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Summer Unplugged: So many fantastic photos

Mountain goat and kid at Valhalla Provincial Park, near Slocan, B.C.
Team member Michael Sykes' amazing shot of a mountain goat nanny and her kid at Valhalla Provincial Park, near Slocan, B.C., is the grand prize winner of our Summer Unplugged photo contest.

Judges pick winners of Team Power Smart contest

Wow.

We asked Team Power Smart members to submit photos for our Summer Unplugged photo contest, suggesting the images give us a taste of how they spend time away from their smartphone and other devices. And what a response we got.

We got nearly 2,500 valid entries – those submitted by members, and without including an identifiable person in the shot – that blew us away. Our judging panel was tasked with looking at hundreds of images of fellow British Columbians enjoying the great outdoors.

“It’s incredible to see what Team Power Smart members have been able to capture this summer, and the many talented photographers among them," said Jaiden Dembo, one of five BC Hydro employees who made up the judging panel. "It really reminds me how beautiful British Columbia is, in so many unique ways, and to get out there and enjoy its stunning beaches, mountains, lakes, and forests.”

The competition was tough, but the judges settled on Michael Sykes' closeup of a mountain goat nanny and her kid on a mountain ledge at Valhalla Provincial Park, near Slocan, B.C. as the grand prize winner in the contest. Sykes will get to choose between either an Apple Watch Series 7 or a Garmin Venu 25 GPS Smartwatch.

Two markedly different images claimed the runner-up prizes of Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 waterproof Bluetooth wireless speakers. It can be challenging to capture the full beauty of a sunset, but member Madhawa Dhasanayaka nailed it with his shot on Saturna Island. And Shelley Leedahl worked hard to get her stunning mountain, lake, and wildflowers image by hiking Vancouver Island's rugged 5040 Peak trail.

Sit back and enjoy the full list of stunning entries in the contest. But not for too long. Get back out there to enjoy the last days of summer. 

See all entries to the Summer Unplugged contest.

Did you miss out on the contest because you're not a Team Power Smart member? Join today (it's free).

Seaside on Saturna Island.
Member Madhawa Dhasanayaka got the light just right in this shot on Saturna Island, and it was judged as one of the two runner-up winners in our contest.
Wildflowers above Cobalt Lake on Vancouver Island.
Kudos to Team Power Smart member Shelley Leedahl for getting this image of wildflowers above Cobalt Lake after tackling the tough 5040 Peak trail hike on Vancouver Island. It was selected as one of the two runner-up winners in our contest.