Our teams will be working on the trails throughout the month of March and April to remove Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna) from the property. This will result in frequent small trail section closures that often reopen within the hour. Please pay attention to trail signs and look for updates at the Rowe Woods gatehouse.
Congratulations to our 2025 Photography Contest winners!
Soft hazy mornings, nature magnified, the combination of time and place: This year's prize-winning images are sure to intrigue and delight any lover of the natural world—now, in two NEW categories.
Each year, we are blown away by the range of beautiful landscapes, precious moments, flora and fauna photographed right here at the Nature Center. This year, our judges anonymously reviewed over 240 entries submitted by 70 photographers. We continue to look forward to each year's submissions from our passionate and talented nature community—THANK YOU to all who entered our 2025 Photography Contest.
This year's Best in Show winner showcases life from unexplored perspectives. This winning photograph, submitted to the Inverebrates category, features similar qualities to our Small Worlds category in its unique perspective of a snail beautifully backlit by the sun. This image showcases the snails ability to cling to uneven surfaces and glide effortlessly across the spikelet.
Our Staff Pick winner, featuring periodical cicadas delicately perched on ink cap mushrooms, exhibits, not only, the presence of Brood XIV in Southwest Ohio in 2025, but the accidental yet perfectly composed scene of a miniature world.
Scroll below to view this year's winners in each category.
Photo: Andrew Fix/2024 Invertebrates Category First Prize Winner
Best in Show: Lewis Reynolds
Photo: Lewis Reynolds/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Behind the Shot: It was a spectacular June morning as the golden sun, still low on the horizon, backlit the flowering grasses in the field along the Lookout Trail. The tufts of glowing grasses were beautiful in themselves, but an additional golden adornment caught my attention: a snail was hanging upside down on a flower head, defying both gravity and my expectations about surfaces suitable for snail mobility! Photographs of this amazing snail were taken from a number of perspectives using a handheld Canon DSLR, but the translucent snail being backlit by the sun easily emerged as the strongest composition conveying the wonderfulness of this moment. As J. S. Bach often initialized his work, S. D. G. - Soli Deo gloria!
Staff Pick: Breanna Johnson
Photo: Breanna Johnson/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Category Submission: Plants & Fungi Species: Periodical cicadas (Magicicada sp.) on Mica cap mushrooms (Coprinellus micaceus) Location: Rowe Woods
Behind the Shot: I captured this moment in late May, after a rainy day, when the cicadas were vibrantly singing. The ink caps were growing rapidly and I was able to witness the harmony of the plants and fungi with the newly emerging insects.
Action (NEW!)
Photography in this category showcase people in movement—people hiking/running on the trails, playing in the Nature PlayScape, splashing in mud or water, or perhaps even dancing under the summer sun.
Action First Place Winner: Lewis Reynolds
Action Honorable Mentions: Briant Grant
Photo: Lewis Reynolds/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Category Submission: Action Location: Rowe Woods
Behind the Shot: The lush green vegetation and quiet water of Avey’s Run crossing the Far Ridge Trail prompted an emotional response like the sense of abundance, peace, restoration, and security expressed by Psalm 23. The visual rhythm of the trees and the trees’ reflections from the water’s surface added harmony and completeness. On this early April morning when the light was soft and golden, the hiker was photographed using a camera fixed on a tripod and triggered by an intervalometer. A handful of the multiple exposures were then blended together in post-processing using the photo editing software Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. The hiker in the pastoral scene invites the viewer to participate in the journey as his presence adds visual cues of scale, time, and motion.
Birds
Photography in this category include any species of bird observed on (or above) Cincinnati Nature Center grounds.
Birds First Place Winner: Bob Marklein
Birds Honorable Mentions: Mike Cothran
Photo: Bob Marklein/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Behind the Shot: I captured this image on the Geology trail under a canopy of tall trees. From where I was standing, I was able to compose the image to include the tree trunk and leafy understory where wood thrushes tend to spend most of their time. My 150-600mm lens allowed me to get close and focus on the bird while blurring the background to cancel out some distractions. I understand the wood thrush population is decreasing so it was nice to see one at the Nature Center. Maybe next time I’ll also hear it’s beautiful flute-like song.
