Oil City woman wins award in state photo contest

From staff reports

An Oil City photographer has gained acclaim with one of her entries in the 2021 Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation’s photo contest.

Dot Monahan won the people’s choice award in the Natural Value category of the annual contest with a shot of a great horned owlet that she spotted at Presque Isle State Park in Erie.

The 2021 contest marked the 50th anniversary of the Environmental Rights Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Constitution. In celebration, the Parks and Forest Foundation focused its annual photo contest on key aspects of this legislation.

Contestants submitted their photos taken within one of Pennsylvania’s 141 state parks and forests, according to categories that highlighted the amendment.

These included clean air, pure water, natural value, scenic value, historic value, aesthetic value and a young photographers category.

“I enjoy driving through the state parks in northwestern Pennsylvania and walking on trails because there is so much beautiful wildlife to see and photograph,” Monahan said.

The photo that earned her the people’s choice award was one of two great horned owlets she saw near their nest at Presque Isle.

The foundations 2022 photo contest is open now, and professional and amateur photographers may enter their photos captured throughout the seasons in Pennsylvania’s parks and forests.

More details are available at paparksandforests.org.