Four local photographers who trained their lenses on the Village of Ridgewood were rewarded for their creativity and talent during ceremonies held this week to proclaim winners of the Ridgewood Rotary Club Photo Contest.

While prizes were awarded for the top three winners, a tie for third place resulted in four honorees presented along with their winning photos at "Bookends" on Tuesday.

Capturing first place for his photo of fireworks taken during the Fourth of July celebration, was Ken Haner, a Midland Park resident. Haner admitted that his first love is wildlife and nature photography, a category that earned him several appearances in the annual Celery Farm Calendar in Allendale.  His quest for unique wildlife moments has taken him to central Texas where a day in a shooting "blind" provided him with eagles, Green Jays and an unwelcome confrontation with scorpions.  Haner received the $100 first prize from Ridgewood Rotarian and contest organizer Michael Shetler.

Seventeen-year-old Matthew Hurley, a senior at Ridgewood High School, was acclaimed the second place winner for a photo taken at this year's graduation at the high school.  Hurley has been recognized for his photographic talent by front page pictures in the Ridgewood News special "Our Voices" supplement, an organ for student essays, art work and opinion pieces.  The prize winner combines his photography with cross country running and swimming ---he is the captain of the high school swimming team.

Tied for third place in the competition were Ridgewood resident Nanette Ferreri and Daniel Katzman. 

Ms. Ferreri chose the Duck Pond at sunset for her winning entry.  She, too, like Haner and Hurley, was had previous photos published, twice having studies of the Jersey shore appear in the International Library of Photographs.  An industrial designer, Ms. Ferreri, who includes biking, hiking and piano playing among her other pastimes, said she would like to make photography her full-time profession.

For his subject, Katzman, a Ridgewood native, focused on a North Jersey commuter train.  His winning photo taken on a rainy night captures an other-worldliness, almost mysterious and chilling feeling. Although he entered several juried photo contests while in college in North Carolina, this is his first taste of competitive success. He has inaugurated a website: www.dankatzmanphotography.com that occupies much of his free time.

Shetler added that a full-color collection of the 30-40 outstanding entries in the contest are being collected in a book entitled "Ridgewood 2010-2011, A Year in Pictures".  The book will be introduced next month and place on sale December 3, as a complement to the Rotary Club's regular fund-raising activities.  Proceeds will be distributed at the end of the Rotary year to more than 25 local agencies and charities, Shetler said.

Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty was the principal sponsor of the charity event;  PNC Bank and Atlantic Stewardship Bank were also supporters of the first-time community effort.

-Ridgewood Rotary Club