Generations (NEW!)
Photography in this category showcase multiple generations in a single image. Examples of this may include three generations of family members hiking on the trails, a mother and daughter exploring the flowers in Witt Pollinator Garden, grandfather and grandson observing a fossil in the creek, etc.
Generations First Place Winner: Lewis Reynolds
Generations Honorable Mentions: Elizabeth Meintel
Photo: Lewis Reynolds/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Behind the Shot: It’s amazing how many insects the tree swallow nestlings consume as they mature and prepare to fledge from the nest! The tree swallow parents are very intentional in training their young to feed, from developing mouthfeel for food to encouraging initiative to catch and eat. In order to watch each short visit to the nesting box, a camera with a strong telephoto lens was fixed on a tripod located at an appropriate distance to minimize disturbance to the tree swallows and to create a desirable composition. The camera system’s depth of field (aperture), fast shutter speed, sensor sensitivity (ISO), and focus were set in advance so that a few pictures could be recorded quickly during each feeding run. I’m thankful for the similar intentionality of the Cincinnati Nature Center in promoting the conservation and stewardship of natural spaces.
Invertebrates
Photography in this category showcase insects, crustaceans, mollusks, arachnids, etc.
Invertebrates First Place Winner: Jason Herman
Invertebrates Honorable Mentions: Mike Cothran
Photo: Jason Herman/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Category Submission: Invertebrates Species: Northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus) Location: Long Branch Farm & Trails
Behind the Shot: I really enjoy trying my hand at all types of photography, but macro photography has a special place in my heart. Long Branch and Rowe Woods always have an abundance of little creatures to photograph close up. I took this one with a Sony a7RV with the Sony 70-200 G2 F4 Macro lens and 1.4X teleconverter. I was able to zoom way in and not be as close as it appears in the picture. While I was taking the picture, I wasn’t sure how much detail of the face it would capture, but when I got back home, I was amazed to see the eye structure of the wasp. Often the smallest creatures look the most amazing close up, which is why I love macro photography so much.
Mammals
Photography in this category showcase mammals observed on Nature Center grounds.
Mammals First Place Winner: Ron Foltz
Mammals Honorable Mentions: Amanda Laney
Photo: Ron Foltz/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Behind the Shot: It was late September and I had just arrived at the Nature Center—right as it opened. I normally like to check out the Pollinator Garden when first arriving. On my way to it, I noticed this yearling doe standing along the gravel path in a field of goldenrod. I was photographing that field with my Canon 18-135 mm lens and kept it on while taking pics of the deer. A lot can happen when you change a lens & definitely didn’t want to miss this shot. She was very cooperative and I came away with some memorable pictures—as well as memories that will last a lifetime! I’ve seen a lot of beautiful wildlife and scenes in the eight years that I’ve been a member. Every year brings something new and exciting!
Mobile Photography
Although photographs captured on a mobile device may be submitted to any category, only photographs captured on a mobile device are eligible for this category.
Mobile First Place Winner: Jason Herman
Mobile Honorable Mentions: Mary Furrie
Photo: Jason Herman/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Category Submission: Mobile Photography Location: Long Branch Farm & Trails
Behind the Shot: My wife and I are regulars at Long Branch Farm. It is one of our favorite places to hike. I actually remember coming here as a middle schooler at Cincinnati Country Day School (CCDS) when we were studying agriculture and farming. We got to work in the barn and I recall the livestock in the field areas. As an adult, the upper fields provide the setting for some of the best sunsets around. I took this photo with my iPhone 16 Pro Max. The lighting was just right mixed with the clouds and I was able to capture a small piece of the beauty the eyes and soul saw that afternoon. They often say the best camera is the one you have with you and so many of us have smartphones with nice cameras today that there is really no excuse for not capturing some of nature’s beauty.
Plants & Fungi
Photography in this category showcase any species of plant or fungi observed on Nature Center grounds.
