{"id":808,"date":"2025-11-10T15:52:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:52:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/photocontest\/?page_id=808"},"modified":"2025-11-18T13:03:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T18:03:03","slug":"2024-winners","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/photocontest\/2024-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Winners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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1st Place | Photo Title: “Eastern Whip-Poor-Will and Chick”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Megan Gray \u201917, Graduate Student in Natural Resources Science<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This photo of a female Eastern whip-poor-will brooding her young chick drew unanimous praise from the judges. One judge commented, \u201cA perfect example of maternal instinct in nature. Contrasting colors of mother and chick work well in this composition.\u201d Another said, \u201cEye contact from both mom and chick make this an intriguing photograph.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEastern whip-poor-wills, Gray explains, \u201clay two eggs directly on the ground, relying on their cryptic camouflage to blend into leaf litter to avoid predation. These birds are nocturnal aerial insectivores. The male and female share incubation and provisioning duties.\u201d  She adds, \u201cThis is likely one of the only photos ever taken of an Eastern whip-poor-will brooding her chick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gray\u2019s master\u2019s research focuses on the nesting ecology of two successional nesting species related to whip-poor-wills: Eastern towhees and prairie warblers. She visited whip-poor-will nests being monitored by her fellow master\u2019s student, Liam Corcoran. She says, \u201cLittle is known about the nesting phase of this cryptic and understudied species \u2026 and they have declined heavily through their range [due to] loss of breeding habitat and reduction in flying insects.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2nd Place | Photo Title: “A Future Fish”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Michael Corso \u201924, Aquaculture and Fisheries Science<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This photo of a mahi-mahi was taken at the aquaculture research facilities at URI\u2019s Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO). The judges were impressed by the unique light and drama of the photo. One judge said, \u201cThis picture uses color and chiaroscuro dramatically and creates a very effective atmosphere.\u201d Another commented, \u201cThe approach of this fish combined with such dramatic lighting totally makes this a winner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corso\u2019s research has focused on creating and implementing a new feed-weaning protocol to enhance the early survival of mahi-mahi larvae, research that is ultimately aimed at creating a sustainable alternative to wild-caught seafood. He says, \u201cWith many marine pelagic species being overfished to feed the growing human population, aquaculture initiatives are beginning to overtake wild fisheries in terms of global consumption. The advanced aquaculture research being done at GSO aims to ensure that culture methods for species with commercial potential, like mahi-mahi, are fully developed, allowing for future sustainable production.\u201d Corso is grateful to Terence M. Bradley, URI professor of aquaculture and fisheries, for allowing him to use his lab for this research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3rd Place | Photo Title: “Boiler Reef”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anya Hanson, director, URI Research Diving and Safety Program<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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URI\u2019s diving safety officer Anya Hanson captured this image while on a faculty-led program for AFS\/ART 395- Underwater Photography and Film. Hanson says, \u201cStudents have the opportunity to learn advanced scuba diving techniques and acquire imagery in diverse environments from New England to the tropical-like waters of Bermuda,\u201d where she took this photo. She adds, \u201cThe boiler reefs of Bermuda are named after the appearance of turbulent and boiling seawater. In this photo, a student descends next to a large boiler to explore, despite choppy conditions and surging water movement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The judges noted the composition and technical skills on display in this photo. One said, \u201cGreat underwater photograph of a diver, showing the contrasting deep blues and whitewater from the breaking waves above.\u201d Another commented, \u201cThis picture nicely portrays the contrast between the human figure and the beautiful ocean environment, which is emphasized by the natural texture.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honorable Mention | Photo Title: “Nighttime in Neuron City”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Riccardo Sirtori, postdoctoral fellow, George & Annie Ryan Institute for Neuroscience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This microsopy image shows a neurofilament immunofluorescence staining of a motor neuron culture derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Sirtori explains, \u201cThe green color marks the cytoskeleton of the neurons, allowing us to see their shape. Neurons are grouped in big clusters and their neurites (long branches) connect those clusters.\u201d Sirtori says the Fallini Lab at the Ryan Institute is focused on \u201cunderstanding pathogenic mechanisms behind amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS, or Lou Gehrig\u2019s disease.\u201d He adds, \u201cTo this end, we use stem cell-derived neurons to model in vitro the neurodegenerative process occurring in the brains of patients.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The judges were impressed by the clarity and composition of the image. \u201cThis image portrays a gorgeous web of complex connections underlying such a horrific disease,\u201d said one. Another commented, \u201cThis is an interesting abstract composition generated by an attractive structural grid.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

1st Place | Photo Title: “Eastern Whip-Poor-Will and Chick” Megan Gray \u201917, Graduate Student in Natural Resources Science This photo of a female Eastern whip-poor-will brooding her young chick drew unanimous praise from the judges. One judge commented, \u201cA perfect example of maternal instinct in nature. Contrasting colors of mother and chick work well in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":701,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-808","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/photocontest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/photocontest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/photocontest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/photocontest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/701"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/photocontest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=808"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/photocontest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/808\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":891,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/photocontest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/808\/revisions\/891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/photocontest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}