Water Shapes Florida Photo Challenge

To celebrate our new exhibit opening, we hosted the Water Shapes Florida Photo Challenge. It was designed to educate and promote awareness of Florida’s freshwater habitats and get everyone excited about the new exhibit.

Thank you to the thousands of people who voted for their favorite photo from our ten finalists. It was delightful to showcase the work of these photographers and share our appreciation for one of Florida’s most valuable resources: water!

About Water Shapes Florida

Take a ride on a glass-bottom boat, walk through a hammock forest, explore the aquifer and more as you learn about our state’s most important natural resource in this interactive bilingual experience.

Exhibit info

Photo Challenge Winners

Seen from underwater, clear spring water and tannin rich reddish-brown water mix in a swirl of sun-lit bubbles — 1st Place
Laura Quinn
Ginnie Springs

In deep-blue waters an adult manatee and calf swim above long blades of eel-grass — 2nd Place
Zachary Shaul
Manatee and Calf in Eelgrass

In the blue green water of Silver Glen Springs a manatee looks straight at the viewer and is close enough you can see the whiskers on its nose — 3rd Place
Danielle Chappus
Silver Glen Springs Manatee

A cloudy sky reflects in the water running through tall grass. Rows of pine trees surround the marshland — Judges’ Award
Miriam Frawley
Charlotte Flatwoods Environmental Park

four people holding printed certificates stand in a museum gallery in front of printed photos of under water scenes — Our Water Shapes Florida Photo Challenge winners were recognized during the exhibit opening day celebrations on March 23, 2024. Florida Museum photo by Kristen Grace

Enjoy the lovely photos from the rest of our finalists:

Large cypress trees and a raised wooden walkway reflect in the rippling waters of Manatee Springs State Park

Manatee Springs State Park photo by Connie Bell (edit: initially this was identified as Ginnie Springs)

Lush, dense green trees surround and reflect in the waters of Silver Springs

Silver Springs photo by Cayla J. Romano

Two divers swim in shafts of light shining through the entrance of the underwater cave in Buford Sink

Buford Sink photo by Erin Westgate

alligator sits where tall grass meets the water, its head raised and jaws open to catch a fish

Myakka State Park photo by Jordyn Chiodo

A person in a small boat sits at the center of the river silhouetted against the mist rising off the water

Rainbow Springs photo by Laura Serdiuk

The sun shines on the clear water and vibrant green trees growing along the banks of the Ichetucknee Springs.

Ichetucknee Springs photo by Rachel Porter

Stay tuned!

We’re excited about opening our new Water Shapes Florida exhibit. When we closed the Northwest Florida exhibit in 2023, we heard from many of our visitors that they were going to miss the cave. Well, we want to assure everyone that we’ve updated the cave as part of the new exhibit, so be sure to come check it out!

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