January 29, 2025 – Essex National Heritage Commission (Essex Heritage), a nonprofit that manages numerous programs supporting, preserving, and enhancing Essex County’s historic, natural, and cultural places, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Essex Heritage Photo Contest! The annual Essex Heritage Photo Contest encourages photographers of all skill levels to “capture” the living landscapes, unique places, and vibrant communities of Essex County, Massachusetts.

The contest is presented by Essex Heritage with generous support from North Shore Bank, DeIulis Brothers Construction, Geller MicroAnalytical Labs, American Tower & Steeple Co., Inc., Groom Construction, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, The Burke Insurance Agency, and the Rotary Club of Salem.

Prize sponsorships were awarded by Hunt’s Photo & Video, Ipswich River Watershed Association, SEE Shore Photography, The Trustees, Sea Level Oyster Bar, and Atomic Café.

From rocky coasts and rural farms to historic downtowns and parks, photographers vividly captured a variety of special places in Essex County for this year’s contest. All photographs were taken within the Essex National Heritage Area in 2024 and fell into the categories of “Picture Perfect Places,” “Go Coastal!,” “The Great Outdoors,” and a themed youth category which asked young people to share their favorite places in Essex County.

2024 Essex Heritage Photo Contest Winners:

Grand Prize Winner

“Egret Fan Dancers in a Peeking Dawn” by Carin Macnamara taken on Cape Ann

Category: Picture Perfect Places

  • 1st Place – “Spiraling in Time” by Franco Cutietta taken in Salem
  • 2nd Place – “Rockport Peonies” by Jason Kennedy taken in Rockport
  • 3rd Place – “Beaver Moon Rising Over Salem Harbor” by Joyce Wood taken in Salem

Category: Go Coastal!

  • 1st Place – “Sharing is Caring” by Kathy Diamontopoulos taken in Ipswich
  • 2nd Place – “Aurora at Salem Willows” by Rick Matthias taken in Salem
  • 3rd Place – “Moon Snails” by Bruce McBrien taken in Newbury

Category: The Great Outdoors

  • 1st Place – “The Pink Hour” by John Abisamra taken in Essex
  • 2nd Place – “Red-winged Blackbird Feeding Chick” by Ken Jordan taken in Topsfield
  • 3rd Place – “Lunch Time” by James Reily taken in Salem

Category: Youth Category

  • 1st Place – “Dog’s Perspective” by Greyson Collins taken in Marblehead
  • 2nd Place – “Moonlit Flight” by Jason Mercurio taken in Andover
  • 3rd Place – “Saugus Iron Works” by Alice Dunn taken in Saugus

People’s Choice Award

“Sunflowers” by Alison Colby-Campbell taken in Ipswich

Photo Contest Reception and Exhibit:
The public is invited to attend an in-person Essex Heritage Photo Contest Reception celebrating our talented winners on Wednesday, February 12 at 5:30 pm at the Salem Armory Visitor Center (2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA). The 14 winning images will be on exhibition at the Salem Armory Visitor Center starting in May through June.

See winning photographs on the Essex Heritage Facebook page or on our website at
www.essexheritage.org/programs/photo-contest/

Support for the Essex Heritage Photo Contest was generously contributed by North Shore Bank, DeIulis Brothers Construction, Geller MicroAnalytical Labs, American Tower & Steeple Co., Inc., Groom Construction, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, The Burke Insurance Agency, Rotary Club of Salem, Hunt’s Photo & Video, Ipswich River Watershed Association, SEE Shore Photography, The Trustees, Sea Level Oyster Bar, and Atomic Café.