Plants & Fungi First Place Winner: Bob Marklein
Plants & Fungi Honorable Mentions: Shannon Curran
Photo: Bob Marklein/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Behind the Shot: The tiny details in the amazing turkey tail mushrooms are easy to miss on a brisk winter hike at Long Branch Farm. In this shot, I got down and close to focus on the fuzzy white hairs of the mushroom. I composed the image to fill the frame of the photo and draw attention to the center. I took the image using a 105mm macro lens attached to a mirrorless Nikon body to capture the details and some depth.
Reptiles & Amphibians
Photography in this category include snakes, turtles, or lizards observed on Nature Center grounds.
Reptiles First Place Winner: Ron Foltz
Reptiles Honorable Mentions: Jason Herman
Photo: Ron Foltz/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Behind the Shot: I was looking for frogs around Spring Pond in June of last year. While there, I spotted this little gray/Cope’s tree frog. Thankfully, my Canon 70-200 mm lens with a 2X extender was on my camera. That way, I could stand far enough away without disturbing the lil'guy/gal. Cincinnati Nature Center is my go-to place for frog pictures, and I also get a lot of other amazing shots when I’m there. It’s a jewel in the tristate that never gets old!
Small Worlds
Photography in this category is open to the photographers interpretation. Subjects may include anything from close-up macrophotography to teeny-tiny landscapes.
Small Worlds First Place Winner: Jason Herman
Small Worlds Honorable Mentions: Lewis Reynolds
Photo: Jason Herman/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Category Submission: Small Worlds Species: Northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus) Location: Long Branch Farm & Trails
Behind the Shot: Often times with macro photography, you don’t realize you have captured something like a small insect drinking water or eating something until you zoom in a bit on a computer. I was blown away to see this wasp drinking a droplet of water after a brief summer shower in the fields. We all know insects have to drink to survive, but we rarely get to see it up close. I used the Sony a6700 with the Sony 70-200 G2 F4 Macro lens to capture this one and was able to crouch down below the insect to get the bigger than life perspective.
Trails & Landscapes
Photography in this category showcase the beautiful trails, landscapes, and diverse habitats that can be found here on Nature Center grounds.
Trails & Landscapes First Place Winner: Ken Watanabe
Trails & Landscapes Honorable Mentions: Andrew Fix
Photo: Ken Watanabe/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Behind the Shot: I first visited this place 2 years ago, after a colleague introduced it to me when I arrived from Germany for my new assignment 4 years ago. With each passing season—the pale green of new leaves, the cool breeze under the trees in summer, and the vibrant autumn foliage—this place has brought joy to my wife and me. We were also captivated by the rich natural environment, where we could spot various wild birds and small animals. If I had known about this place much earlier, I might have been able to take even better photos. As we are about to return to Japan, my only regret is that I couldn’t take a good photo of the Pileated Woodpecker, but receiving this award before we leave will surely be one of the fondest memories of our time living here.
Youth
Contestants ages 16 years and under eligible for this category.
Youth First Place Winner: Derek Tsang
Youth Honorable Mentions: Bradford Warner
Photo: Derek Tsang/Cincinnati Nature Center Photography Contest
Behind the Shot: On my winter break, I set out hoping to make use of the falling snow for new and interesting photos. At the same time, I was hoping to see a Purple Finch to log as a new-lifer on the Merlin Bird ID app, as I heard they can be seen around the winter time. At the Nature Center, opportunity arose from the increasingly drastic yet brief snowfall. I used my Canon camera equipment with a 600mm lens and watched among the birds at the Visitor Center’s feeders. Near the top of a smaller tree, I saw a bird that stuck out from the House Finches. Seizing the possibility (that this bird was the one I was looking for), I took a picture of it. I wasn’t sure at the time but I later learned that it was, in fact, a Purple Finch. While my hands may have been cold, I’m glad to have gone birding in such conditions as it brought upon me the opportunity I was looking for, not only for the Purple Finch/new-lifer, but also an interesting photo.
