Butterfly Pic Taken By Gambrills Man Wins DNR's Photo Contest

GAMBRILLS, MD — A photographer from Gambrills who captured a beautiful picture has won the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2019 Natural Resources Photo Contest. David Illig caught a close-up shot of an eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly.

Illig wins $500, a Maryland State Parks Passport, a five-year subscription to Maryland Natural Resource magazine and five copies of the 2020 calendar with the winning image displayed on the cover. Approximately 2,500 photos were submitted by more than 500 photographers in the 16th annual contest. In addition to the overall grand prize winner, the judges selected first through third place winners in four seasonal categories—winter, spring, summer and fall. Illig won first place for summer with the butterfly's image.

Still to be determined is the “Fan Favorite,” which will be chosen by popular opinion on the department’s Facebook page. Followers are encouraged to “like” and “share” their pick and votes taken through Sept. 30.