According to Sedlacek, this is one of Big Red’s and Arthur W’s 2018 chicks. After fledging, the chicks spent a couple of weeks hanging out on Alumni Fields. “It was a real joy to watch them chase each other, tumble and practice flying in such a safe environment,” Sedlacek said.

Cynthia Sedlacek wins People's Choice in 2018 Photography Contest

Cynthia Sedlacek’s “Subbing for Touchdown the Bear” received 45 out of 190 votes campuswide, becoming this year’s People’s Choice in the 2018 Photography Contest and proving – for the fourth year – that the red-tailed hawks she photographs at or near Cornell have the most ardent fans.

Coming in second in People’s Choice was “Weaving Girl” by Barbara Friedman; with Sedlacek’s “Tree Hugger” (an owl, not a hawk) third. Fourth was Kyle Gerald Horton’s “Landscape” and fifth, Sue Brightly’s “Winter Morning.”

Ninety entrants submitted 142 photos. Some, such as Tim Gallagher, Horton and Friedman, submitted multiple photographs that placed first, runner’s up or honorable mention this year.

For Judges’ Choice, David Russell’s “Heron with Fly” won first prize among the 10 category first-place winners; Sedlacek’s “Subbing for Touchdown the Bear” was runner-up; and Friedman’s “Weaving Girl” received honorable mention.

Winners in each category were: Friedman, Adults (“Weaving Girl”); Russell, Animals (“Heron with Fly”); Sedlacek, Cornell (“Subbing for Touchdown the Bear”); Sedlacek, Humor (“Tree Hugger”); Horton, Landscape (“Landscape”); Anthony John Stewart, Nature (“Nature”); Lisa Skrubis, New Entrants (“Gen Ivy”); Andrew P. Granger, Special Effects (“Abreu Blur”); Jess Hohenstein, Structures/Buildings (“Sky Wheel”) and Sue Brightly, Unspecified (“Winter Morning”).

Each first-prize entry then became eligible as a people’s choice entry. All first-place Judges’ and People’s Choice winners can pick up their prizes starting Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 312 College Ave.

Placing second in each category: Joanna Upton, Adults (“Snuggling with Grandma”); Sedlacek, Animals (“Heading Off to Hedwig’s”); Deborah Littlejohn, Cornell (“Sunset Reflection”); Friedman, Humor (“Stop and Smell the Flowers”); Bruce Higgins, Landscape (“Rockaway Beach”); Nicole McQuiddy-Davis, Nature (“Lost in the Current”); Gina Strauch, New Entrants (“A Bicycle Built to Roost”); Brightly, Special Effects (“Take Me Away”); Steve Gregorski, Structures/Buildings (“Venice”); and Denae Campanale, Unspecified (“Foundling”). Second-place winners will be mailed a Cornell calendar, compliments of University Photography.

Receiving honorable mention were: Gallagher, Adults (“At a Bus Stop in Portugal”); Tim Parsons, Animals (“Animals”); Karl Karlson, Cornell, (“CLO Jane”); Gallagher, Humor (“My Dog Thinks She’s a Meerkat”); Brittany Mikula, Landscape (“Hibiscus Harbor”); Horton, Nature (“Nature”); Mary Beth Norton, New Entrants (“Fiery Cayuga”); Brenda Marchewka, Special Effects (“Special Effects”); Gallagher, Structures/Buildings (“Above”); and Friedman, Unspecified (“The Cinnamon Factory”).

Click on the box in each photograph above to enter the galleries of the winners.

In Appreciation

Thanks to all who contributed to the contest, including the winners, runners-up and those receiving honorable mention. The two most competitive categories were Landscape and Animals, with 25 photos submitted for each category, followed by Nature, with 23.

A special thanks to those who sponsored the contest and contributed prizes:

  • Athletics and Physical Education, for general-admission game tickets to men’s basketball and men’s lacrosse;
  • Brand Communications, for reproductions of the winning photographs for Judges’ and People’s Choice and 2019 Cornell Calendars for second-place winners;
  • Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, for a gift bag, including a birdwatching DVD, travel mug and complimentary Lab of Ornithology membership;
  • Cornell Cinema, for complimentary tickets;
  • Cornell Dining, for coupons to dining halls and the Dairy Bar;
  • Cornell Orchards Store, for a Cornell Orchards mug and T-shirt;
  • Cornell Store, for gift cards;
  • Cornell Health, for a first-aid kit;
  • Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, for a complimentary family membership, exhibit catalogue on Javanese photography, cards and other items;
  • Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, for performance tickets;
  • Taverna Banfi, for Sunday Brunch for two; and
  • Transportation Services, for a Campus-to-Campus round-trip gift certificate to New York City.

Thanks also to this year’s judges from University Relations and to the many staff and faculty who participated in the People’s Choice selection.

Media Contact

Gillian Smith