By Carrie Searcy

Office of the Secretary

Student photographers and videographers across Kentucky took part this spring in the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s 2108 “Capture the Earth” photo and video contest.

The photos and videos sent in as part of the Cabinet’s Earth Day celebration, showed great creativity and insight on the part of students. The photo contest was initiated in 2011 and has attracted a number of submissions each year.

“It’s gratifying to see so many students recognizing and promoting, through photos or videos, the beauty of the natural environment we enjoy and nurture throughout the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely.

Julia Freeman, an 8^th grade student at Drake’s Creek Middle School in Warren Co. was the first-place winner of photo contest for middle school students for her photo of Shanty Hollow Lake in Bowling Green, Ky.

Julia Freeman, an 8th grade student at Drake’s Creek Middle School in Warren Co. was the first-place winner .

Freeman’s photo of Shanty Hollow Lake in Bowling Green, Ky.

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.”

Julia and her family received a one-night stay at a Kentucky State Resort Park of their choice.

The video first-place winner of the contest was Keegan Hennessy, a 10^th grade student at Scott High School, for his video, “Re-cycle and Re-use, Stop Climate Change.”

Keegan and his family received a one-night stay at a Kentucky State Resort Park of their choice, compliments of the Kentucky Department of Parks.

His video can be seen at https://youtu.be/_5M0iOthG_I.

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

Ashley Jesberger, a student at Eastside Technical Center in Lexington, Ky., took second place.

For her winning video, Ashley received an Elk Tour for two at Jenny Wiley State Park. Her video may be viewed at tu.be/ANssJ5DFlDg.

Ella Moss, a 7^th grade student at Providence Montessori Middle School in Lexington, Ky., won second place in the photo contest for her entry taken on her family farm, Mosslanding. For her efforts, Ella received an Elk Tour for two at Jenny Wiley State Park.

Ella Moss, a 7th grade student at Providence Montessori Middle School in Lexington, Ky., won second place in the photo contest.

Moss’s entry taken on her family farm, Mosslanding.

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 greatnesses.”

Also honored were the winners of the Cabinet’s Earth Day employee photo contest. There were six competition categories: Native Kentucky wildlife, native Kentucky plants, and native Kentucky landscapes, nature in the city, Kentucky landscapes and macrophotography/close-up.

Chris Oelschlager, Division of Forestry, West Region field office, won three of the six categories: nature in the city with her photo ‘Sunrise at Madisonville City Park,’ native Kentucky wildlife with her photo ‘Great Blue Heron’ and macrophotography/close-up with ‘Spotted Cucumber Beetle on Sunflower.

Chris Oelschlager’s nature in the city winning photo, ‘Sunrise at Madisonville City Park.’

Chris Oelschlager’s native Kentucky wildlife winning photo, ‘Great Blue Heron.’

Chris Oelschlager’s macrophotography/close-up winning photo, ‘Spotted Cucumber Beetle on Sunflower.’

Elizabeth Johnson, with the Division of Forestry won the Kentucky waterways category with her photo ‘Blue.’

Elizabeth Johnson won the Kentucky waterways category with her photo, ‘Blue.’

Tyler Newman of the Kentucky Division of Water won the native Kentucky plants with his ‘Purple Aster.’

Tyler Newman won the native Kentucky plants with his ‘Purple Aster.’

Maeve Draper with the Division of Forestry won the native landscape category with her photo ‘Early Morning Snow.’

Maeve Draper won the native landscape category with her photo, ‘Early Morning Snow.’

Each of the winner’s photos were selected for inclusion in an Earth Day poster, given out to attendees at the Cabinet’s Earth Day celebration.

The 2018 Energy and Environment Cabinet Earth Day poster.