Focus On Nebraska

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LANDMARKS (ON PREVIOUS PAGE) Dale J. Gerdes, La Vista

Chimney Rock

EDITORS’ CHOICE

LANDSCAPES Jake Olson, Blair, Neb.

Open space in Washington County

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NEBRASKA 6 EARTH & SKY 24 COLOR & FORM 36 NEBRASKANS 46 ANIMALS 66 TRANSPORTATION & INDUSTRY 76 NATURE 92 ACTION 104 STRUCTURES 120 DIVERSIONS 136 ELEMENTS 148 CONTEST WINNERS

ON THE COVER:

EDITORS’ CHOICE

SEASONS, SPRING Timothy Wright, Omaha

Spring storm south of Blair

ARCHITECTURE Ron Quick, Lincoln

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

fOCUS ON NEBRASKA EDITOR Dan Sullivan DESIGNER Christine Zueck-Watkins PHOTO EDITORS Jolene McHugh, James R. Burnett ONLINE EDITOR Ben Vankat

credits

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Tim Sacco, Sara Ziegler

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PRINT AND PRODUCTION COORDINATORS Pat “Murphy” Benoit, Wayne Harty DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Jeff Bundy DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Rich Warren EXECUTIVE EDITOR Mike Reilly PUBLISHER Terry Kroeger Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior consent of the publisher, Omaha World-Herald Co. Omaha World-Herald Co. 1314 Douglas St. Omaha, NE 68102-1811 First Edition ISBN: 978-0-615-71549-0 Printed by Walsworth Publishing Co., Marceline, MO

Breathtaking.

That’s one way to describe

the photos the Omaha World-Herald received in its Focus On Nebraska. The online photography contest drew more than 11,000 submissions in 34 categories, and we tabulated more than 1 million votes in choosing the favorites. A panel of World-Herald editors, designers and photographers also weighed in with one

College made their selections. The book combines these photos with more than 100 others that simply were too gorgeous to ignore. The result provides a beautiful trip through the byways and landscapes of Nebraska, stopping along the way to meet people and see what they’re doing.

We hope you enjoy Focus On Nebraska.

ANIMALS Ed Peterson, Omaha

Yellow-shafted northern flicker waiting its turn on a feeder

5 fOCUS ON NEBRASKA

ers Rockbrook Camera and Peru State

introduction

choice in each category. Finally, support-

EARTH & SKY

Washington County road

LANDSCAPES Michela Wipf, Weeping Water, Neb.

Abandoned house

earth & sky 7 fOCUS ON NEBRASKA

LANDSCAPES Jake Olson, Blair, Neb.

COLOR & FORM

Peacock feather collection

color & f orm

STILL LIFE Zachary Owings, Papillion

ABSTRACT Kevin Peterson, Omaha

Millard Days auto show

EDITORS’ CHOICE

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NEBRASKANS

Hide-and-seek in the kitchen

nebraskans

CHILDREN Michelle Habegger, Jupiter, Fla.

LIFE, SMALL TOWN Viviana Maldonado, Omaha Early morning in Lexington

EDITORS’ CHOICE

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ANIMALS

Gorilla deep in thought

animals

ZOO ANIMALS Lori Meyer, Norfolk, Neb.

ZOO ANIMALS Kristy Lynn Hall, Omaha

Zebra at the zoo

EDITORS’ CHOICE

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TRANSPORTATION & INDUSTRY

Haymarket in downtown Lincoln

transportation & industry

INDUSTRY Brianna Dunbar, Papillion

INDUSTRY Val J. Goodman, Blair, Neb.

Eastern sky near Ogallala

EDITORS’ CHOICE

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NATURE

Sandhill crane migration

FLOWERS & PLANTS Benjamin Vogt, Lincoln

A bee and an ant meet on a flower

N AT U R E 77 fOCUS ON NEBRASKA

SEASONS, SPRING Frank Comisar, Omaha

ACTION

HUSKERS Timothy Wright, Omaha

Nebraska spring game in Lincoln

EDITORS’ CHOICE

STRUCTURES

October day at Lauritzen Gardens

STRUCTURES

LANDMARKS Marion Ball, Arlington, Neb.

ARCHITECTURE James Hughes, Omaha

Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge

PERU STATE COLLEGE’S CHOICE

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DIVERSIONS

Swinging in the evening

EDITORS’ CHOICE

DIVERSIONS

SEASONS, SUMMER Ross Heeren, Juniata, Neb.

RECREATION Mark Fountain, Omaha

Skating at sundown

EDITORS’ CHOICE

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ELEMENTS

Northern lights north of Blair

LANDSCAPES May Yap, Omaha

Cancer Survivors Park in Omaha

eLEMENTS 137 fOCUS ON NEBRASKA

WEATHER Cody Seeley, Omaha

CONTEST WINNERS

The Omaha World-Herald received more than 11,000 submissions for Focus On Nebraska.

More than 1 million votes were tabulated to select the most popular choices in 34 categories.

Canoe ride down the Niobrara

SEASONS: SPRING Steve Workman, Fort Calhoun, Neb.

Sunrise over water

CONTEST WINNERS 149 fOCUS ON NEBRASKA

RECREATION Don Browers, Omaha

Rockbrook Camera is a family-owned and operated photo-specialty store that has been in business since 1975. With three locations in Omaha and Lincoln, Rockbrook Camera is the area’s leading retailer of digital cameras, lenses and accessories, and they also offer classes, rentals, repair services and high quality digital printing through their in-store print labs.

Rockbrook Camera strives to provide a great selection of products along with exceptional customer service and care. Customers have come to expect quality products and service from Rockbrook Camera’s photography experts and professionals.

Rockbrook Camera … Great Photography Begins Here!

Legacy: 2909 S. 169th Plaza Suite 101 (1 blk south of 168th & West Center), Omaha, NE 402-691-0003

Rockbrook: 2717 S. 108th St. (108th & Center), Omaha, NE 402-397-1171

Lincoln: 4333 S. 70th Suite 7 (70th & Pioneers), Lincoln, NE 402-488-4200

sponsors

Online: www.rockbrookcamera.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/rockbrookcamera Twitter: www.twitter.com/rockbrookcamera Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/rockbrookcamera YouTube: www.youtube.com/rockbrookcamera

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Peru State’s Campus of a Thousand Oaks, a member of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, is nestled in the hills of historic southeast Nebraska.

Established in 1867 as Nebraska’s first college, what began as a teacher training school with one building and 60 students has transformed into a state-of-the-art enterprise offering diverse, multifaceted educational programs to students around the world. The college offers a unique mix of innovative online and traditional classroom undergraduate and graduate programs, including online graduate degrees in education and organizational management.

Peru State is a college of choice fostering excellence and achievement through student engagement in a culture that promotes active learning. Personal attention, relevant academics and flexible scheduling are just a few of the hallmarks of a Peru State education.

We are incredibly proud of our rich heritage and excited for what the future holds. Find out more at www.peru.edu.

LANDSCAPES Jake Olson, Blair, Neb.

Washington County sunset

EDITORS’ CHOICE

“We come and go, but the land is always here.

And the people who love it and understand it are the people who own it — for a little while.”

— Willa Cather

LANDSCAPES Earendil Engelmann, Omaha Outside of Big Springs

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Thousands of amazing photographs were submitted for the Omaha World-Herald’s Focus On Nebraska.

Inside this book are some of the best — selected by photo editors and sponsors, along with the winners chosen by more than a million online votes. The result is an eye-opening glimpse of Nebraska — its people, its familiar places and its beautiful landscapes. See the state as you’ve never seen it before.

$29.95 © 2012 all rights reserved.

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