LIGONIER, Pa., (Nov. 2, 2021) – GO Laurel Highlands has selected the winning images for the 17th annual Laurel Highlands Photo Contest.
The top images will be published in the destination marketing organization’s 2022 Destination Guide, on golaurelhighlands.com and displayed at the organization’s visitor center on the Diamond in Ligonier. First place in each of the four categories will receive $500; second place, $200; and third place, $100. Winning photos may also be featured on the bureau’s social media, billboards, and more.
“The annual photo contest is one of my favorite projects of the year because we get a chance to view all of the beautiful and unique moments, environments, and places that our visitors have been experiencing,” said Kristin Ecker, GO LH’s senior director of marketing. “The smiling faces, the incredible vistas, the artistic perspectives…it’s like a treasure trove of Laurel Highlands’ gems and thinking about how we can use them to tell our stories is really exciting.”
2021 Laurel Highlands Photo Contest Winners
- Category 1: People
- 1st Place: Josh McIntyre of Allison Park, mountain biker at Laurel Mountain State Park
- 2nd Place: Linda Seanor of Berlin, rock climber at Ohiopyle State Park
- 3rd Place: Tyler Smay of Johnstown, hiker at Linn Run State Park
- Category 2: Places
- 1st Place: Clare Kaczmarek of Latrobe, sunrise at Laurel Mountain Ski Resort
- 2nd Place: Angelo Mamone of Trafford, local farm along County Line Road in Acme
- 3rd Place: Brenda Torrey of Southport, NC, Tower of Voices at Flight 93 National Memorial
- Category 3: Plants and Animals
- 1st Place: Brandy McMillen of Connellsville, Squirrel Monkey, Living Treasures Wild Animal Park
- 2nd Place: Biff Rendar of Greensburg, bluebird on a wire near Greensburg
- 3rd Place: Shawn Behe of Mount Pleasant, Barn owl at Living Treasures Wild Animal Park
Only photos 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 images for the contest. Photos of private property were not eligible. Black and white photos were not accepted.
The 2022 Laurel Highlands Photo Contest will open for submissions early next year.
About Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands
A magnificent mountainous region, the Laurel Highlands spans 3,000 square miles in southwestern Pennsylvania. Located an hour’s drive east of Pittsburgh, the beautiful four-season destination offers spectacular natural scenery, outstanding outdoor recreation, 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 – Nemacolin, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Flight 93 National Memorial, Idlewild and Soak Zone, whitewater rafting in Ohiopyle State Park, and 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 www.GoLaurelHighlands.com, calling 724.238.5661, www.facebook.com/laurelhighlandsPA, and www.twitter.com/laurelhighlands. Established in 1958, GO Laurel Highlands, formerly known as Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, is the official destination marketing organization for Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.
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