beyond Toxics Executive Director; John Jordan-Cascade, Beyond Toxics Communications Manager and avid photographer and Paige Spence, Beyond Toxics Environmental Justice and Community Outreach Manager. Each judge used 7 aesthetic and creative criteria (scale of 1-5 for each) and in the case of a tie, the Facebook votes for the tied photos were factored in. They were all so close that there was only a two-point difference in the final tally between the top 3 photos and there was a point tie between the 3rd place winner and the first honorable mention, so we had to use the Facebook votes to break the tie.
Please visit our Facebook photo contest album to see all entrants.
