Nevada Magazine’s September/October issue is available on newsstands throughout Nevada. Photo: Brian GarnerBrian Garner of Fort Worth, Texas is the Grand Prize winner in Nevada Magazine’s 32nd annual Great Nevada Picture Hunt, the feature story in the publication’s September/October issue.
The winning image, “Ward Charcoal Ovens,” was taken at Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park, near Ely, in eastern Nevada. On his first visit to Nevada, Garner arrived a day early for his scheduled photo shoot sponsored by the Nevada Northern Railway. Interested in ghost towns, he planned to visit Osceola, but his rental car couldn’t handle the snow.
Consulting his Nevada atlas for something interesting to photograph, the ovens captured his attention. Several inches of fresh snow had fallen overnight, and sunlight was breaking through the clouds, setting up the shot. “I was out of breath,” Garner says of the walk to the ovens. “I live in Texas at 700 feet above sea level, and this was [nearly] 7,000 feet, but it was well worth the hike.”
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park, near Ely, in eastern Nevada. Photo: Brian GarnerIn addition to the Grand Prize, photographers were judged in five different categories: City Limits, Wide Open, Adventure, People, and Events. At 11 years old, the City Limits winner, Jordan Gerrard of Las Vegas, is one of the youngest honorees in the history of the contest, which began in the late 1970s. Gerrard’s image of Lake Las Vegas was a favorite among the staff.
Other winners were Las Vegas resident William Lane (Wide Open, “Joshua Tree Blooms”) for his picture of Spring Mountain Ranch State Park; Reno’s Tom Compton (Adventure, “2007 Tour de Nez”) for his intriguing photo of competitive cyclists; Chris Talbot of Incline Village (Events, “Fast Draw”) in capturing smoking guns at Fallon’s Cowboy Fast Draw World Championship; and Spring Creek’s Jody Esplin (People, “Little Cowboy”), who submitted a photo of her three-year-old son, Tanner. Esplin won the Living category of the 2008 contest with a photo of her dog, Tango, running through the snow.
Pick up the latest issue to view the winning images and more, or visit NevadaMagazine.com. Look for an ad in the May/June 2010 issue covering rules of submission for the 2010 contest, or visit NevadaMagazine.com on April 15 or later.
Also in the September/October issue, Nevada Magazine looks at the state’s flourishing mining industry, visits Las Vegas’ Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, covers Great Basin and Death Valley national parks, and continues its Tour Around Nevada in Pahrump.
Become a Friend of Nevada Magazine today.Finally, Nevada Magazine has introduced its Friends of Nevada Magazine program. As a nonprofit 501( c)(3), the magazine is accepting tax-deductible donations. With a donation of $25 or more, you are eligible for four levels of membership and accompanying gifts. For more information, visit NevadaMagazine.com.
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