SACRAMENTO — Kelseyville photographer Lyle Madeson took the Grand Prize Award on Monday in the California Watchable Wildlife (CWW) Photo Contest.
The photo was unveiled Monday at 1 p.m. during a news conference on the State Capitol building”s south steps. Chuck Bonham, director of the State Fish and Game Department, presented the award to Madeson.
The contest was presented by CWW and Outdoor California, the bi-monthly magazine of the Fish and Game Department. Photos had to be taken at a designated California Watchable Wildlife viewing site or be of a native California species.
Madeson”s award-winning photo, “Predator and Prey” is of a Red-tailed Hawk grabbing a fish carried in flight by an Osprey.
Madeson and his wife, Deanna were both in the running for the award. Madeson took first-place in the monthly photo contest in March and Deanna took first-place in December. Madeson also took third-place in June and second-place in September.
Madeson and Deanna”s photos are currently on display with the 10 other first-place photos outside the Governor”s Office at the Capitol. The photo display lasts through Friday.
Fellow Lake County photographers Lila Worthington and Ron Keas also submitted entries for the contest, which ended in February. More than 200 photographers took part in the contest.
Entries were judged on creativity, technical excellence, composition, overall impact and artistic merit. The panel of judges included Bob Garrison, Chair Emeritus, CWW Steering Committee; David Rosen, wildlife photographer; and Troy Swauger, Editor for Outdoor California.
Albums of all monthly winners and entries are available at CWW”s Facebook page, facebook.com/CaWatchableWildlife or CaWatchableWildlife.org.
For more information on the contest, visit the CWW website or email Outreach@CaWatchableWildlife.org.
