Emily Monticue’s picture of her son at Turkey Run State Park took first place in the Activities category in the America’s State Parks 2019 Photo Contest.
The competition was put on by the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) and Aspira.
Photo provided
In a release about the contest from NASPD, Monticue said she and her son love spending time outdoors, and she found the perfect time to snap the shot in Rocky Hollow.
“It was probably around 8 a.m. and there was no one else hiking on this particular stretch of the canyon,” Monticue said. “My son was walking ahead of me and I looked up and remember thinking this would make a great picture! The haziness of the morning, the water, almost perfect lighting and the green on the rock walls made for a perfect shot.”
Monticue won a $500 REI gift card, a Luxe camping pillow from Klymit and a one-year subscription to Backpacker Magazine.
More than 9,000 images were submitted for the contest in five categories. The contest is designed to showcase the diversity and beauty inherent in America’s state parks.