See the top 8 award-winning photos that best showed the ‘Essence of Bellingham’ in 2022

A robin on a mossy tree, the Lummi River estuary, a line of sailboats, a pink blossom, a mysterious woman on a bench, fog blanketing a forest, Lake Padden circled by snow and flood water running across an intersection — these are the images that define the essence of Bellingham in 2022.

The city of Bellingham announced its eight top award winners in the 17th annual “Essence of Bellingham” photo competition Wednesday, May 18. Best of Show top honors went to Jeffrey Barclay’s “Robin,” showcasing a bird perched on a moss-covered tree illuminated in sunlight, according to a release from the city.

The competition, which is sponsored by the city of Bellingham and Whatcom Museum, was judged by representatives from each organization who weighed how well each photo entry captured the essence of Bellingham and the quality of each photo.