Submitted Photo Chad Martin Olson’s photo titled “Western Meadowlark Singing its Prairie Song” won the top award in the Spring Activities category of the Governor’s Photo Contest. Photo from North Dakota Tourism.

Two Minot photographers were among Governor’s Photo Contest winners announced Wednesday at the North Dakota Travel Industry Conference in Minot.

Gov. Kelly Armstrong, along with North Dakota Commerce Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman and North Dakota Council on the Arts Rhea Beto, presented the winning entries from the 21st annual contest. There were 732 submissions from 136 photographers, celebrating the beauty of North Dakota’s four seasons and unique experiences.

Chad Martin Olson, Minot, received the top award in the Spring Activities category with “Western Meadowlark Singing its Prairie Song,” taken in McHenry County. He received an honorable mention in the Fall Activities category with “Linus with a Pheasant After a Hunt,” taken in McHenry County, and in the Winter Scenery category with “Running Pheasant,” taken near Minot.

Corey Serr of Minot received an honorable mention for “Badlands Sunrise,” taken in the Little Missouri National Grasslands, in the Spring Scenery category.

Marshall Lipp, Mandan, won the Best in Show award for his photo “Storm Passing in a July Morning Sunrise,” which captures Sweet Briar Lake in rural Morton County as the sun breaks through the clouds after a summer storm passes.

Other category winners were:

– Fall Scenery, Clint Fleckenstein, Bismarck, “A Brilliant Autumn Tree Over an Earth Lodge Village,” with honorable mentions to Kayla Gilberston and Warren Abrahamson, both of Jamestown.

– Fall Activities, Sashay Schettler, Bismarck, “Early Fall Ride on the Lewis and Clark Riverboat,” with honorable mentions to Grant Lannoye of Cando and Olson.

– Spring Scenery, Jessica Schmidt, Mandan, “God’s Grace Overlooking the Missouri River,” with honorable mentions to Casey Helling of Golden Valley and Serr

– Spring Activities, Olson, with honorable mentions to Miranda Lindstrom of Amenia and Kayli Richards of Bismarck.

– Summer Scenery, Lipp, with honorable mentions to Candance Berg of Devils Lake and Rebecca Raber of Bismarck.

– Summer Activities, Lindstrom, “Checking out the Post Cemetery,” with two honorable mentions to Christian Cairy of Jamestown.

– Winter Scenery,  Melissa Bingham, Dickinson, “Wild horses,” with honorable mentions to Olson and Grant Kraft of Fargo.

– Winter Activities, Lipp, “A Selfie Under the Northern Lights with honor mention to Cairy.

These prints will be on display at the North Dakota State Capitol, 18th floor, during May. The American Automobile Association (AAA) partnered with the state to support the Governor’s Photo Contest.