Departments

Our 18th Annual Photo Contest

Panel of Judges

Kevin Rau, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass
Karl Volkman, The Karl Volkman Group, First Weber Realtors
TJ Minnehan, President, Bank of Kaukauna
Moderator Sarah Elliott, Owner, Sarah Celine Photography LLC
Carrie Liebhauser, Marketing Communications Director, Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau

Prizes

A sincere thank you to the area businesses that have generously provided our winners with the following prizes:

Grand Prize: One night stay at CopperLeaf Boutique Hotel, downtown Appleton
First Prizes: $75 toward a stay or dinner at Bridgewood Resort Hotel & Conference Center in Neenah
Second Prizes: $50 gift certificate for The Frame Workshop of Appleton
Third Prizes: $25 gift certificate for Wildbird & Backyard in Appleton

Overall Winner: “Appleton Yacht Club End of Season” by Scott Francis

Scott Francis of Menasha captured the image of the Overall Winner in September 2023 from the Memorial Drive Bridge when the fall leaves were nearing their peak color.
“I wanted to capture the leaves with their reflection on the water,” he says. “The golden sunset was a nice bonus that greatly added to the picture.
“I picked this photo to enter because I thought it captured the season, the sunset and the iconic location of the Appleton Yacht Club on the Fox River.”
Our judges agreed, commenting on its color and Midwestern charm.

People

First Place: “Balancing” by Shirley Sitter

This impromptu photo taken on the Fox River near Telulah Park is full of feeling, both for our judging panel and for our submitter, Shirley Sitter of Appleton.
“A few of us were… trying to capture the sunset on the water, when I sat back and appreciated Melissa’s carefree stroll along the shoreline,” she says. “I submitted the photo because it made me feel young. Plain and simple, no other explanation. It brought me back to lighthearted days as a young girl and having the time, energy and opportunity to stop and watch a sunset with my parents and not have a care in the world.”

Second Place: “You Are My Sunshine” by Miranda Lemke

Last October, outside of Sherwood, Miranda Lemke of Chilton had a big job on her hands: keep big sister entertained while mom was doing an outfit change for her maternity shoot.
“I’ve always been a big fan of sunsets and silhouettes,” she says. “So why not combine the two to capture a unique picture?
“I adore this picture because although the idea for the picture was planned (holding her up in the sun), you can’t pose a one-year-old. The way her legs are kicked up and she is reaching for her dad’s face is just so beautifully captured. Plus, how the rays are shining through her is such a neat symbolism for how kids tend to be rays of light in their parents’ lives. Hence the title “You Are My Sunshine.”

Third Place: “At Mulberry Lane Farm” by Jessica Young

“It was my first ‘mommy/son’ outing at Mulberry Lane Farm and I wanted to capture the moment,” Jessica Young of Appleton says of this winner. “He won’t remember it, but I will! We went on a hayride and picked a pumpkin. He saw his first cow and played with a chicken. It was the best day!”

Places

First Place: “Raining Rainbows” by David Hall

On May 11, somewhere between midnight and 3 a.m., David Hall of Appleton was both “good and lucky” (his words!) to capture the Northern lights.
“As minutes bled into hours, the intensity of the aurora fluctuated, yet its power never diminished,” he remembers. “Each shift in color, each ripple in the light, held a mesmerizing beauty. I felt a childlike wonder bubbling up within me, a sense of pure, unadulterated fascination with the universe’s raw power.
“Emerald green curtains shimmered and pulsed with an inner light, their edges bleeding into fiery reds and vibrant violets. The very air crackled with unseen energy as the celestial ballet unfolded above. It wasn’t a static display, but a dynamic performance. Colossal ribbons of light snaked across the heavens, twisting and turning in a cosmic waltz. The entire spectacle pulsed with an otherworldly rhythm, a silent roar that resonated deep within my soul.”

Second Place: “Strawberry Moon Over Kaukauna” by Ronald Powell

Ronald Powell captured this winning image at Riverside Park in Kaukauna.
“I went to the location with the intent to capture the Strawberry Moon rising over the Memorial Bridge and old upper mill (which is now the Kaukauna library),” he says. “The conditions were very good and there was little cloud cover. I took about 40 shots that night and this was the best one.”

Third Place: “Neenah Center Reflection” by Joe Lukasik

Joe Lukasik of Neenah was enjoying the “Out to Lunch Concert Series” at Shattuck Park when he noticed the three flags at Neenah Center.
“I was enjoying the concert with my parents and happened to have my Canon camera with me,” he recalls. “My father was an Army Veteran. We felt the reflection of the flags and clouds in the glass was particularly striking and patriotic.”

Things

First Place: “Such A Ham!” by Joy Spatchek

After teaching for 38 years, Joy Spatchek of Reedsville retired and began a part-time job as a field trip guide at Mulberry Lane Farm.
“I went from being Mrs. Spatchek in the classroom to becoming Farmer Joy at Mulberry Lane Farm. The days are so much fun!” she says. “School children love the hands-on experience, and I love sharing interesting facts with them. I also love to take pictures… I thought this photo was especially cute as our friend the pig seemed to be ‘hamming it up’ for the camera.”

Second Place: “Patriotic Sunflower” by  Sharon Olk
Aptly named, “Patriotic Sunflower” was taken by Sharon Olk of Oshkosh on Labor Day in 2023.
“I was photographing sunflowers in my yard and liked how the flag looked in the background,: she says. “Sunflowers grow all summer and Labor Day is the official end of summer.”

Third Place: “Frozen Fountain Frolic” by Gina Buechel

Gina Marie Buechel was looking for wildlife at City Park in Appleton when she noticed the fountain.
“As I danced at different angles with the figures around the fountain, amongst the beauty, I found that winter had left her frozen scars,” she says. “Yet, the figures stood strong; still seeming to dance and play with joy on their faces and their hands in the air. It’s as if they held glimmers of hope that summer’s golden drops would soon melt away winter’s wounds.
“For me, it is an absolute joy to be able to capture moments in time and share them with people who may not otherwise get to see these scenes for themselves. In this instance, a scene that was not presented in its normal setting was a unique bonus!”