Salem, Marblehead Featured Among Essex Heritage Contest Photo Contest Winning Entries

SALEM, MA — Several scenes of Salem's picturesque beauty, as well as those in Marblehead and other communities across the North Shore, were among the winning entries in the annual Essex Heritage Photo Contest.

The contest encourages photographers of all skill levels to “capture” the living landscapes, unique places, and vibrant communities of Essex County, Massachusetts.

The contest is presented by Essex Heritage with generous support from North Shore Bank, DeIulis Brothers Construction, Geller MicroAnalytical Labs, American Tower & Steeple Co., Inc., Groom Construction, Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, The Burke Insurance Agency, and the Rotary Club of Salem.

Prize sponsorships were awarded by Hunt's Photo & Video, Ipswich River Watershed Association, SEE Shore Photography, The Trustees, Sea Level Oyster Bar, and Atomic Café.

2024 Essex Heritage Photo Contest Winners:

Grand Prize
“Egret Fan Dancers in a Peeking Dawn” by Carin Macnamara taken on Cape Ann

Category: Picture Perfect Places
1st Place – “Spiraling in Time” by Franco Cutietta taken in Salem
2nd Place - "Rockport Peonies” by Jason Kennedy taken in Rockport
3rd Place – "Beaver Moon Rising Over Salem Harbor" by Joyce Wood taken in Salem

Category: Go Coastal!
1st Place - "Sharing is Caring" by Kathy Diamontopoulos taken in Ipswich
2nd Place - "Aurora at Salem Willows" by Rick Matthias taken in Salem
3rd Place - "Moon Snails" by Bruce McBrien taken in Newbury

Category: The Great Outdoors
1st Place - "The Pink Hour" by John Abisamra taken in Essex
2nd Place - "Red-winged Blackbird Feeding Chick" by Ken Jordan taken in Topsfield
3rd Place - "Lunch Time" by James Reily taken in Salem

Category: Youth Category
1st Place - "Dog’s Perspective" by Greyson Collins taken in Marblehead
2nd Place - "Moonlit Flight" by Jason Mercurio taken in Andover
3rd Place - "Saugus Iron Works" by Alice Dunn taken in Saugus

People’s Choice Award
“Sunflowers” by Alison Colby-Campbell taken in Ipswich

The public is invited to attend an in-person Essex Heritage Photo Contest Reception celebrating our talented winners on Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Salem Armory Visitor Center (2 New Liberty Street, Salem, MA).

The reception is free, open to the public, and light refreshments will be available. The 14 winning images will be on exhibition at the Salem Armory Visitor Center starting in May through June.

See winning photographs on the Essex Heritage Facebook page or on its website.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)