D. Arlene Bonnett’s “Fireflies: Dancing with the Stars” won the Naturally Beautiful Adult Division in Audubon Community Nature Center’s 2019 Nature Photography Contest. Her photograph as well as the other winners and finalists are on exhibit at Jamestown’s 3rd on 3rd Gallery. The Jamestown resident as well as contest judge Mark Kirsch will greet visitors at a reception on Thursday, Aug. 15.

The Audubon Community Nature Center and the 3rd on 3rd Gallery are holding a reception for Audubon’s 2019 Nature Photography Contest Exhibit on Thursday, Aug. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m.

“With all the activity around the (Lucille Ball) Comedy Festival,” said Jennifer Schlick, Audubon Community Nature Center operations manager, “we thought it would be fun to do something special after the exhibit has been up for a while.”

The Audubon exhibit opened on July 30 and continues through Aug. 31 at the 3rd on 3rd Gallery, 108 E. Third St., Jamestown. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Fridays.

Schlick and 3rd on 3rd Curator Debra Eck installed the Adult and Youth Division winners from each of three categories as well as 12 finalists in this year’s contest.

Contest judge Mark Kirsch, a working photographer and high school and college educator, will greet visitors at the reception.

Also taking part will be D. Arlene Bonnett of Jamestown, whose entry “Fireflies: Dancing with the Stars” won the Naturally Beautiful Adult Division.

The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public.

More contest entries can be seen at the contest album link at ACNCPhotoContest.com/2019-Winners. Sales of the photographs on exhibit as well as those in the album support Audubon’s nature education programs that reach thousands of children every year.

The Audubon Community Nature Center used Jamestown to choose the categories for this year’s competition. In tribute to the First Lady of Comedy, Jamestown-born Lucille Ball, one of the categories was Naturally Funny: Wildlife photos that make us smile or laugh.

In honor of Roger Tory Peterson, the premier naturalist of the 20th century who was also born in Jamestown, and the more than 50 Peterson Field Guides, the second contest category was Field Guide Worthy: Photos that could be used for identification in a field guide.

The third category was an opportunity to let the world see where the photographer thinks of as home by entering Naturally Beautiful: The beautiful landscapes where you live.

Adult Photo Contest entries came from eight countries and 27 states. Youth entries came from nine states and the United Kingdom. Each winner received a $200 cash prize.

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