What they love about Camas

From an ice cream outing at Top Burger to Lacamas Lake at dusk, local photographers captured what they love most about Camas, in a contest sponsored by the local library.

“It’s an idea we’ve been kicking around for a number of years,” Library Director David Zavortink said. “It really fits in with our mission of enriching lives and enhancing people’s creativity.”

Several local residents submitted photographs, which are being displayed in the Second Story Gallery in the library.

“The goal of the Second Story Gallery is really to promote the arts, which they are doing through this contest,” Zavortink said. “They manage everything for us.

“We’ve had a lot of people come in to look at the pictures and ask if we are doing it again next year, so there is a lot of interest.”

The library decided to feature the contest in July to tie it in with Camas Days.

“It’s just another part of the celebration of Camas,” he said. “We always get a lot of foot traffic through the library during Camas Days.”

When asked about the photographic contributions, Zavortink said he was impressed by how much creativity was featured.

“I was just amazed,” he said. “And there was such a wide variety of scenes as well.”

Kathleen Doyle won Best of Show from the judging panel for her photo, “Lacamas Lake at Dusk.” She also submitted a photo titled, “Just Five Minutes From Town.”

“One of the best things about growing up there was being able to enjoy the (scenery) while still staying so close to Vancouver and Portland,” she said.

Mitch Hammontree, who co-owns the Washougal Quiznos with his wife, Cindy, carries around a camera so he doesn’t miss any potential photo opportunities.

“I’ve been interested in photography for about 40 years now,” he said. “I just love the creativity and being able to see things with a different perspective.”

When Hammontree saw the What I Love About Camas contest mentioned in the Post-Record, he thought of a recent photo he’d taken of the Camas Hills, shot from his backyard in Washougal.

“My favorite aspect of this photo is the peacefulness,” he said. “It reminds me that when I get home, this is what I’m seeing.”

He also submitted a photo titled, “Spring Tree in Infrared off Crown Road,” which he took during the unseasonably warm February weather.

Ten-year-old Nathaniel Maszak was the youngest entrant in the contest, submitting a photo called, “View from Livingston Mountain.”

“It was deadline day for the contest and I didn’t have a photo yet, and then I remembered that there was a nice landscape at the end of the road near Livingston Mountain,” he said. “I made my Dad stop the car and I took the photo.”

It turns out the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. His mom, Susan, is also an avid photographer. She submitted two photos, “Pineapple and Friend at Camas Produce,” and “Ice Cream Outing at Top Burger,” which both feature her children.

“I really enjoy photography,” she said. “I have five children, so I’m always taking pictures of them.

“It’s exciting to have the photos displayed here because now they are like little celebrities.”

The display will remain at the Second Story Gallery through the end of the month.

It is located on the second floor of the Camas Public Library, 625 N.E. Fourth Ave., and is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.