Wyoming Through Listeners’ Eyes!
Congratulations to this year’s Wyoming Public Media Photo Contest winners!
We were lucky to receive over a hundred photo entries from all over Wyoming, making it extremely difficult to not choose all the photos. The winners were chosen by listeners who voted for their favorite in each category, Wyoming’s Nature, Wyoming's People, and Only in Wyoming. We have posted the Top 4 winners in each category below.
View the many other beautiful entries here.
Shaun Peterson is a self-taught hobbyist photographer who loves to travel and share the beauty of the world and nature with family and friends. Since achieving a PADI Divemaster certification in Thailand, Shaun’s goal is to capture more of the underwater world Shaun loves so much. Below the surface of the water many things exist that pictures cannot explain. With photography at least Shaun can give people, not fortunate enough to see for themselves, somewhere to start their imaginations. Shaun strives to see and photograph as much of the world as possible. Photography is Shaun’s life.
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Jeanna (Welling) Young is originally from Evanston, WY and resides and has called Green River home for the past 14 years. Besides being born in UT, she has lived in WY all her life. Jeanna is the oldest of 8 children, daughter of Craig & Debbie Welling of Evanston, WY. She is married to David Young of Green River & they have 4 children; Garrett 19 who is currently living in Singapore, Tyler 17, Madison 11, & Brady 9. She is grateful to have the opportunity to live in WY and raise their family here. There is something extra special about the nature and beauty found right here in our own backyards. Jeanna is a photographer in Southwest Wy and owns a Co-operative photography studio in town working with many other local photographers. She loves photographing people, events, & large groups, but also the great outdoors!
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Jennifer Roberts lives west of Daniel, WY, and married into a 4th generation cattle ranching family. Jennifer grew up in MN before moving out to WY. This photo was of one of the incredible October sunrises over the Wind River Mountains we are lucky enough to see from Merna, WY.
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Jennifer Roberts lives west of Daniel, WY, and married into a 4th generation cattle ranching family. They used to feed their cattle with teams of Belgian draft horses and they also now feed the elk on a nearby feed ground with draft horses. This photo is of Jennifer’s husband driving the steamy team home after work one very cold morning. She’s always enjoyed taking photos of people and our western way of life!
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Credit Cinda Whitt
Cinda Whitt grew up farming and ranching most of her life. She moved to Sheridan in 1982 to go to Sheridan College and has been there since. She earned an AS in Agriculture in 1984, then married and had three children. She then went back to Sheridan College and earned a degree in Welding. She has always loved the Sheridan area, and from time to time Cinda still gets a chance to help out at a branding.
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Wendy Greer is originally from Wyoming and enjoys this beautiful state, during the off winter season anyway. Wendy and her kids are from the Green River area and have been there 8 years. This picture was taken on top of Little Mountain and was her son Adlier's first hunting trip. He was very excited to go hunting but not so excited about all the driving around. He had seen Grandpa get out and use the binoculars to look around, and he decided to do so also. Wendy thought this was a very pretty view and took some pictures of him with the scene in the background. Unfortunately, he did not get to see any "hunting" action but was excited to see the end result hanging in grandpa’s garage.
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Al Kalbfleisch worked for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft and Textron Lycoming and operated a Commercial/Industrial Photo Studio during an economic downturn. He became the "go-to" head shot guy for the other "commercial photographers" in town. Peoples' faces were every bit as much fun to photograph, as a classic wine.
While being confronted with the prospect of retirement, Mary and Al toured the West and, in spite of the wind, decided to be part of the Wyoming Community and "give back", because they had received so much. They have been part of the Casper Music, Art and College scene, volunteered at the National Trail Center, from its opening, The NIC and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
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Rajeev Patel grew up in Laramie from a young age and attended the University of Wyoming. He enjoys the outdoors and everything you can do in the mountains. He believes Wyoming is a great place to live especially for someone that likes to take photos of the world around them. He currently lives in Laramie with his fiancé and their dedicated WPM listener Crockett (Dog). He owns several businesses in Laramie and is an active part of the community (volunteering, boards).
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Jennifer Roberts lives west of Daniel, WY, and married into a 4th generation cattle ranching family. They used to feed their cattle with teams of Belgian draft horses and they also now feed the elk on a nearby feed ground with draft horses. This photo is of a calf in the branding pen that happened to get a tad bit too close to the backend of a cow :-). She’s always enjoyed taking photos of people and our western way of life!
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Hub Whitt was born in Thermopolis, WY in 1954. He has worked on ranches throughout the West, and has been taking pictures since he was around 24 or so. He has always loved the Western lifestyle, and grew up on a working cattle sheep and horse ranch. Hub’s Father was just inducted into the first Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame yesterday, Nov 2nd. Along with photography, he is also a musician and songwriter and has tried to pass on the traditions of the West. He has worked as a sheepherder, a big game hunting guide, a camp cook, a cowboy, an underground miner, a heavy equipment operator, and quite a few other things. Hub Whitt first lived on a ranch East of Thermopolis about 35 miles, which was originally a Native American camping spot, then became a stage station and overnight stop for freighters on the original road from Casper to Thermopolis, and on to Yellowstone Nat Park. At the time he lived there, they had no electricity, and no running water. They moved into town when Hub and his twin brother were old enough to start school. He continues to work as a cowboy but has been focusing more on photography lately. Hub Whitt is featured at the Wyo State Museum in Cheyenne in a current show they have going called "Art of the Hunt." One of his original songs is being played, along with the rest of show.
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Aaron Kraft is an architectural and editorial photographer based out of his native Teton County, Wyoming. Aaron relies heavily on the lifestyle and the natural scenes of western Wyoming to influence both his professional and personal work. He will, however, jump at the chance to cram himself into overly packed chicken buses, rickshaws, beamos, and jeepneys around the world to help keep a fresh perspective on the beautiful place he calls home. Please visit www.kraftyphotos.com to see more of his work.
