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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
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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
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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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