From breathtaking landscapes to sweet moments between friends and family, the entries to this year’s reader photo contest impressed us all around. Thank you to the hundreds who took time to submit their work.
“I couldn’t help but admire the view of the sunset on the Pamlico Sound in Frisco, NC.” Tanya Reavis, a member of Piedmont Electric
“Outer Banks pony spotted on Corolla Beach.” Lauren Jackson, a member of Union Power
“Alligator River (near the Outer Banks) is a wildlife treasure, hosting the east coast’s highest concentration of black bears. I never tire of watching them.” Kim Steffan, a member of Piedmont Electric
“A long-awaited sunrise on Hawksbill lit up the peak blooms of Carolina rhododendrons and made the morning feel like a reward in itself.” Stephanie Sheffield, a member of Rutherford EMC
“I came to Mazarick Park in Fayetteville early to capture sunrise in a few areas with fall color. I just happened to turn and saw this isolated orange beauty capturing the light.” Steven Kelly, a member of Lumbee River EMC
“The scenic look out on the Blue Ridge Parkway between Boone and Blowing Rock provided a postcardperfect sunset.” Janie Fogarty, a member of Blue Ridge Energy
“Two of my three boys rest at the edge of our family pond in the Big Pee Dee area of Lilesville, NC, just after a long day of fishing. There’s something about a Carolina sunset that doesn’t just light the sky; it settles into your chest. It lingers. It reminds you of where you come from and who you love. To me, this image is not just about fishing or evening light. It’s about the kind of peace that only comes from knowing you belong—to each other and to this place.” Mallorie McGowan, a member of Union Power
“A picture of my bee, taken by my son Thomas Moore on the sunflowers that he grew.” Nina Moore, a member of Randolph EMC
“This female elk eyed passersby as she grazed on underbrush in the Cataloochee Valley.” Isaac Owens, a member of Haywood EMC
“This was a slow moving storm coming across the Pamlico Sound, which allowed me to set up the camera on a tripod on our deck to capture this scene using long exposure.” Pete Coady, a member of Cape Hatteras Electric
“The back deck of our home in Burnsville, NC, lights up with the sun going down around 8:30 p.m. The sunsets are so beautiful—I always feel a sense of wonder and calm.” Annette Rollins, a member of Brunswick Electric
“Six-year-old Penelope and eight-week-old baby sister Marlowe contemplate one another.” Dawn Niles, a member of Brunswick Electric
“I feel fortunate enough to live in one of the premier family beaches along the East Coast—Sunset Beach. On this summer day, I saw a father teaching his young son how to catch the waves with a boogie board. Between the plentiful sunlight and a fast shutter speed, I was able to freeze the water coming over them.” Steven Wingfield, a member of Brunswick Electric
“Nothing comes close to the true love between a little girl and her dog. What a gift!” Carol Anthony, a member of Rutherford EMC
“My husband took this photo while on a horseback ride at Cedar Island.” Sylvia Phillips, a member of Tideland EMC
“While driving home, my husband saw this baby barred owl sitting in the middle of our road. Mama owl was nearby but we were still able to get pretty close.” Beverly Hoots, a member of EnergyUnited
“I found the down of the white geese so pretty at Lake Rim in Fayetteville—it honestly made me want one for myself. These two look like they’re sharing some gossip.” Alex Johnson, a member of Lumbee River EMC
“Marigolds are especially beautiful when the sun is shining on them. Not only are they pretty, but they are also deer-resistant. My husband and I plant them in our yard every year.” Janis Harless, a member of Blue Ridge Energy
“My sweet Savannah always looks on the bright side. On a special trip to eat breakfast with abuela (grandma) at Cracker Barrel, the restaurant lost power just as we received our coffee. Rather than being glum, Savannah sweetly smiled, brightening the room and our mood!” Blanca Lynn, a member of EnergyUnited
“As our children have grown older, it has gotten harder and harder to vacation together as a family. Fortunately, this past April, all three of our boys joined us at Oak Island. Our oldest son, Max, saw that Fort Caswell would be hosting an Easter Sunrise Service along the waterfront. Just before the service started, I snapped this image looking across the Cape Fear towards the beautiful sunrise.” Steven Hagaman, a member of Blue Ridge Energy
“Donnell Burch of Burch Family Sweet Grass Baskets creates a sweet grass basket on site at the Rice Festival held at Fort Anderson/Brunswick Town historical grounds. The festival featured Gullah Geechee culture and crafts, among them basket making with sweetgrass.” Jason Brady, a member of Brunswick Electric
“Take in a breathtaking sunrise over the Cashiers Plateau in North Carolina, where the Blue Ridge Mountains stretch endlessly into the horizon.” Mark Crews, a member of Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative
“Corn harvest time in the mountains puts my 93-year-old hands hard at work.” Roy Sutton, a member of Haywood EMC
“We saw this cow in his pasture last winter in the snow, looking really cold. We named him Snow Cream.” Cheryl Angel, a member of Blue Ridge Mountain EMC
“This white squirrel hung around for 3 years. She always posed for me.” John Kratt, a member of Haywood EMC
“The trek to the ocean from a Loggerhead sea turtle nest is not for the faint of heart! This Oreo-sized creature who descends from ancestors who are millions of years old, found himself navigating sea oats as he made his way along Emerald Isle Beach to her home in the great Atlantic Ocean.” Jami Thomas, a member of Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative
I was fortunate to find this bull elk resting on a foggy early morning in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Clarke Cochran, Indian Trail, a member of Union Power
I took a walk through Duke’s campus with a new camera I was determined to learn. Most of the photos I took that day were unusable, except for one: a shot of the words ‘you are loved.’ Shealah Cocherell, Durham, a member of Piedmont Electric
