Cantigny Recognizes Glen Ellyn Photographer in Annual Contest

A Glen Ellyn photographer was honored recently when her photo was chosen as one of three grand prize winners in the 2011 Cantigny in Focus amateur photo contest.

Leslie Morrison was the second place winner in the competition. Her photo of a male Northern cardinal in the snow was a favorite among visitors, who chose the winners.

The three winners were among the top 40 finalists a judging panel chose a year ago. After the finalists were chosen, visitors to Cantigny were given the opportunity to vote for their favorites, according to a news release from Cantigny.

“We thank all those who participated and with their entries captured the extraordinary beauty and diversity of Cantigny,” Matt LaFond, Cantigny Park executive director said in a news release.

The grand prize winners of the 2011Cantigny in Focus amateur photo contest are:

First Place: Mary Brown, Clarendon Hills, for her striking, eye-to-eye close-up of a plump American toad.  

Second Place: Leslie Morrison, Glen Ellyn, for her serene image of a male Northern cardinal in the snow.

Third Place: Tom Brandseth, Wheaton, for his artful autumn photo depicting the fox hunt diorama at Cantigny Golf.

The top three receive a Cantigny gift card ($100, $75 or $50), and all finalists were awarded a Cantigny Park annual membership.

Cantigny in Focus is an annual event for amateur photographers that began in 2006, according to Cantigny.  Submitted images must be from the grounds of Cantigny Park in Wheaton, the 500-acre former estate of Robert R. McCormick and part of the Chicago-based Robert R. McCormick Foundations.

Cantigny is closed during January and will re-open on the weekends in February. In March, the park will be open all seven days a week. he park returns to a 7-day schedule in March.

On February 7, the top 40 images from the 2012 edition of Cantigny in Focus will go on display at the park.  The three grand prize winners will again be determined by the public, with voting conducted throughout 2013.

Learn more about Cantigny. 

Compiled from information from Cantigny.