Pictures by the People photo contest winners announced

More than 100 entries were received over the last month for the 33rd annual Pictures by the People photography contest at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum, and winners have been selected.

“We had a total of 105 entries by 44 photographers,” said Steve Whitworth, director of the museum. “We had a lot of new people being recognized by the awards.

“The quality top to bottom is great throughout the show.”

Shirley Persons’ “Guitar or Not” won first place in the adult division.

Dr. Dan Jackson’s “Dad’s Toys” was selected as the Best in Show winner while earning the $100 purchase award.

Local photographer Mark Pelton served as this year’s judge, Whitworth said, and the decisions were difficult.

“The judge had a tough time making decisions and debating between winners,” Whitworth said. “He really deliberated hard.

Palyn Patrick earned first place honors in the junior division with “Mittens.”

“The quality was just really terrific this year, and it really shows Poplar Bluff has a lot of talented people putting a good eye to their surroundings.”

Other adult winners include: • Shirley Persons with “Guitar or Not”

Dan Jackson’s “Glacier Park Vista”

Clay Guthrie’s “Least Tern Courting.”

Honorable mentions in the adult divisions went to:

Lynda Nobles for “Looking Back” and “Golden Pathway”

Alice Shelton for “School House”

Subrina Berger for “Ghourdlings”

Travis Gowan for “1st Baptist Church”

Ann Veatch for “Dragon Fly”

Clay Guthrie for “Standing.”

Winners in the youth divisions were Palyn Patrick with “Mittens,” and Mollie Parks with “I Love USA” and “Flower.”

Honorable mention awards in the youth divisions were earned by:

Clinton Shumate for “Past Time”

Palyn Patrick for “Yellow Breeze”

Luke Berger for “My Flag, My Country”

Isaac Cato for “Living on the Edge.”

Special awards included:

Selfie - Marie Njoh with “At Poplar Bluff Library”

Patriotic - Shirley Persons with “Preamble”

Wildlife/Nature - Clay Guthrie with “Prothonotary Warbler”

Black and White - Jess Goins with “Untitled 3”

Architecture - Elissa Hogg with “Biltmore Staircase”

Cutest Pet - Geoffrey Lewis with “Cat in the Tree, What Did He See?”

The nature and wildlife category, Whitworth said, is new this year, replacing the former “special techniques” category.

“We replaced special techniques because more people are interested in nature,” he said. “We’re surrounded by so much beauty around here.

“We’re right on the edge of the Ozark foothills and the broad plains of Southern Missouri with its swamplands, so we have so many great choices of places to shoot.”

To celebrate the winning photographs and their creators, the museum will host a reception and showing from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, sponsored by Minit Print and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

“We’ll have safety precautions in place and recommend social distancing. We’ll also recommend face masks be worn, and sanitizer will be on hand,” Whitworth stressed.

Wine will be served for adults, while children will be served individual ice cream cups, Whitworth added.

The winning photographs will be displayed in the museum’s downstairs gallery, while the remainder will be shown in the upstairs gallery.

The display, Whitworth said, will continue at the museum through Aug. 30.