Every year we’re amazed by the creativity and sheer beauty of photos submitted by our readers to Kentucky Living’s annual photo contest. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit 2,460 photos across five categories—Aerial, Animals, Kentucky Travels and People. Congratulations to all winners who take home $100 for first, $50 for second and $25 for third place. There are still more chances to win in our People’s Choice online contest. Click here to vote from July 3–August 6 for finalists. Then, start taking and gathering photos for next year’s contest which opens next March.
FIRST PLACE, AERIAL
Calvert City slowly emerges from low fog on a fall morning in this drone photo by Jackson Purchase Energy Corp. consumer-member Nathan Brandon. This photo also appeared in the city’s own calendar.
SECOND PLACE, AERIAL
Harold Kelley, Lucas, a Farmers RECC consumer-member, took this summertime photo in the Upper Peter Creek area of Barren River Lake. That’s U.S. Highway 31E running over the lake.
THIRD PLACE, AERIAL
A February snow blankets Blanton Forest on Harlan County’s Pine Mountain in this shot from the Knobby Rock area taken by Rodney Hendrickson, London, a Jackson Energy Cooperative consumer-member.
FIRST PLACE, ANIMALS
Anna Mae Gabbard of Waneta gently cradles two fuzzy chicks. Photo by granddaughter Angela Byrd, a Jackson Energy Cooperative consumer-member from McKee, who says her granny loves chickens.
SECOND PLACE, ANIMALS
Luna lazes in a shot taken by her owner, Lindsey Culver of Oneida, who rescued her when she was a stray kitten. Luna, 7, passed away a few months ago.
THIRD PLACE, ANIMALS
“The tiniest of details” is the fitting title Alexandria D. Swanger, Campbellsville, gives her photo of this snail on a historic rock wall at Shaker Village near Harrodsburg.
FIRST PLACE, KENTUCKY TRAVELS
The unique Red Byrd Arch in the Red River Gorge Geological Area is not seen by many, says Jesse Thompson, Georgetown, who took this photo.
SECOND PLACE, KENTUCKY TRAVELS
Kayaker Trudy Flowers enjoys a colorful and peaceful sunrise on misty Bullock Pen Lake. Photo by Becky Kempf of Crittenden, an Owen Electric Cooperative consumer-member.
THIRD PLACE, KENTUCKY TRAVELS
Leonard Beck of Fort Thomas took this photo from the Lover’s Leap overlook at the end of Laurel Ridge Trail in Natural Bridge State Resort Park.
FIRST PLACE, NATURE
Eric Comley, Lancaster, spotted this beautiful iridescent beetle shimmering on squash leaves in his Garrard County garden, and took this shot. He calls it “Beetle among us.”
SECOND PLACE, NATURE
Raindrops bead the petals of a brightly colored early-blooming iris after a spring shower. Anne Campbell of Lexington took the photo in her garden.
THIRD PLACE, NATURE
“Amber waves” in the foreground hint at the winds on the spring day when William Lamkin, Columbia, took this photo in Pellyton. Lamkin is a Taylor County RECC consumer-member.
FIRST PLACE, PEOPLE
Delbert Gibbs looks up with a smile as he works in his shed in Corbin, sharpening a blade for a table saw. Grandson Darrell Lovitt, Williamsburg, took the photo.
SECOND PLACE, PEOPLE
Owen Electric consumer-member Lynda Remus, Florence, and her family were on a “mini adventure” at Doe Run Lake Park when she took this shot of her daughter, Arabella, with brothers Titus and John not far behind.
THIRD PLACE, PEOPLE
Brandon Combess, owner/trainer of Maysville’s Combess Barbell gym, gets ready for some heavy lifting in this photo by Samantha Welch, Hillsboro, a Fleming-Mason Energy Cooperative consumer-member.
