Local photographer wins Lake Living cover contest

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  • Sunshot by Grayson Williams — Photographer Bill Powell, left, accepts the $100 prize for winning the Summer Lake Living cover photo contest from The Hartwell Sun publisher Michael Hall.
    Sunshot by Grayson Williams — Photographer Bill Powell, left, accepts the $100 prize for winning the Summer Lake Living cover photo contest from The Hartwell Sun publisher Michael Hall.
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Hartwell resident Bill Powell is passionate about his photography. Each morning and evening, almost without fail, he captures the light and clouds painting the sky over Lake Hartwell. 

But he also knows how to help a friend with a great photo when he needs to, which is what ended up earning Powell a win in the Lake Living Magazine summer cover photo contest. 

Powell’s friend and neighbor Al Olsen restores classic, wooden boats. One in particular captured Powell’s eye and he wanted to help Olsen get a beautiful shot of it. 

“Yes it’s a boat, but it’s a work of art,” Powell said about the 1950 23-foot Chris Craft Holiday.

With the boat docked and the setting sun blanketing it in golden light, Powell captured the boat’s beauty and subsequently the $100 prize that comes with winning the photo contest. 

“Al is a master craftsman when it comes to restoring boats,” Powell said. “I just wanted to get a beautiful photo of that boat for him.” 

The light and the calm conditions created allowed for the boat to be reflected in the water, Powell said. 

“I’m a sucker for reflection,” he said. 

Powell was happy to hear he had won the contest, especially because he knows there were many stellar submissions. 

Alan NeSmith, regional publisher for Community Newspapers Incorporated’s Northeast Georgia region, said Powell’s picture captured the nostalgic summer feel of living on the lakes of Northeast Georgia. 

“Bill’s picture captures a classic boat ready for fun,” NeSmith said. “And most all of us pay extra attention to a wooden boat while easing around the lake. This is a timeless shot with the wooden skis and a straw hat.”

Lake Living magazine is published each spring, summer and winter. It is a combined effort of the region’s newspapers — The Hartwell Sun, The Franklin County Citizen-Leader, The White County News, The Clayton Tribune, The Dahlonega Nugget, The Northeast Georgian, The Toccoa Record and The Elberton Star. The magazine, on newsstands now, brings readers features and special stories of life in Northeast Georgia’s lake country.