In 2013, Clifftop members were offered an exciting opportunity.

Bill Rebholz, Executive Director of the Southern Illinois Medical Development Corporation, approached the organization with an interesting idea.  He was planning to upgrade and update artwork in the hallways of their primary care building located at 509 Hamacher Street in Waterloo.  Rebholz was impressed with the beauty and quality of Clifftop’s photographic imagery, nearly all contributed by talented members.

The Clifftop Board of Directors put their heads together and came up with the idea of a photo contest. The all-volunteer conservation group asked interested members to submit up to five photos for the project.

A total of 86 images were submitted. A panel of judges, armed with only anonymous photographs, was narrowed the field down to 11 images to forward to Rebholz and his staff for final consideration.

Five photos were chosen to be enlarged, matted and framed for use at the medical facility: “Salt Lick Point and Trout Hollow,” photographed by Dennis FitzWilliam; “Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar,” photographed by Priscilla Bollinger; “Harvesting Below Fults Hill Prairie,” photographed by Dennis Jacobsen; “Mink at Bond Creek,” photographed by Paul Feldker; and “Piney Creek Ravine,” photographed by Chris Benda.

Rebholz and Clifftop unveiled the completed project in the corridors at the medical facility where the photos hang.

All submitted photos can be viewed on Clifftop’s website at www.ClifftopAlliance.org.