Sitka’s DIVERGE photography contest is a chance for hunters to showcase some of the dynamic, beautiful, or downright dreamy scenes they come across every season. Sitka recently announced the winners of this year’s contest, and the photographs do not disappoint.
Case in point: Tyler Lynde’s grand prize-winning photo, a POV shot taken from his boat while in the middle of a frigid duck hunt. Look at this evocative image long enough, and you’re likely to feel frozen nose hairs and numb fingertips. The picture also won first prize in the “Waterfowl” category.
“When we first launched this photo contest 11 years ago, we hoped to see photos that celebrated the life we knew as hunters, but seldom saw depicted in traditional hunting media. We wanted DIVERGE to be a platform for the raw, rugged, beautiful, and true moments — both good and bad — not just trophy shots,” Sitka wrote on its contest page.
Each category in the contest comes with its own set of prizes. Lynde, as the grand-prize winner, also received a Sony Alpha 7R IV camera and Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens in addition to his waterfowl-themed prize package.
Other Winners
Logan Romney’s prize-winning photograph in the “Big Game” category is another good example of the artistic spirit Sitka wants to cultivate with the DIVERGE contest. His shot of two hunters standing over an epic mountain vista (top of article) feels downright inspirational.
If both of those photos are a touch too frosty, consider Mitchell Pantzke’s award-winning entry in the “Life” category. Can you feel the heat baking off that wood stove?
“Hunting is far more than a season. It’s a way of living. We stay connected year around — whether it’s gardening, foraging, preparing, learning, or teaching. We see being a part of (not apart from) the natural world as an engaging and exciting lifelong journey,” Sitka wrote in the description of the “Life” category.
Head over to Sitka’s website or Instagram page to view the rest of the winners in categories like “Whitetail” and “#SitkaRoughCuts” — a category devoted to raw video footage that still captures something special about a specific place and time.
While you’re there, make sure and subscribe to Sitka’s Instagram account so you don’t miss next year’s contest!
