Lone Pine Photographer Wins Statewide Contest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 9, 2026

Lone Pine Photographer Wins Statewide Contest 

Inyo County 5th District Supervisor Will Wadelton is offering congratulations to constituent Dana  Hodgdon, whose stunning photo of two coyote pups on the Owens Dry Lake was selected from  hundreds of entries to represent the Sierra Nevada.

The contest features three winning categories: an overall Photo of the Year; a photo selected by  California Watchable Wildlife; and a photo selected by Sierra Nevada Conservancy. It was the latter  that selected Hodgdon’s photo for honors. Both organizations launched the contest 15 years ago to  illustrate the state’s diverse wildlife and the viewing experience found throughout its natural and wild  lands.

“Hearty congratulations are owed to Dana Hodgdon for his recent win,” said Supervisor Wadelton.  “Dana is an incredibly gifted photographer and this photo is truly astounding. I’m extremely proud that  this image from the Fifth District will represent the entire Sierra Nevada region.”

Hodgson’s photo captures a tender moment between the coyote pups, with one resting its head on  the other. “These young coyotes rely on each other throughout their development. The wildlife of  Owens Lake has flourished since the LADWP (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) has  maintained water ponds to lessen dust flurries. These coyote pups surprised me with a pose, as if to  say, ‘Lean on me,’” Hodgdon said. “I have had the fortune to be surrounded by the absolute splendor  of the Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley, along with the great fortune of developing friendships with  people who have taught me about the area and its wildlife.”

Hodgdon continues to evolve as a wildlife photographer, following in the footsteps of his father and  brother. “When we moved to Lone Pine, my wildlife photography pursuit jumped to a new level. Not  only did I have the Eastern Sierra and the Inyo Mountains, but I stumbled onto the whole  ecosystem surrounding Lake Patsiata (Owens Lake), which, from a distance, looks like a wasteland  because the lake’s water has been diverted to Los Angeles,” he said. “There remains a series of pools  that serves to mitigate the dust, but also creates an environment for a spectacular number of shore  birds. I have been enthralled by all the different species of birds that migrate through, along with the  animals that have created homes for themselves year-round.”

Find out more about the contest and California Watchable Wildlife at www.CAWatchableWildlife.org.

News Staff