Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo to the 2026 Community Photo Contest, sponsored by the Rappahannock News and Foothills Forum. Here are all of the entries to this year’s contest:
1st Place, ‘T-Bone and His Ladies’
By Ava Krogmann, Castleton, taken on Canon EOS
Safely behind the fence, I captured T-Bone, our bull, asserting his dominance. A sharp snort and a rotation of his head made it perfectly clear who was really in charge.
2nd Place, Best Abstract/Pictorial ‘Icemageddon’
By Mary Fairbank O’Meara, taken on iPhone 13 Pro
Mort and I explore our woods after the January 2026 ice storm (many thanks to Yak Trax!)
3rd Place, ‘In Dew Time’
By Eric Borst, taken on Nikon Z9
Early morning dew brings magic moments.
Best Portraits
Best Portrait winner, ‘Icing Water Tub
By Clare Turner, taken on iPhone
Brother and sister keeping cool in extreme heat in their pool on Jericho Road, Flint Hill. 2 July 2026
Portrait Honorable Mention, ‘Summer Camp’
By Suzanne Zylonis, taken on iPhone 14
Kate surveying the zinnia seeds planted on the first day of camp at WCDS. Over the course of 11 weeks, she’ll help water, weed, and care for their environment.
Portrait Honorable Mention, ‘The Sun Blocker’
By Erika Sinnott, taken on iPhone 15
My dog Ellie at my house in Flint Hill blocking the sun while I was laying down about to work on my car.
Abstract/Pictorial
Abstract/Pictorial Honorable Mention, ‘Rise in the ‘Hannock’
By Kyla Andreoni, taken on iPhone 12 Pro Max
Mid October sunrise 211 between rose hill and echo hill
Abstract/Pictorial Honorable Mention, ‘Angry Clouds’
By Rickey Carpenter, taken with a drone
Two angry clouds during a thunder storm.
Picture and Story
Best Picture and Story, ‘To the Dogs’
By Karen Dorr, iPhone 12 mini
Running on the Sperryville River Trail, my dog Wishes skating along the “snowcrete” and not minding a bit.
Picture and Story Honorable Mention, ‘One Nation’
By Leila Nowroozi, taken on iPhone
No place better than Ben Venue to celebrate America’s milestone birthday among old and new friends.
Picture and Story Honorable Mention, ‘Alan Williams Banding Kestrel Babies’
By Robert Ford, taken on Nikon Z7II
Banding Kestrels from our box in Flint Hill
Best Agriculture or Farm Photo
Best Agriculture or Farm Photo, ‘Rappahannock Highlands’
By David DiFiore, taken on Nikon D5200
On a nature hike with Patty Lane et al. at Eldon Farm in late winter, temperatures teetering between two seasons, we crested a hillside above an old farmstead, a look back and westward revealed a quintessential Rappahannock-piedmont perspective: golden fields dotted with small farms, past and present, nestled in the folds or on the tops of rolling hills, randomly spotlighted by a capricious sun; a furrowed clay road, winding snakelike, leaving its mark across a field; and waves of forested foothills and the great blue Shenandoah as a backdrop.
Agriculture or Farm Photo Honorable Mention, ‘Sharing the Pond’
By Tina Falkenbury, taken on iPhone 16 pro
On a hot day the geese and the cows relax at the pond. It is an August afternoon in Huntly. This image is in a pano format because it is most dramatic to see the entire pond and how the animals are interacting. This is the iconic pond off 522 with the majestic mountains in the background.
Agriculture or Farm Photo Honorable Mention, ‘Sperryville Snowy Truck’
By Bruce Geisert, taken on Nikon D800
Old Apple Truck
Budding Photographers
Best Budding Photographer, ‘Dark Skies’
by Dryden Whitson, 16, taken on Canon Eos T5i rebel
The beautiful night skies above our county taken in our own back yard featuring the breathtaking Milky Way.
Budding Photographer Honorable Mention, ‘Peas in a Pod’
By Winnie and Josephine Forrest, 8 and 9, taken on a phone
Baby barn swallows peak out of their nest under our porch roof, waiting for their next meal.
Budding Photographer Honorable Mention, Udderly in Love with This View!’
By Allison Baldwin, 10, taken on iPhone
Udderly in love with this view! Amissville, VA
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- “Here” by Earl Johnson, taken on Iphone 17Pro Six swans on Seven Islands Refuge Lake in early March in the early morning fog
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- “Sunset after a day of haying” by Rob Easterday Sunset after a day of haying
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- “Todays Blessing” by Lesley Jenkins, take on a cellphone Photo taken on Christmas evening on Crest Hill Rd.
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- “Life Is Good” by J. Armstrong, taken on a cellphone Sherri raising her goats at Buckhorn Pasture Farm, life is good in Rappahannock county.
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- “Midnight Moonlight” by Ronald White, taken on iPhone 16 Late night shot of a full moon through the trees in Castleton.
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- “Old Rag” by Tammy LaGraffe, taken on a cellphone Sunset taken from our deck of old rag
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- “Peace Beneath the Branches” by Jacob Dart, taken on iPhone 15 Some places ask you to slow down without saying a word. Tucked beneath an old tree, with the mountains standing watch and two empty chairs waiting for whoever needs a moment, I was reminded that luxury isn’t always found inside four walls. Sometimes it’s simply peace.
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- “Chester Gap” by Heather Williams, taken on iPhone Life’s better on the mountain iPhone
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- “Sunset over the Mountains” by Madison Stephens, taken on an Android phone. Summer sunset over the mountains on the Culpeper-Rappahannock line.
