
Photographers from all walks of life traversed tens of thousands of acres of open space to capture just the right shot. After public votes and a judges panel final decision, a panoramic shot of a group of hikers in Limestone Canyon has captured the grand prize in the inaugural Love the Landmarks Photo Contest.
The public contest asked for photos that reflect the locations within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, and the connections people have to them. Anaheim resident Alex Gurrola’s winning shot depicts hikers on a docent-led trek to The Sinks, known as OC’s mini-Grand Canyon. The stunning image combines the beauty of The Sinks rock formation with the action of people enjoying natural surroundings. Gurrola will receive a 2013 OC Parks Combination Pass for his winning entry.
In addition to Gurrola, the finalists were (in alphabetical order): Anthony Gliozzo of Mission Viejo, Julie Maurer of Orange, Jodi Newell of Irvine, and Sheetal Wagle of Irvine. The finalists’ photos were taken in open space parks and preserves within the nearly 40,000 acres named as a National Natural Landmark. Many of the photos were taken on docent-led activities, managed by Irvine Ranch Conservancy on behalf of landowners such as OC Parks, City of Irvine and City of Newport Beach. To find activities and information on how to visit the locations within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks, visit www.LetsGoOutside.org.