Conneaut Resident Captures Judges’ Favorite in 2011 “Life on Lake Erie” Photo Contest

Conneaut resident Richard McBride caught the judges’ attention and received the overall favorite award in this year’s “Life on Lake Erie” photo contest. McBride’s black-and-white image, entitled “Cleveland Tall Ships”, depicts two Tall Ships sailing through the Cleveland Harbor. McBride was recognized for his winning photo along with nine other “Judges’ Favorites” by the members of the Ohio Lake Erie Commission at their September 15th meeting in Bay Village. The Ohio Lake Erie Commission sponsors the contest annually and encourages camera aficionados to submit photos that convey the “Life on Lake Erie” message as they enjoy Ohio’s Great Lake year round.

This year’s photo contest winners are from all along the Lake Erie shoreline from Toledo to Conneaut. The winning photos can be found on the Ohio Lake Erie Commission website, http://www.lakeerie.ohio.gov/.

The photo contest, which drew more than 100 entries this year, is aimed at capturing the day-to-day lives of people, plants and animals that live and thrive in the Lake Erie watershed. Winning photos are featured in the Commission’s traveling Lake Erie Photo Gallery that will be exhibited at the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center in October as well as other destinations along the shoreline in the coming months.

Other Photo Winners Were:

• Jeff Jelinger of Toledo for his picture entitled, “Lonely” of a picnic table sitting on the beach at Maumee Bay State Park.
• Lorie Wilber of Oberlin for her photo entitled, “Happy Hour” of two filled glasses reflecting the sunset at Marblehead.
• Jarrod Will of Westerville for his two photos entitled, “Day at the Beach” of a family strolling near the Fairport Harbor Lighthouse and “Sunset Sail” a sailboat sailing into the sunset in the Cleveland Harbor.
• Patricia Healey of Toledo for her picture entitled, “Perry’s Monument View” of Perry’s Monument taken from Middle Bass Island.
• Richard McBride of Conneaut for his photo entitled, “Cleveland Lighthouse” of the frozen lighthouse taken from the Cleveland Harbor.
• Julie Oglesbee of Marblehead for her photo entitled, “Beyond the Storm” of a Lake Erie sunset with a storm passing.
• Michelle Guerra of Port Clinton for her photo entitled, “Big Bird Watch Week” of visitors watching the migration of birds at Magee Marsh.
• Martha Huepenbecker of Toledo for her photo entitled, “Great Blue” of a beautiful Blue Heron at Side Cut Park in Maumee Ohio.
• Hazel Bonnough of Curtice for her photo entitled, “A Family Affair” of a family of five fishing in the sunset at Maumee Bay State Park.
• Rich Ruess of Norwalk for his photo entitled, “Leisurely Life of a Squirrel” of a squirrel resting on a rail at Sheldon Marsh State Nature Preserve. 

The Ohio Lake Erie Commission was established for the purpose of preserving Lake Erie’s natural resources, protecting the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and promoting economic development in the region. The director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources serves as the commission’s chairman. Additional members include the directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health, Development, Agriculture and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

The Commission also oversees the Ohio Lake Erie Protection Fund, which is the source of grant money for projects that benefit the lake’s watershed economically and environmentally. The fund is supported by Ohioans who purchase a Lake Erie license plate displaying the Marblehead Lighthouse or Toledo Harbor Lighthouse designed by Ohio artist Ben Richmond.