OGDEN — The Bank of Utah “My Utah” photo contest is open for submissions. How can Southern Utahns participate?
Taylor Rath’s captivating photo of a fly fisherman with a gorgeous backdrop in Duchesne County won first prize last year in Bank of Utah’s 2023 “My Utah” photo contest, according to a news release issued by the company.
The photo helps Raths feel connected to her foundation that is “deeply rooted” within Utah. “My Utah is unforgettable,” she said.
The winning photo features a fly fisherman casting a long, beautiful cast, the release states. The line is swerving back and forth as the sun peaks through the clouds, shining perfectly on forested mountains in Duchesne County. The glimmer of the sun also creates cascading shadows in the stream where the fisherman is hard at work.
Raths grew up in a small, agricultural community in northeastern Utah. Raised on a cattle and horse ranch, she developed a great appreciation for Western art, which inspires her photography style. At one point she thought she would be a professional artist, but life has taken her in a different direction. She hopes to combine her two passions of marriage and family relations and art to work in art therapy, Bank of Utah states.
“Capturing and showcasing these unique moments in time is refreshing, and I receive peace from creativity. Photography is a tool that allows me to reveal and highlight frequently overlooked beauty,” she said.
The release states that the second-place-winning photo captured the beauty of drinking horses in the Dugway area. Tremonton resident Bobbie Grover snapped the photo and will receive a $300 prize.
“My inspiration is my love of horses. I had wanted to see wild horses since I was young and when I found out how close to me they were, I went searching for them out to Dugway. When I found them, my life changed,” she said.
She decided to buy a good starter camera and watched videos to learn about photography. “I spent every day I could out there with them. I finally found the peace and content I needed in life,” Grover said of her photo.
Photography enthusiast Sam El Halta received $200 as the third-place winner. The Eagle Mountain resident nabbed his photo of the iconic barn in Ogden Valley while exploring the area for the first time. “I have been taking photos for most of my life both as a hobby and a passion,” El Halta said.
Bollschweiler, the first-place winner in the 2022 “My Utah” photo contest, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Bank of Utah, St. George News
And, the Bank of Utah said it’s not too late to enter this year’s photo contest.
The locally owned and operated company stated that it’s excited to invite Utahns to “show us their Utah” by submitting original color photos of their favorite Utah landscapes or of friends and family enjoying those landscapes in the bank’s fifth annual photo contest. The contest is currently running and ends July 19 at 11:59 p.m. MST.
The first-place winner will receive $500, and the winning photo will be featured on electronic billboards along the Wasatch Front, the release states. Second- and third-place winners will receive $300 and $200, respectively. The top three photos, plus nine runners-up, will be showcased in the bank’s annual promotional calendar. This year, the bank will continue with its “Best of Show” — the photo with the most votes will win a “Best in Show” award of $150.
“Our photo contest highlights all the beauty and majesty in Utah that we love to celebrate at Bank of Utah. We know residents from across the state see that too, and they will capture the grandeur of all facets of our state, from the red rocks to the beautiful waterfalls, mountain peaks, lakes and streams,” said Bank of Utah President Branden Hansen. “I can’t wait to see what Utahns will capture in our contest this summer.”
People aged 18 and older are encouraged to post their original color photos of Utah landscapes and/or people enjoying Utah landscapes on the Bank of Utah’s gallery page now through July 19. Photos may be in vertical or horizontal orientation. Jpeg format is preferred, and photos must be 300 dpi. Photos should not be significantly altered or include properties or structures owned by a third party.
Individuals may enter up to three photos. For a complete list of rules and to enter photos, go to Bank of Utah’s website. For contest updates, find Bank of Utah and #MyUtah on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Winners will be announced after July 20.
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