Butterfly on Flower by Joslyn Riddle; first place winner in the Youth Category; image submitted

ONEIDA, TN - The National Park Service (NPS) announces the winners of the annual Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area photo contest. Photographers were invited to submit striking digital images highlighting the spectacular views, dark night skies, historic sites, recreational opportunities, and diversity of life in the park. Entries to the contest were judged by members of the Southern Appalachian Nature Photographers.

The winners of this year’s contest were:

First Place, Youth Category: “Butterfly on Flower” by Joslyn Riddle of Jupiter, Florida.
First Place, Recreation Category: “Big South Fork Country” by Theresa Reynolds of Jamestown, Tennessee.
First Place, Dark Skies Category: “A Stellar View of the O&W” by Travis Tracey of Rocky Top, Tennessee.
First Place, Flora and Fauna Category: “Red-Spotted Purple Admiral” by Peggy Yaeger of Corbin, Kentucky.
First Place, Kentucky Landscapes: “Yahoo Falls” by Ruth Ann Palmer of Walton, Kentucky.
First Place, Tennessee Landscapes: “under Shadow of South Arch” by Travis Tracey of Rocky Top, Tennessee.
First Place, Human History: “Memories of the Burnt Mill” by Nichole Newport of Helenwood, Tennessee

Runners up in the contest included “Yellow Ladies in the Rain” by Renee Errett of Brownsville, Kentucky; “Salamander” by Crystal Gail King of Helenwood, Tennessee; “O&W Bridge” by Jeff Parlow of Harriman, Tennessee; “Big South Fork National River in Snow” by Rodney Hendrickson of London, Kentucky; “Bark Ranger Yahoo Falls Trail” by Paul Klenck of Elmhurst, Illinois; “Eye of the Needle” by Jeff Parlow of Harriman, Tennessee; and “Snail” by Leonie Gunzburger of Jamestown, Tennessee.

Photographers are encouraged to grab their cameras and visit the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The park will be announcing its 2022 photo contest soon. For more information on the Big South Fork, please call (423) 286-7275, or visit online at www.nps.gov/biso.