LIGONIER (Nov. 19, 2024) – Carol Saylor’s image was planned ahead of time to capture a historic moment. Holly Harris’ photograph was a spontaneous shot taken from one of the region’s most iconic locations.
While much different in focus and composition, the pictures captured Somerset County in its best light and earned top prizes in the GO Laurel Highlands Photo Contest.
Saylor, who lives outside of Meyersdale, was excited for the Appalachian Wagon Train’s procession through her hometown in June to celebrate the borough’s 150th anniversary. An experienced photographer who won first place in the 2022 contest, Saylor arrived early to get a spot in front of the Meyersdale post office so that she could capture images of the horse-drawn, steel-wheeled wagons passing in front of the red brick buildings that line Center Street.
“I thought it was just great,” Saylor said during a ceremony at GO Laurel Highlands’ office in Ligonier on Monday evening. “I wanted to see the wagon train in town because it’s like the old meets new.”
Alex Byers, GO Laurel Highlands’ photographer and videographer, enjoyed the pop of patriotic color in the top right corner of the image, which earned first prize in the Events and Attractions category.
“I think the coolest part of that photo, for me, is that you see that glimpse of the American flag,” said Byers, who helped organized the contest. “Sometimes people don’t mean to do that in photos and it turns out. It looks great. Well done.”
The top images will be published in the destination marketing organization’s 2025 Destination Guide, on golaurelhighlands.com and displayed at the organization’s visitors center on the Diamond in Ligonier. Winning photos may also be featured on the bureau’s social media, billboards and more.
“Once again, we have the honor to rewarding talented photographers who see the Laurel Highlands through their camera lens,” said Ann Nemanic, executive director of GO Laurel Highlands. “Using authentic photography allows us to portray a sense of place to visitors and helps us tell the distinctive story of our region.”
Harris claimed first place in the Nature category while Tom Bush IV of Uniontown took home the top prize in the Outdoor Recreation contest. First place in each of the three categories received $500; second place, $200; and third place, $100. Winners were chosen from more than 700 entries by professional photographers Alex Newill and Cristy Marsh.
A native of Washington County who now lives in Allegheny County, Harris traveled to Somerset County to find her winning inspiration. She made the hour-and-15-minute drive to get a summer photo of the Burkholder Bridge in Garrett. The covered bridge is a popular destination – Harris and Saylor each submitted photos of it to the contest – but it wasn’t the span that resulted in Harris’ winning shot.
The Salisbury Viaduct took that distinction, through a bit of good luck.
“I was walking across and just happened to have a train pass,” Harris said of the viaduct, which is located just outside of Meyersdale and is one of the most recognizable features of the Great Allegheny Passage trail that attracts nearly a million users per year. “I was a little upset that I didn’t catch the train coming toward me, but I caught it going away. There was a hole in the mesh, so I could take a picture through it.”
Harris had to get a bit creative in bending down to get the angle she needed, but the result is a colorful image of a red freight train heading southeast through green fields under a blue sky.
“I just got lucky,” said Harris, who won second place last year in the Events and Attractions category.
Bush claimed the top prize in the Outdoor Recreation category after finishing second in that division a year ago. His shot of a kayaker splashing through the Youghiogheny River conveyed the excitement of a day in Ohiopyle, which was named the Best Small Town in the Northeast by USA Today readers this spring.
A photographer for Wilderness Voyageurs, Bush spends a lot of time shooting pictures of boaters, and everything came together for him this time.
“It was really good, late in the afternoon. It was nice and green,” he recalled. “I kind of got down low and waited for a kayaker. He was the one, I remember, that gave the most energy and action. The water was good, facial expression was good, the energy was good.”
GO Laurel Highlands will begin accepting entries for the 2025 Photo Contest on December 1, 2024.
2024 GO Laurel Highlands Photo Contest Winners
Category 1: Events and attractions
- 1st Place: Carol Saylor, of Meyersdale – Appalachian Wagon Train in Meyersdale
- 2nd Place: Dana Echard, of Greensburg – Bullskin Rodeo
- 3rd Place: Christina Stoner, of Scottdale – Fireworks over Loucks Park in Scottdale
Category 2: Nature
- 1st Place: Holly Harris, of Coal Center – Salisbury Viaduct
- 2nd Place: Christina Stoner, of Scottdale – Northern lights at Acme Lake
- 3rd Place: Kyle Rose, of Hannastown – Osprey at Kingston
Category 3: Outdoor Activities
- 1st Place: Tom Bush IV, of Uniontown – Ohiopyle kayaker
- 2nd Place: Krystal Blake, of Ruffs Dale – Kids playing in Ruffs Dale
- 3rd Place: Elijah Spellman, of Uniontown – Laurel Caverns
Only photos that were taken in the Laurel Highlands – Pennsylvania’s Fayette, Somerset or Westmoreland counties – were eligible. Participants were permitted to submit an unlimited number of high-quality color images for the contest.
Media Toolkit
High resolution versions of the winning images are available online here for use by our media partners.
About Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands
A magnificent mountainous region, the Laurel Highlands is an outdoor lover’s paradise that spans 3,000 square miles in southwestern Pennsylvania. Located just an hour east of Pittsburgh, the beautiful four-season destination offers spectacular natural scenery, outstanding skiing, hiking, biking and golfing opportunities, historic sites and attractions, family activities and world-class resorts. Notable destinations within the region include four architectural masterpieces by Frank Lloyd Wright – Fallingwater®, Kentuck Knob, Mäntylä and Duncan House – as well as Nemacolin, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Flight 93 National Memorial, Idlewild and SoakZone, whitewater rafting in Ohiopyle State Park and much more.
Located within 200 miles of the major metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Washington D.C., Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands can be easily accessed from exits 67, 75, 91 and 110 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Visitors to the Laurel Highlands can find information online at GoLaurelHighlands.com, facebook.com/laurelhighlandsPA and https://www.instagram.com/go_laurelhighlandsor by calling 724.238.5661.
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