The Friend's of the 500th 2012 Photography Contest was open to all photographers.  Photos were accepted from July 1 to October 6, 2012.  The overall theme of the contest was to showcase the natural beauty of the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the surrounding Canaan Valley area.

An awards ceremony reception sponsored by the Friend's of the 500th was held on October 20, 2012 at the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center . 

Winners are as follows:

Best In Show

Sundew by Dan Sved

Native Wildlife
Third Place: You Go First by Neale Blackwood
Second Place: Fox In The Woods by Jim Blackwood
First Place: In Search of by Ken Wyant

Native Plants and Wildflowers
Third Place: Tenaceous by Neale Blackwood
Second Place: Fall Wildflowers by Jim Blackwood
First Place: Sundew by Don Sved

Canaan Valley Scenery
Third Place: Evening Tranquility by Jim Blackwood
Second Place: Elakala by Dan Sved
First Place: April Surprise by Neale Blackwood, Jr.

Artistic
Third Place: The Crooked Way by Neale Blackwood, Jr.
Second Place: Frosty Mist by Neale Blackwood, Jr.
First Place: Early Morning Web by Beth Spencer

Youth
Third Place: Mountain Top Sunset by Joseph Clark
Second Place: Older Than The Trees by Joseph Clark
First Place: Bee #1 by Chris Barnes

Thank you to the 2012 Judges: Joseph Henry, Vernon Patterson and Dawn Washington

Stop by to see the photographs which are displayed in the Canaan Valley NWR Visitor Center from October 20, 2012 to January 1, 2013.