2011 Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest

Allen Sklar took overall top honors in the 8th Annual Maryland Natural Resource Photo Contest with his bird photograph, ‘Fast’ Food Pick-up. The winning photo captured a bald eagle swooping down onto Assateague Beach shoreline.

Allen Sklar explained the moment when the photograph was captured:

“Getting the shot was a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was really cool. I had just got done fishing at the beach when I saw an eagle sitting on a sand dune, which is extremely unusual. I looked around because I knew something was going on and I saw a fisherman dumping bait onto the beach. The eagle then lifted up his wings and flew right by me!”

Sklar will receive the grand prize of $500, a 2012 Maryland State Park Passport, a lifetime subscription to the Maryland Natural Resource magazine and five copies of the 2012 DNR Calendar, which will feature the winning photo on the cover.

First place winners in each category will receive a Maryland State Park Passport, a two-year subscription to the Maryland Natural Resource magazine and two copies of the 2012 DNR Calendar. Second place winners will receive a one-year subscription to the magazine and a calendar.

For 2011, more than 300 photographers entered approximately 1,000 photographs. The winning photos will appear in the winter issue of The Maryland Natural Resource Magazine, as well as the 2012 DNR calendar.