A portrait of a bobcat – a stealthy animal not often seen in daylight although their numbers in Florida are abundant – won best-in-show for the People’s Choice competition in the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast’s fifth annual virtual Summer Photo Contest.
People’s Choice voting was conducted on Facebook between July 1 and Sept. 2 and the most liked/loved image in five categories was recognized as a People’s Choice winner.
The Conservation Foundation invited photographers of all ages and experience levels to submit their original work showcasing the beauty of natural Florida to the online competition. Over 300 photographs from across the state were submitted. A panel of experts previously selected winners in five categories and a best-in-show. When making their decisions, jurors weighed composition, color, contrast, point of view, whether the image told a story, and how well the image fit the category.
The People’s Choice bobcat photo – “If Looks Could Kill” – was taken by Chris St. Michael and won the It’s A Wild Life category. Bobcats are found throughout Florida in deep forest, swamps, and hammock land, ranging 5-6 square miles in rural areas and 1-2 miles in suburban areas, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.