OSPREY, FL (July 1, 2025) Big Waters Land Trust, formerly Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, is excited to announce the juried selections and winners for their sixth annual Summer Photo Contest! Photographers of all ages and experience levels were invited to submit their original work showcasing the beauty of natural Florida to this online competition. This year’s competition is proudly sponsored by Sarasota Scene Magazine.
The three-member jury responsible for selecting the top 50 images for inclusion included acclaimed photographer Larry Allan, renowned videographer and photographer Karen Arango, and Darcy Kelly-Laviolette, Executive Creative Director of Sarasota Scene Magazine. When making their selections, jurors evaluated submissions on composition, color, contrast, point of view, whether the image told a story, and how well the image fit the category. In addition to selecting which images would be included in the exhibit, jurors awarded a winner in each category as well as an overall Best-In-Show. Photographer names were omitted during the selection process.
View the winning images and full exhibit online on Big Waters’ website and Facebook page. The jury-selected winners for each category are:
- In Love with the Land – Telegraph Swamp Cypress by Ethan Coyle
- The Art of Nature – Bolt from The Blue by Christopher Berg
- Beautiful Waters and Best-In-Show Winner – Sea of Fish and Light by Brice Claypoole
- It’s A Wild Life – Mother’s Love by Liz Leibham
- Youth Perspective – Sunset by Sylvia Adams
- Honorable Mention – Feast of Fish by Andrew Furness
People’s Choice voting is happening on Facebook now through Labor Day, September 1, 2025. At the end of the voting period, the photo with the most likes/loves in each category will be deemed the People’s Choice Category Winner. The image with the most likes/loves overall will be the People’s Choice Best-In-Show. All voting will take place on Facebook, and the likes/loves must be on the original image in the Big Waters Land Trust 2025 Summer Photo Contest gallery to be counted. People’s Choice winners will be announced on Facebook throughout the day on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
Congratulations to all the photographers whose work was selected for this year’s exhibit!
About Big Waters Land Trust
Big Waters protects land and water in Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature. Through strategic collaborations with individuals, groups, organizations, and government, they work to ensure all people have access to clean water, fresh air, nutritious food, abundant wildlife, beautiful natural areas to enjoy, and all the other physical and mental benefits nature provides. Their vital work strengthens Southwest Florida’s resiliency to storms and floods, enriches lives, and helps safeguard our community for generations to come. Learn more at bigwaterslandtrust.org.
