When Maddie Whited was exploring the woods at her family’s cabin in Huntingdon in early November, she came across a pile of trash that, while unsightly, proved to be an inspiration.
Among the debris was a discarded television set with leaves and twigs where the screen used to be. Maddie snapped several photos of the TV and submitted them to a contest designed to spread an anti-litter message.
The photo, titled “Nature Show,” earned a first-place prize in the student category of the 2022 Gene Capaldi Lens on Litter Photo Contest, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Resources Council.
“When I got the call about my photo winning, I was really excited and surprised that it had won,” said Maddie, who received $500 for her winning entry. “I took the photo to enter the contest because I thought it had a good message.”
Maddie submitted a total of four images to the contest, which she learned about from her Penn Manor High School art teacher, Maggie Cantrell.
“Photography has always been something that interests me but Mrs. Cantrell taught me more about it and helped me realize it’s something I want to pursue,” said Maddie, who plans to study photography at Millersville University.
Congratulations to Maddie and Mrs. Cantrell on this award!
