New Lenox Woman In Top 3 For Photo Contest Finals

NEW LENOX, IL — After one round of public voting, a New Lenox woman's photos is among three finalists in the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s 2021 Preserve the Moment Photo Contest, with a top prize of a $500 Visa gift card on the line.

Meagan Crandall-Hawrysko won June's portion of the year-long contest with her photo of a crayfish striking a defiant tone in the Hickory Creek Preserve in New Lenox.

"I was walking in the Hickory Creek Preserve in New Lenox after a rainy morning, and the crayfish just happened to be right there on the path, standing up like that," Crandall-Hawrysko said. "I wasn't expecting to see it there, and it was a great photo op."

Indeed it was, as it not only took the top spot for June in the photo contest, but garnered enough attention on social media to land in the Top 3 in the final round of voting.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County is asking people to help pick a winner on its Facebook page, according to a news release from the Forest Preserve. Voting will end at 11:59 a.m. Monday.

Aside from the $500 Visa gift card for the first place winner, prizes of $250 for second place and $150 for third place are up for grabs, according to the Forest Preserve.

To vote, click “like” or make a comment, or both, on your favorite photo to cast your ballot.

Crandall-Hawrysko said she has been interested in nature photography for the past couple of years.

"I really got into it during the height of the pandemic since it was something I could do outdoors, and I continue to love it and get out as much as I can," she said.

She added that nature photography can be a source of stress relief.

"I'm definitely still learning a lot about nature photography, so the advice I'd give is just that I recommend giving it a try if you are looking for a good stress reliever," she said. "It's a great way to just be in the moment. And you never know what you might encounter right here in Will County.

And what would she do with the money if she wins?

"I haven't thought too much about what I would do with the money," Crandall-Hawrysko said. "I've been excited to just be able to be in the contest in the first place. Everyone in the contest had such awesome photos, so it's an honor to be in the contest along with the other monthly winners."