Photo of Utah Lake ice stacks takes first place, will be featured in Bank of Utah advertising
OGDEN, Utah, Sept. 26, 2022 – A stunning photo of Utah Lake’s seasonal ice stacks has won first prize in Bank of Utah’s 2022 “My Utah” photo contest. Taken by Jami Bollschweiler of Weber County, she says the photo represents the deep and diverse beauty of Utah, its landscapes and people.
Now in its third year, the bank’s photo contest has gained popularity, resulting in a pool of nearly 400 entries, compared to 86 in 2021. Bollschweiler received a $500 prize for rising to the top, and Bank of Utah will highlight her spectacular photo in advertising, on social media platforms and on the bank’s website. Travelers along the I-15 corridor from Ogden to St. George can already see electronic billboards of the photo.
Bollschweiler’s photo features her husband, Justin, standing atop ice stacks along the Utah Lake shore. The combination of sunlight and storm clouds above make the shattered ice gleam with a striking greenish-hue. While difficult to shoot because of the freezing cold temperatures, the Bollschweilers visit Utah Lake every year just to see this phenomenon.
“Utah has so much to offer, in its diverse landscape and in its people. That’s what I see in this photo. That’s what I think of when I think, ‘My Utah,’” said Bollschweiler, a local photographer. “I also see this photo as a tribute to my husband, who has done so much to support me and my work. I can’t wait to see him in large format on a billboard, supporting what I love doing.”
Bollschweiler took up photography in 2015 after her mother committed suicide, and she continues to find peace and healing in nature’s art.
The second-place winning photo features the beauty of the Upper Weber River. Robb Alexander of Weber County snapped the shot and will receive a $300 prize. “That area is such a special place for my family,” he said. “My grandfather started going to that spot in the 1930s, and I started going there when I was about 3 months old. My wife and kids love it as much as I do.”
Zack El Halta of Utah County received $200 as the third-place winner. He took his photo during a spring break trip to Southern Utah with his family. “Toward the end of a long hike in Kolob Canyon, we came across a couple of rock climbers mid-course, and I had to stop and take a picture,” he said.
Bank of Utah will feature the top three photos, plus nine honorable mentions, in its 2023 “My Utah” wall calendar.
“Every year we say, ‘This is going to be difficult to judge.’ This year was no different. The entries were plentiful, and each and every one was magnificent,” said Douglas L. DeFries, Bank of Utah president and CEO. “Utah is known for its scenery, but to see photos of all the different landscapes compiled together is a wonderful reminder of how fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful, diverse state. Thank you to all of the photographers. It was a privilege to see Utah from your perspective.”
To see all the winning photos, visit www.bankofutah.com/news/2022-my-utah-photo-competition-winners-announced and visit Bank of Utah on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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About Bank of Utah
Whatever your Utah is, Bank of Utah provides all the financial tools and guidance you need to achieve your business and personal financial goals. Celebrating its 70th year in 2022, Bank of Utah was established in 1952 in Ogden, Utah, by the Frank M. Browning family. Bank of Utah has since grown to 400 employees and over $2 billion in assets. Bank of Utah is one of the top banks in the U.S., ranking in the top 11% for total assets, the top 7% for net income, and the top 2% for Return on Assets (RoA). With the personal touch of a community bank, Bank of Utah answers your calls, greets you in person and offers the most up-to-date online and mobile banking innovations. The Bank has 18 full-service branches throughout Utah, trust teams in Ogden and Salt Lake City, and mortgage offices in Logan, Price and St. George. Offering business and personal banking, mortgage and commercial lending, and trust services, Bank of Utah is dedicated to helping our neighbors and local businesses thrive, now and for years to come. Together, we are Utah. For more information call 801-409-5000 or visit bankofutah.com.
