Opening Reception: It's a Snap: What Makes Baltimore Beautiful

Each year, the Baltimore National Heritage Area (BNHA) administers the It’s A Snap! photo contest. In 2024, they solicited responses to the theme “What makes Baltimore beautiful?” The diverse array of submissions captured by Baltimoreans over the course of the contest reflect the unique beauty of the Baltimore National Heritage Area boundaries and the multifaceted perspectives on this great city. The Peale is proud to present this year’s winners, in conjunction with BNHA!

A team of artists, arts administrators, and BNHA staff comprised the jury and selected our winners:

• Grand Prize: “Determination” by Deborah Davis (pictured in banner)
• First Place: “Ice Towers” by Eric Sussman
• Second Place: “Horseshoe Falls” by Leon Brown
• Third Place: Baltimore’s “Industrial Heritage” by Mark Chopper
• Honorable Mentions: Marcus Clinton, Keith Newman, Kitty Kouwenhoven, Linda Rabben, Greg Ketterman, Marc Sussman, Chuck Steenburgh

“Every year I’m astonished at the images submitted for It’s a SNAP! Baltimore contest,” says BNHA Executive Director Shauntee Daniels, “Photos tell the story of Baltimore in so many ways, and our photographers were able to capture what they thought made Baltimore beautiful. I can only say that ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’. I hope everyone gets a chance at some point to see this year’s winning photos.”