Joliet resident Kevin Kuchler’s photo of a colorful spring landscape at Rock Run Preserve was chosen as the winner in the April portion of the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Preserve the Moment photo contest.

“It was a relaxing, cool place and I wanted to capture that,” Kuchler said in an email. “I have been visiting that preserve for a very long time since it is next to my house. I remember walking through that preserve throughout high school and college as a way to relax from the stress of school as well as work.”

Kuchler’s photo will compete with eight other monthly finalists for overall honors after the contest concludes on Dec. 31. Voting will take place via the District’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/WillCoForests. First, second and third place overall winners will receive $500, $250 and $150 gift cards, respectively. Monthly winners receive $75 gift cards. Prizes are provided by The Nature Foundation of Will County.

Honorable mentions in the April contest were given to:

  • Cory Liptak of Minooka for a photo of a goose chasing a swan on the water at McKinley Woods.
  • Mark Hanna of Romeoville for a snake coiled around a branch at McKinley Woods.
  • Lisa Dinges of Lockport for a Northern shoveler swimming in a sea of American coots at McKinley Woods.
  • Joe Mayer of Mokena for a sprout of spring cress at Hickory Creek Preserve.

All of April’s entries can be viewed on the District’s Flickr page, Flickr.com/WillCoForests. For contest rules and photo upload instructions, visit ReconnectWithNature.org.