2021 North Dakota Governor's photo contest winners announced

Gov. Doug Burgum, along with North Dakota Commerce Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman and North Dakota Council on the Arts Executive Director Kim Konikow, presented winners of the North Dakota Governor's Photo Contest on Wednesday, Oct. 6.

Photographers submitted photos to one or more of the following categories: Recreation, Road Trips, Badlands Scenery, Beyond the Badlands Scenery and Wildlife. Winning submissions will be published in North Dakota Tourism’s promotional materials.

This year the contest had a total of 543 submissions, with a limit of 10 entries per photographer.

1/4: “The Vast Lane” by Wendy Wood from Grand Forks won the Road Trips category. A spring storm begins to clear, revealing a full rainbow in the rural Red River Valley in southeastern North Dakota. The rainbow frames a wide-open road flanked by fields leading into the community of Christine, North Dakota. Contributed by North Dakota Tourism

2/4: "Prairie Dog Embrace" by Tim Samuelson of Fargo was awarded both Best Wildlife Photo and Best in Show in the 2021 North Dakota Governor's Photo Contest. Judges said stood out among the rest by capturing a moment and evoking a warm feeling. The warmth of the colors matched the feeling, and the depth of field keeps the focus of the viewer in the moment. Contributed by North Dakota Tourism

3/4: “Setting Decoys on a Frozen North Dakota Wetland” by Craig Bihrle from Bismarck won the Recreation category. This image illustrates the calm before the excitement of the hunt. Sunrise preparation for waterfowl hunting, a man places decoys in partially frozen water as the sun begins to light up the sky. Contributed by North Dakota Tourism

4/4: The Beyond the Badlands Scenery category was won by “Storm forming over sunflowers” by Roxanne Westerman from Mapleton. This fantastic image combines blue skies, a storm brewing off in the distance and a sunny sunflower field in full bloom. The contrasting vibrant colors are very eye-catching, and the angle of the shot makes it appear that the field goes on forever. Contributed by North Dakota Tourism