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Nebraskaland 2025 Photo Contest

A Final March Toward Migration, Hall County Jeffrey Z. Carney, Ashland

BEST OF SHOW – A Final March Toward Migration, Hall County

Photo by Jeffrey Z. Carney, Ashland


This year’s Nebraskaland Magazine Photo Contest was once again a thrill for our staff to witness. Viewing scenes across our great state through the eyes of others is such a stunning way to cap off another year in the outdoors.

This year’s Best of Show winner, “A Final March Toward Migration,” by Jeffrey Z. Carney of Ashland, was taken at the Crane Trust in Hall County.

“On this night, I put down my long telephoto and picked up a 35mm wide-angle lens to try and capture the moment we were all witnessing. It was a scene I had not experienced during other migrations … . By the next afternoon, most of the area’s cranes were gone.” (Read the rest of Carney’s story.)
While the Nebraskaland staff has seen thousands of sandhill crane images before, the depth of the cranes and the beautiful colors behind them were mesmerizing.

We thank everyone who participated in this year’s contest and look forward to seeing our wonderful state through your eyes next year.

Happy shooting.

Jeff Kurrus, Editor
Nebraskaland Magazine


Wildlife

FIRST PLACE — Meridian, Cherry County
Rex DeBord, Chadron

FIRST PLACE – Meridian, Cherry County

Photo by Rex DeBord, Chadron


The Challenger, Thomas County
Brad Mellema, Grand Island

SECOND PLACE – The Challenger, Thomas County

Photo by Brad Mellema, Grand Island


A Bobwhite Song, Hall County
Colleen Childers, Grand Island

THIRD PLACE – A Bobwhite Song, Hall County

Photo by Colleen Childers, Grand Island


Macro

Dragonfly Double, 
Hall County
Rita Flohr, Grand Island

FIRST PLACE – Dragonfly Double, Hall County

Photo by Rita Flohr, Grand Island


A Drone Fly Close-Up, Frontier County
Don Brockmeier, Eustis

SECOND PLACE – A Drone Fly Close-Up, Frontier County

Photo by Don Brockmeier, Eustis


Corn Kernel and a Jumping Spider, Lancaster County
Molly Boyd, Lincoln

THIRD PLACE – Corn Kernel and a Jumping Spider, Lancaster County

Photo by Molly Boyd, Lincoln


Recreation

Foggy Fishing at Iron Horse Lake, Pawnee County
Ellen Hanzlicek, DuBois

FIRST PLACE – Foggy Fishing at Iron Horse Lake, Pawnee County

Photo by Ellen Hanzlicek, DuBois


Just Getting Started, Perkins County
Matt Zvolanek, Ogallala

SECOND PLACE – Just Getting Started, Perkins County

Photo by Matt Zvolanek, Ogallala


A Campfire Night at Ponca State Park, Dixon County 
Tiara Brown, Omaha

THIRD PLACE – A Campfire Night at Ponca State Park, Dixon County

Photo by Tiara Brown, Omaha


Scenic

The Meandering Middle Loup, Hooker County
Jeffrey Z. Carney, Ashland

FIRST PLACE – The Meandering Middle Loup, Hooker County

Photo by Jeffrey Z. Carney, Ashland


 Barn Storming, Butler County
Brandon Hammons, Creston

SECOND PLACE – Barn Storming, Butler County

Photo by Brandon Hammons, Creston


Still Life in Swedeburg, 
Saunders County
Colette Rathke, Wahoo

THIRD PLACE – Still Life in Swedeburg, Saunders County

Photo by Colette Rathke, Wahoo

Read about the history of Nebraskaland’s Photo Contest.