Home » Winners of ‘Capture the Earth’ photography and video contests announced

Winners of ‘Capture the Earth’ photography and video contests announced

Middle and high school students take home gift certificates from Kentucky Department of Parks
Julia Freeman’s photo of Shanty Hollow Lake in Bowling Green, Ky.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 26, 2018) — Drakes Creek Middle School eighth-grader Julia Freeman is the winner of the eighth-annual “Capture the Earth” photography contest for middle school students, sponsored by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet in celebration of Earth Day.

Keegan Hennessy, a 10th grade student at Scott High School in Taylor Mill, Ky., won the “Capture the Earth” videography contest for high school students, for his video, “Re-cycle and Re-use, Stop Climate Change.” The video featured an effective use of images, video and music to send a strong message about climate change.

Freeman’s photograph, of Shanty Hollow Lake in Bowling Green, Ky., was chosen for its effective use of composition.

In the text that accompanied her winning photo, Freeman wrote: “My photo captures the Earth by highlighting the dirt, rocks, and sky in the background along with the waterfall into the pond below.”

The annual “Capture the Earth” photo contest was initiated in 2011 and has been highly competitive, attracting a number of submissions each year. “It’s wonderful to see so many students using their talents to recognize and promote the beauty and safekeeping of our commonwealth through photos or videos,” said Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely.

Ella Moss, a seventh-grader at Providence Montessori Middle School in Lexington, Ky. won second place in the photo contest for her image of a frog taken on her family farm.

In the text that accompanied her winning photo, Moss wrote: “This photograph of a small, brown frog presents Kentucky’s wildlife very well. It is mostly small, but it is brilliant. If you look closely you can see the detail that he hides behind the dirty color. Kentucky is very much the same. The frog is an amazing aspect of Kentucky’s flaws and greatness.”

Ashley Jesberger, a senior at Eastside Technical Center in Lexington, Ky., took second place in the video contest for her video titled, “Trash Won’t Recycle Itself.”

Freeman’s and Moss’s photos, along with Hennessy’s and Jesberger’s videos will be included on the Cabinet’s website and also featured in a story on the Cabinet’s webzine, Land, Air & Water https://landairwater.me/2018/04/26/the-2018-capture-the-earth-photo-and-video-contest-winners-announced/ . Freeman and Hennessy will receive a one-night stay with their families at a Kentucky State Resort Park of their choice, compliments of the Kentucky Department of Parks. Moss and Jesberger will receive an elk tour for two at Jenny Wiley State Park.

For more information and to see the students’ winning photographs and videos, visit http://eec.ky.gov/Pages/earthday.aspx.