Photo Contest
Benton 360° Photo Contest
Benton County invited residents to share their favorite photos of the places and occupants (human and animal) of our County as a way to build awareness around the BentonBelieves initiative.
Winners will be used in the BentonBelieves Comprehensive Plan Update, and submitted photos can be used by the County in social media posts, websites, digital documents and print publications related to public services provided. All image creators will be credited.
Contest winners
Third place winner
Soap Creek Schoolhouse
By Loretta Robinson
The Soap Creek Schoolhouse stands as a remembrance of the time when one-room schoolhouses provided much of the education for rural Americans.
Second place winner
Timbered Forestland
By Jamie Olsen
A view over the Coastal foothills, taken from a high elevation near Alsea showcases one of Benton County’s most essential industries: timber.
First place winner
Frosty Fall River (Aerial)
By Lukas Hernandez
This aerial shot captures the beauty and grace of a local river and creates interest through the use of photo editing.
Category Standouts
Community & Life
2025 łatwa ina Pow-Wow Competitor
By Steve Storm
The Annual łatwa ina Pow-Wow is a free community event featuring Indigenous dancers, singers and a marketplace, plus delicious fry bread at Gill Coliseum.
Landscape & Scenery
Warm Sunset Over the Valley (Aerial)
By Loretta Robinson
The mid-Willamette Valley is home to a variety of scenic views and landscapes, including the area this aerial shot was taken, the corner of Oak Grove Road and Scenic Avenue.
Plants & Flowers
Orange Sunflower
By Sydney Bennett
This sunflower, growing in the SAGE Garden may look different from the traditional yellow, but it serves the same purpose in the garden as its yellow companions: pollinator attraction.
Water & Reflections
Autumn on the Willamette
Photograph by Mark Svendson
This view of Riverfront Park in downtown Corvallis, taken from the old Van Buren Bridge, is now one altered forever by the transition to the newly constructed Van Buren Bridge Replacement. The vibrant colors of autumn are an especially scenic welcome to the city of Corvallis.
Wildlife & Animals
Owl in Reprieve
Image courtesy of Trevor Knapp
This barred owl takes a rest among the
trees at Willamette Park & Natural Area
before it takes on a nocturnal hunt.
Staff Picks
Yellow Flower Field
By Loretta Robinson
A terrestrial view from Scenic Drive helps illustrate how the road earned its name. This field of canola plants blooms to create a beautiful sea of yellow flowers at the height of summer here in the Willamette Valley.
Miss this year’s contest?
Because Benton360° was so well received by the community, the contest will be back again next year! Be sure to sign up for our email newsletter so that you don’t miss announcements about it.