The second placed photo entitled “Reflections” in the professional category was submitted by Mr Dame Peters who also copped third place with “The Golden Hour”. Photo: VINO

The Grand Prize winning photo in the amateur category was entitled “Heron Sunset” and was submitted by Mr Leon Heyen. Photo: VINO

Among the prize winners in the BVI Tourist Board's Photo Competition. From left to right: Nadia B. Albright, Andrea Brewley Richards, Dame Peters and Martina Jackson. Photo: VINO

The BVI Tourist Board’s Tourism Month Photo Competition Exhibition opened on November 12, 2012 at the Lower Estate Sugar Works Museum and ends November 30. Photo: VINO

The occasion was also used to announce the photo competition winners and to present them with their prizes. The top photos, which make up the exhibition, will be showcased at the museum from November 12 to 30, 2012.

There were 15 entries and some 51 images submitted in total for both the professional and amateur categories. The amateur category was broken down into four sub-categories.

The Grand Prize winner in the professional category was Mr Dan O’Connor and he has won for himself 2-night stay with breakfast at Frenchman’s BVI. O’Connor’s winning photo was entitled “Serenity in a Seat”. He was not on hand for the presentation.

The second placed photo entitled “Reflections”was submitted by Mr Dame Peters who also copped third place with “The Golden Hour”.

The amateur Grand Prize winner was Mr Leon Heyen and he is now entitled to a two-night stay at Scrub Island. Mr Heyen’s winning photo was entitled “Heron Sunset”. Mr Heyen was also not on hand for the presentation.

Second place went to Laura Hiesinger with “Anegada Tranquility” while third was Martina Jackson, who placed in all four of the amateur categories.

Prizes were also given in the amateur sub-categories.

All the participants received goody packs from the BVI Tourist Board.

Mrs MalciaSmith-Hamilton, the Acting Director of the BVI Tourist Board, welcomed the persons on hand and thanked the participants of the competition. She also remarked that she saw one of the pictures that looked like it was drawn and added “I think we have some talents here and I am happy that the BVI Tourist Board was able to put this competition together.”

Mrs Hamilton also encouraged persons to support the other BVI Tourist Board’s activities in observance of Tourism Month.

The Webmaster of the BVI TB, Robyn Gray, told Virgin Islands News Online that the objective of the competition is to showcase the amazing talent in the Territory “as well as to see the BVI through the eyes of the people that live and work in the BVI every day. It kind of shows us a different aspect than what we see as marketers.”

Gray said the BVI TB also hopes to feature a lot of the entries in its 2014 Calendar.  

Among the sponsors of the competition were Scrub Island Resort, Frenchman’s BVI, Road Town Wholesale and Rainbow Visions Photography.