The Maryland Natural Resources Photo Contest Grand Prize Winner: Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl by Zaphir Shamma of Gunpowder.

Agency announces winners and asks for your Facebook vote for fan favorite

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the winners of the 2020 Natural Resources Photo Contest. Zaphir Shamma of Gunpowder won the grand prize for his photo of an eastern screech owl nestled in a tree cavity.

For winning the grand prize, Shamma receives $500, a Maryland State Parks Passport, a subscription to Maryland Natural Resource magazine, and five copies of the 2021 calendar with the winning image displayed on the cover.

Nearly 500 shutterbugs submitted about 2,500 photos in this year’s contest. Along with the overall grand prize winner, the judges selected first through third place winners in four seasonal categories—fall, winter, spring, and summer.

First place in the fall category: Blackwater Sunrise by Wayne Zussman of Grasonville.
First place in the winter category: Sunrays Over the King and Queen Seat by Matthew Settle of Bel Air.
The grand prize winner also won first place in the spring category. Red Morph Eastern Screech Owl by Zapir Shamma of Gunpowder.
First place in the summer category: Fishing on the Susquehanna by Mark Rutt of Darlington

Still to be determined? The “Fan Favorite,” which will be chosen by popular opinion on the department’s Facebook page. “Like” and “Share” your pic pick when the department posts the photos this weekend. Votes will be taken through October 12.

Click here to view the winners of the 17th annual Maryland Natural Resources Photo Contest