With 13 local amateur photographers participating in the July 4 Andover Photo Contest sponsored by the Andover Institute,   Sarah Gilman of Andover  won the popular vote for her stunning photo of a rainbow over Highland Lake, taken with her cell phone.

Steve Colardeau won second place in the public balloting and was awarded the Best of Show ribbon by a panel of judges for his photo of a barn and tree taken in East Andover.  Cindy Benson took third place with her landscape photograph of a canoe and pond.  Both are also Andover residents.

Twenty-one photographs submitted by the 13 contestants were on display on the Village Green during Andover’s  73rd Independence Day Celebration.  Attendees were  invited to vote on their three favorite entries, and 206 ballots were cast throughout the day.

Judges for the Best of Show award were local artist Edibeth Farrington, and two local photo enthusiasts, Jay Fitzpatrick and Nancy Tripp.

Other contest entrants were Lew Allison, Joyce Bourdon, Peter Brodeur, Molly Burns, Larry Chase,  Diane Hersey, Thomas Mackey, Judy Perrault, Elizabeth Perry, and Nikole Schreier.

All contest entries were displayed in the Andover Town Hall throughout the remaining days of July.  A reception was held July 20, at which time the awards were presented.

This was the first photo contest sponsored by the Andover Institute, which is an arm of the Andover Community Association.  Fitzpatrick, representing the Institute, said he felt the contest gave budding photographers a chance to prepare and exhibit their work and learn more about the craft as a result.  The crowds that visited the display and cast their votes seemed very interested in the work and seemed to take their job seriously, he added.  Several asked if the photos were for sale.

At this time, the Institute plans to repeat the photo contest next year, and is also planning additional events aimed at photography, including a Photo Expo this fall.  For more information, contact Fitzpatrick at jall@nulltds.net.