Southern Byways

Words can only describe so much when it comes to explaining a destination. Sometimes there aren’t enough words or the correct ones. Therefore, the best descriptions are found through photos. 

The state of Alabama recently held an amateur photo competition not only as a way to encourage participants to get outdoors and enjoy the natural scenery, but also a way to educate Alabamians and visitors to the state’s resources and wild habitats. The winners represent seven categories, including: scenic/pictorial, birds, mammals, reptiles/amphibians/fish, other wildlife, nature-based recreation, and flora.  

The traveling display of the winning images from the 2008 Outdoor Alabama Photo Contest is scheduled to make stops at Montgomery Visitors Center (April 21 - June 2), Dothan CVB (June 7 - July 15), the  Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts in Florence (September 8 - October 14), Lake Guntersville State Park in Guntersville (October 22- December 1) and McWane Science Center in Birmingham (December 8 - January 30, 2009).

Photo credits: (upper left) Waterfall, Devil’s Den Falls, Lake Chinnabee, Scenic 1st Place Winner, Jeffrey S. Rease of Birmingham; (middle right) Canoeing, Lake Martin, Recreation 1st Place Winner, Scott Thompson of Alexander City; (middle left) Cahaba Lily, Buck Creek in Helena, Flora 1st Place, Deanna Andreport of Pelham; (below left) Birds, Honorable Mention, Deanna Andreport; (second to left) Fox Squirrel in Montgomery, Mammals 2nd Place, Reid Duvall - age 14- of Birmingham; (below right) Pink-spotted Hawkmoth, Wildlife 1st Place, Sherry Stimpson-Frost of Fairhope; (far right) Gray Rat Snake in Cherokee County, Reptiles 3rd Place, Reid Duvall. All photos courtesy of Outdoor Alabama.