Melting Glacier. Photo by Ian Endries
By Emma Castleberry
The George Masa Foundation, a nonprofit that honors the legacy of Masa by inspiring youth to engage in environmental conservation, has announced the winners in its first-ever Youth Conservation Photography Prize. More than 250 students from 26 different states entered the contest for a total of 763 submissions. “I was blown away by the creativity and passion these young photographers brought to their work,” says David Huff, founder of the George Masa Foundation. “They didn’t just take beautiful pictures—they told stories about the environment, wildlife, and the challenges facing our planet.”
Synchrony. Photo by Norah Swann
In the 15-18 age group, Ian Endries of Weaverville took first place in the Climate Change category for his image Melting Glacier, which he captured with his iPhone 15 during a trip to Iceland. “I thought that it was sad to see something like the blue ice, which had most likely been there for thousands of years, melting before our eyes,” he says.
Two of the winners that placed in the 11-14 age group hail from Western North Carolina. Noah Symonds of Fairview placed second in the Climate Change category for his image Filled Hole, which he captured two days after Hurricane Helene while exploring the damage in his neighborhood.
“After walking through the jungle of trees fallen on the road, we found a massive washout,” he says. “I knew at the time most people didn’t know how bad that area was. Photography is important to conservation because it’s difficult to explain the absurdity of what’s happening in the environment.”
Norah Swann of Fletcher was recognized for four of her photos in the contest, earning first in the Landscape and Climate Change categories, second in Wildlife, and third in Sustainable Practices. Like Symonds, her winning photo in the Climate Change category—Joined by the Collapse—was taken just days after Helene. “It captures my experience of the shock and surrealness of the storm, the catastrophic destruction, as well as the incredible displays of support and kindness within our community,” she says.
Swann’s other winning images offer a more uplifting take on conservation: Wry Elk captures the stare of a majestic elk in the Great Smoky Mountains; Beds Ablaze documents a controlled burn in in the Pink Beds area of Pisgah National Forest; and Synchrony is an image of synchronous fireflies. “It’s enchanting what you can stumble upon walking through the wilderness,” says Swann. “Nature is where I feel present, alive, relaxed, and self-aware. I would love to help others experience that through what they see in my photography.”
To learn more and view all the winning images, visit GeorgeMasaFoundation.org.
