The Susquehanna River has a habit of stealing the spotlight — and local photographers are being invited to help it shine again.
Shutterbugs of all skill levels are encouraged to submit their Pennsylvania scenes to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s annual Save the Bay Photo Contest, which runs March 9 through March 27, according to a news release. Organizers are looking for images that capture the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, from quiet creeks to sweeping river bends, along with the people, plants and wildlife that depend on it.
That includes the Susquehanna, the Bay’s largest tributary and a familiar muse for photographers in York and Lancaster counties. Last year’s top‑prize winner, “River’s Bend,” was taken by Hellam photographer George Kurzik from Chiques Rock, overlooking the Susquehanna as it curves toward Accomac in York County.
“The sun and clouds and river were just right,” Kurzik said of the moment — one he chased repeatedly. His devotion to that view included roughly 20 trips to the same spot, once during a blinding snowstorm. “There should be a 12‑step program for people like me,” he joked, according to the release.
This year’s contest is open to amateur and professional photographers across the Bay region, including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Submissions can feature water, wildlife, farms, recreation and landscapes from throughout the watershed.
Entries will be judged by a Chesapeake Bay Foundation panel before the public gets a chance to weigh in during online voting from April 6 to April 24. Winners will receive cash prizes ranging from $100 to $500, along with a one‑year CBF membership. Selected photos will also appear on CBF’s website, social media, 2027 calendar and Save the Bay magazine.
More information and submission guidelines are available at cbf.org/photocontest.