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- “Magic on Mary’s Rock” by Olivia Devening This photo was taken at the summit of Mary’s Rock in Shenandoah National Park just before sunset. I used a Minolta SRT 101 film camera, unknown film.
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- “Huntly Rolling” by Paul John Timpane, taken on iPhone 14 Freshly hayed field on a late June afternoon, perfection viewed from on high.
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- “Sea to Summit” by Mary Behlke, taken on iPhone 16 What at first look like islands peaking out of the sea are the Blue Ridge mountains peaking out of the clouds.
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- “Mama to Be” by Carla Bailey, taken on Galaxy S24 Ultra Mama to Be located on the outskirts of Little Washington; November 2025.
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- “Landscape in Autumn” by Sydney Sanders, taken on a film camera View of the autumn Rappahannock landscape at sunset from the top of Red Oak Mountain, November 2025.
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- “Woodville Sunset” by H. B. Wood, taken on a cellphone Summer Sunset Over Thornton Gap
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- “Water St. Outbuildings” by William Cromley, taken on iPhone 16 The simple forms, textures & colors of Rappahannock’s vanishing vernacular outbuildings.
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- “Love and Light in Little Washington” by Joanie Ballard, taken on a cellphone I took this image on May 13, 2026, from Main Street while on a walk at sunset in Little Washington. I loved the shadows and light right at that moment on the Trinity Episcopal Church. We do get such beautiful light here in Rappahannock, especially at sunset. phone
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- “Nature’s Paintbrush” by Trina Weir, taken on Samsung A15 Near Thoroughfare Gap
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- “Strawberry Moon” by Pam Harper, taken on iPhone 15 Pro Early morning moon over the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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- “After the Storm” by Steve Harper, taken on iPhone 17 Pro Photo of Old Rag taken after an afternoon thunderstorm from Red Oak Mountain
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- “Landscape” by Charles Lanman, taken on iPhone Sunset on Old Rag Mountain
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- “The Sunroof Series” by Brendan Finnerty, taken on iPhone View from hilltop of the Atkins farm that was originally deeded to Isaac Nelson Atkins, Sr. and wife Lena Helen Atkins in the 1930’s as part of the resettlement of the folks living in Shenandoah National Park.
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- “Rappahannock Resettlement Vista” by David Atkins, taken on iPhone View from hilltop of the Atkins farm that was originally deeded to Isaac Nelson Atkins, Sr. and wife Lena Helen Atkins in the 1930’s as part of the resettlement of the folks living in Shenandoah National Park.
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- “Golden Riders at Dusk” by Tracey Cooke, taken on iPhone 16 Picture of a walk I took on Battle Mountain and when I saw this view I knew it would be a breathtaking sight iPhone 16
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- “Fire in the Sky” by Barb Ortiz, taken on iPhone One cold sunset in Little Washington VA
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- “When the day whispers, good night” by Audra Henkel Moore, taken on iPhone It just a few days ago outside my bedroom window no color was changed or anything. I use my iPhone for this out of my bedroom window. The sunset is really beautiful there but this one I just had to capture and in my own brain I just came up with the title. I don’t know why.
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- “Meeting on a Quiet Road” by Joan Townsend, taken on iPhone 17 For a few unforgettable seconds, the road belonged to both of us. iPhone 17
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- “Daiseys Barn” by Alan Dranitzke, taken on iPhone 11 pro Daisey is long gone as are the cows, the orchard, the outhouse, but the barn is still…
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- “Phantom Deer” by Christy Brookman, taken on iPhone 16 Against the muted tones of winter, a white deer stands out as a striking reminder of the countryside’s extraordinary beauty.
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- “Sunshine on a Cloudy Day” by Rachel Bynum, taken on iPhone Lemonade Sunflowers are still sunny as thunderclouds build.
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- “Old Rag at Sunset” by Kelsey Walker, taken on iPhone Photo taken from Woodville at sunset.
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- “Strawberry Moonrise” by Brian Moulton, taken on iPhone 17 Pro The Strawberry Moon illuminates an archway of cloud as it rises over Butler Mountain.
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- “Finding the bowl inside the tree” by Tac Tacelosky Jason Goodman shapes a hardwood bowl on a lathe during the Rappahannock Art Tour.
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- “Pastoral Peace” by Sherri Baldwin, taken on iPhone Where the valley’s gold meets the mountain’s blue. Amissville, VA iPhone
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- “Home” by Bridget Daly, taken on iPhone A photo of the Blue Ridge Mountains taken from Red Oak Mountain Road, one summer night.
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- “Dictoador” by Darya Wilson, taken on iPhone I “toadly” loved this curious-looking one-eyed American Toad, who gave the air of an all-knowing supervillain.
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- “The First Look” by Debra Moore, taken on iPhone 16 At RappCats, every adoption begins with a look like this—when fear gives way to trust, and two lives quietly begin to change each other. iPhone 16
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- “Homeward Bound in a Dark Sky County” by Rebecca Beardsley, taken on a cellphone On a mostly clear January night in Sperryville, Hugo the dog looks back toward home across a snow-covered field under the dark skies that make our county known for exceptional stargazing. Phone
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- “Turning the Last Rows” by Ruthie Windsor-Mann, taken on iPhone 16 Pro Max A farmer rakes the last of the cornstalks into windrows on a hillside farm along Fodderstack Road, November 2025. iPhone 16 Pro Max
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- “Irrational Exuberance” by Maureen Moran, taken on Canon R6 M2 100-500mm First summer on Ridgeview Lane Canon R6 M2 100-500mm
