Joliet woman’s misty morning deer photo wins August contest
Amy Miller of Joliet won August’s portion of the Preserve the Moment photo contest with a picture of three deer following a path at Rock Run Preserve.
For one judge, the photo created a special mood through its lighting and focus.
“I really liked the contrasts: the bright versus dark, the soft focus versus the sharp focus, the bright colors versus the silhouettes. All that combines to make the photo seem almost dream-like.”
Miller said she lives near Rock Run and often heads there with her camera.
“Rock Run has some beautiful spots where the trails meet fields so any time there is fog in the morning, I know that there will be a chance for a more textured photo,” she wrote in an email after being notified of her win. “I have a few favorite sunrise spots, and this is definitely one of them.”
Photographing deer is a creative activity for Miller, who works as a documentation specialist.
“I absolutely love photographing deer,” she said. “To me they are a calming sight. To some people, all deer look the same, but different times of day, seasons, etc., always give me something to capture that is unique to the moment.”
Living close to Rock Run and being able to take photos is always a win, no matter how the photos turn out, she added.
“I am grateful for the ability to get out and shoot, to see such beauty in the middle of the city, and to try to better myself,” she said. “I grew up with forest preserve all around me, so every time I go out into the preserves to shoot it's like going home. I love the changing of the seasons, so every season brings a fresh look for photography.”
Honorable mentions went to:
- Michelle Wendling for a foggy landscape shot filled with pink and purple light at Hadley Valley.
- Mark Hanna for a shadowy shot of an alert coyote at O’Hara Woods Preserve.
- Chad Morsch for a glittery golden dragonfly at Isle a la Cache.
Contest continues
The Preserve the Moment photo contest began in February and runs through Dec. 31.
Monthly winners will advance to the final round, where they will compete for likes on Facebook in January 2027 to determine the first-, second- and third-place winners overall.
Each monthly photo contest winner will receive a $75 gift card. Overall winners will receive Mastercard gift cards worth $500 for first place, $250 for second place and $150 for third place. At the end of the contest, three participants also will be randomly selected to receive $75 Mastercard gift cards.
The contest is made possible with support from The Nature Foundation of Will County.
Participants are encouraged to read the rules before entering. Up to five photos can be submitted per month via the District’s contest upload page. All photos must be taken at a Forest Preserve District of Will County location.
