2025 Erie Canalway Photo Contest Winners Announced

Winning images to be featured in 2026 calendar

WATERFORD, NY – The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor is pleased to announce the winners of its 20th annual Erie Canalway Photo Contest. Judges selected first, second, and third place winners in four contest categories as well as 12 honorable mentions from a field of 334 entries.

“These award-winning images serve as a visual reminder of what makes New York’s canals distinctly beautiful and worth preserving. Thank you to the talented photographers who submitted images and shared their perspectives on these extraordinary places.” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Corey Adams of Little Falls took first place for his image “Morning Glory” (Little Falls), while Adam Fine of Liverpool took second place for his image “Tranquility in an Aqueduct (DeWitt).

Winning images can be viewed online and will be featured in the popular 2026 Erie Canalway Calendar, available at no cost in libraries, visitor centers, and by request starting December 1. Funding support for the calendar is provided by the NYS Canal Corporation and the National Park Service.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “As we look ahead to our third century of operation, we are committed to celebrating canal-related arts and culture. These photographs, submitted by an ever-talented cadre of canal enthusiasts, embody some of the most beautiful aspects of our canals and support our mission.”

Winning photos can be viewed at https://eriecanalway.org/resources/gallery/photo-contests

2025 Erie Canalway Photo Contest Winners Canal

Communities

• 1st Place, Schoen Place Twilight (Pittsford) by Mark Maccio, East Rochester, NY
• 2nd Place, Pittsford in Winter (Pittsford) by Tom Kredo, Rochester, NY
• 3rd Place, Lock Tenders Tribute in Bronze (Lockport) by Anne Schiferle, Amherst, NY

Classic Canal

• 1st Place, Where the Canal Meets the Sky (Canajoharie) by Adam Fine, Liverpool, NY
• 2nd Place, Autumn Color (Adams Basin) by Claire Talbot, Hilton, NY
• 3rd Place, Riverie Crossing (Rochester) by Sarah Woodams, Pittsford, NY

Along the Trail

• 1st Place, Morning Glory (Little Falls) by Corey Adams, Little Falls, NY
• 2nd Place, Morning Walk on the Canal (Pittsford) by Dan Judd, Rochester, NY
• 3rd Place, First Snowfall (Spencerport) by Joe Pompili, Spencerport, NY

On the Water

• 1st Place, Spirit of Buffalo (Buffalo) by Beverly Goldschmidt, Lewiston, NY
• 2nd Place, Tranquility in an Aqueduct (DeWitt) by Adam Fine, Liverpool, NY
• 3rd Place, Canalway Reflections (Little Falls) by Melissa Bicknell, Little Falls, NY

Honorable Mention Recipients (listed west to east)

• Fishing Huts (Buffalo) by Robert Klick, Williamsville, NY
• Frozen Crossing (Tonawanda) by Joseph Marshall, North Tonawanda
• Winter Wonderland (Medina) by Peggy Barringer, Albion, NY
• Reflections of Flame (Spencerport) by Joe Pompili, Spencerport, NY
• Sunny Day (Spencerport) by Michael Diponzio, Rochester, NY
• Autumn Colors Along the Canal (Fairport) by Keith Boas, Fairport, NY
• Sunset After Rain (Fairport) by Brandon Sprung, Victor, NY
• Village Lights (Fairport) by Kevin Tubiolo, Rochester, NY
• Port of Pittsford (Pittsford) by Dan Judd, Rochester, NY
• Geese Head South (Pittsford) by Dan Judd, Rochester, NY
• Lock 32 Walk (Pittsford) by Alan Schwartz, Rochester, NY
• Autumn Canal Trail Walk (Pittsford) by Danan Zheng, Pittsford, NY

ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR

Two-hundred years after its construction, the Erie Canal remains an iconic symbol of American ingenuity and determination. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor preserves New York’s extraordinary canal heritage, promotes the Corridor as a world-class tourism destination, and fosters vibrant communities connected by more than 500 miles of waterway. It achieves its mission in partnership with the National Park Service, New York State agencies, non-profit organizations, local residents, and more than 200 communities across the full expanse of upstate New York. Visit www.eriecanalway.org/for more information.

(Provided by the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, 10-9-2025)