Every year, I look daily at my inbox to see what pictures may have come in as entries in the Annual Amish Country News Photo Contest. Each time I click to open a photo, I am a little excited, because I never know what I may see. Sometimes I actually gasp with delight, or give a soft-spoken “Wow” under my breath. This year was no exception.
For several years, our publication has held a competition focused on photos taken in what we broadly call “Amish Country.” Both visitors and locals have sent us many great pictures.
Our contest started back in the days before cellphones and digital. Originally, we received actual photographs in the mail. How things have changed! Now it is quite easy for anyone to take a photo on the spur of the moment when they see something interesting.
Still, not everyone has an “eye” for a good picture – composition, color, subject matter, contrast, etc. Now, I look daily at my inbox to see what pictures may have come in as entries in our Annual Photo Contest. Each time I click open a photo, I am a bit excited, because I never know what I may see. Sometimes I actually gasp with delight or give a soft-spoken “Wow” under my breath. This year was no exception. We are pleased to present our winners from 2023…
Winners:
Grand Prize Winner – Ray Smecker – Narvon, PA
“Fall in Lancaster County Poole Forge Park” – Taken 11/09/2023 Early PM – “Out shooting pictures for our new book. There is a beautiful Fall scene around every Historic Lancaster County Covered Bridge”.
Second Place Winner – Matthew & Tristan Herman – Columbia, PA
“Haybale Sunset” – Taken on 09/06/2021 at 5:29pm – “This is an entry for my 12-year-old son. This shot was taken on July 10, 2023, right down the road from our house in Manor Township. We saw the hay just got bailed that day and thought it would make a great sunset photo before they got hauled off the next day”.
Third Place Winner – Ray Smecker – Narvon, PA
“Winter Trout Covered Bridge” – Taken 11/30/2023 – “This pic sparks EARLY Christmas Shopping or WINTER Trout Fishing at the Historic Poole Forge Covered Bridge…
YOU CAN EVEN DO BOTH AS LANCASTER COUNTY HAS IT ALL!”
Honorable Mention:
Lori Langsner – Princeton Junction, NJ
“First Rainbow Tree” – April 02, 2023 – “As a child, I had wonderful memories of my family vacation there almost 60 years ago! The weather was sunny and warm, storm clouds approached, and then violent rain. However, despite the weather we were able to enjoy the views and capture some wonderful new memories to cherish”.
Dennis Crowne – Narvon, PA
“Amish Trike Girl” – Taken September 8, 2023, 2:23PM in Churchtown PA. (PM) – “An Amish Girl stopped at this spot to survey the road ahead after doing some shopping and I thought this would make a grand picture to capture in “Amish Country” Pennsylvania”.
Again, our congratulations to everyone. We encourage you to enter your photos for our 2024 contest. Thanks to all who have participated in the past and, yes, you may win more than once!
Calling All Photographers!
2024 Amish Country News Photo Contest
Amish Country…one of the most photographed areas in the world. Got great photos? Send them to us and see YOUR photo in the pages of Amish Country News. Winners will receive free tour and attraction tickets. Other prizes to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd runners-up. All are judged on quality, color, subject matter, and resolution and should depict scenes, aspects, events, or activities typical to Lancaster, PA, or the PA Dutch Country region.
Email your high-resolution (Minimum size 8×10 at 300 DPI) photos in JPG format to clinton@amishexperience.com Put 2024 Photo Contest in the subject line. File names should contain your name. Include your name, address, and phone number with brief details on the location, date, and subject matter. We accept photos via email and request no more than five photos by the same person be submitted. HIGH-RESOLUTION PICS ONLY!!! Low-resolution pixelated images WILL NOT be accepted.
Please note that photos become the property of Amish Country News / Amish Experience and may be used in upcoming issues, publications, and promotions.