The votes are in, and we are excited to share the winners of the Virginia Conservation Photo Contest!

Thank you to all of the photographers who submitted their best Virginia conservation photographs to be featured as the cover photo of Our 2024 Common Agenda Environmental Briefing Book. Photographers also submitted their work to win one of our conservation themes:

• Public Transit
• Clean Energy
• People of Virginia

The conservation community cast their votes in July for their favorite photos to be used as the Our Common Agenda cover photo. Once the votes were cast, VCN staff voted on their favorite of the top selections. Check out the winners below!

Sue Mangan’s photo of a cast net fisherman enjoying the early sun on East Ocean View Beach in Norfolk, Va will be featured as the cover photo of Our 2024 Common Agenda!

Sue Mangan is a Norfolk VA based conservation and environmental visual storyteller. Retired from her work in aquatics management and competitive swim coaching, she still finds joy in, and being around, water. Early mornings are her favorite time of day to paddle her kayak or walk along the beach.  Her artistic focus has always been the patterns, shapes, space and reflection that water reveals. Much of her work is Chesapeake Bay focused, with images that explore the story of this beautiful and threatened place. More of Sue’s photography can be found on her Instagram profile (@suecmangan).

A photo of the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind test turbines off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia by Hunter Noffsinger won our photo contest’s “Clean Energy” category.

“Adventure Awaits,” a photo of the CSX Atlantic Coastline Bridge in Richmond, Virginia by Lisa L. Watkins won our photo contest’s “Public Transit” category.

Lisa Watkins has loved photography since she received her first Kodak camera as a Christmas gift from her parents. Through the years her desire to share the beauty of the world around her with family and friends has grown.  From collecting vintage cameras, documenting sweet memories with family to capturing beautiful nature, wildlife as well as breathtaking landscapes, Lisa loves sharing her vision through her photography. This particular photograph was a “bucket list” photo that she wanted to capture during sunset and when the Amtrak train crossed the bridge it was almost too good to be true! Lisa’s photographs are a reminder that the most precious things in life are right in front of you!

More of Lisa’s photography can be found on her Instagram profile (@lisawatkinsphotography).

“Learning the Ropes,” a photo of a young sailor on a sunset cruise around the mouth of the Rappahannock by Jen Sagan won our photo contest’s “People of Virginia” category.

Jen Sagan is an Oyster Restoration Specialist with Friends of the Rappahannock, an environmental nonprofit based out of Fredericksburg, VA. When she’s not working, she still loves to be out on the water and getting candid photos of people enjoying their time in this beautiful environment. She says “I don’t have any fancy gear or editing programs, so all of my pictures are shown exactly as I took them on my phone. One recent place that I’ve loved capturing photos is aboard Pyxis, a 1970 Kittiwake 23 that some local friends decided to restore. It is shown in this picture at the mouth of the Rappahannock River for a sunset cruise out of Deltaville, VA.”

More of Jen’s photography can be found on her Instagram profile (@jensagan).

Don’t miss your chance to have your Virginia photography featured to Virginia’s environmental community! Our Virginia Conservation Photo Contest is held every spring. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed on the photo contest and conservation happenings around the Commonwealth.