Friends of Wildwood’s annual photo exhibition is on display now.
Only a few weeks remain to walk through this year’s amateur photography exhibition at Wildwood Park—and cast your vote for its “People’s Choice Award” winners.
While a panel of professional photographers awarded first, second and third place winners in December, members of the public get to cast votes on their favorite entries for “People’s Choice.”
The annual public photo contest spotlights shots taken around Dauphin County parks by visitors. The contest seeks submissions of observed flora, fauna and other natural beauty.
Pictured: Photo entries in Friends of Wildwood’s annual photo contest.
Many of this year’s entries feature captured sightings of birds, deer, snakes, frogs and insects. Others capture landscapes.
Rick Price of West Hanover said that he submitted two photos this year, including one of a white ibis he saw in 2025 at Wildwood Park.
The photo was interesting to him because the birds are typically found further south, along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The first time he saw a white ibis, he said, was in the Florida Keys.
“They’ve been coming further north every year,” he explained.
Price comes to Wildwood weekly to shoot birds and to lead bird walks with his wife Peggy. He said that he enjoys seeing what park visitors have photographed around the county in the annual contest.
“It gives you an opportunity to see what other people have done,” he said.
Price entered his photos, the other of a yellow flower called a spatterdock taken on Wildwood’s canal towpath, in the experienced photographer category.
Photo contest entrant Rick Price at Wildwood Park.
Adult submissions are split into beginner and experienced categories. There is also a youth category for those under 16.
Volunteer Rudy Gornika noted that the beginner’s photography, in particular, caught his eye.
“I was really impressed,” he said.
Gornika, who has been volunteering with Wildwood since 1999, appreciated how they captured wildlife subjects, especially one of a heron.
Twenty-year Wildwood volunteer Ann Pacey echoed this.
“I could not pick a favorite photo this year,” Pacey said. “There were too many good ones.”
The public has until Saturday, Jan. 24, to view the exhibit at the Olewine Nature Center and cast votes. Wildwood will announce the “People’s Choice” winners in February.
The photo contest is run by the Friends of Wildwood organization, a nonprofit that supports Wildwood Park. All photographs were taken at Wildwood, Fort Hunter, Detweiler, Wiconisco Creek or Lykens Glen parks.
Pictured: Photo entries in Friends of Wildwood’s annual photo contest. The bottom two are Rick Price’s white ibis and spatterdock entries.
To learn more about the annual Friends of Wildwood photography contest visit this website.
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