Budweiser, Biodiversity Project Sponsor Great Lakes Photography Contest

(To view the winning photographs, click here.)

Sometimes a picture can say a thousand words - and such is the case for photos taken by Steven Huyser-Honig and Brenda Jones that showcase the beauty and majesty of the Great Lakes.

Huyser-Honig, a professional photographer from Grand Rapids, Mich., and Jones, an amateur photographer from Bartlett, Ill., were voted grand-prize winners in the Great Lakes Forever photo contest conducted by the Biodiversity Project's Great Lakes Forever program and Budweiser beer.

The contest was designed to select the best professional and amateur photographs of the Great Lakes and to raise public awareness about improving the health of the Great Lakes.  More than 85 amateur and professional photographers entered more than 220 photos this summer, and photos by Huyser-Honig (titled "November Gale") and Jones ("Glowing Rocks - Lake Superior") were chosen as the best by more than 550 people who voted online in August.

The grand prize winners in both categories will have their original photographs printed on the 2008 Great Lakes Forever/Budweiser beer coasters, to be distributed to bars and restaurants in eight Great Lakes states and two Canadian provinces.

"The Great Lakes are an incredible resource, not only economically, but also in terms of biodiversity,culture and personal identity," said Jennifer Browning, executive director of the Biodiversity Project, home of the Great Lakes Forever program.  "We sometimes forget that despite the tremendous size of these lakes, we can affect their well-being by what we do in our daily lives."

The other finalists were Stacy Niedzwiecki of Rockford, Mich., and Lester Graham of Clinton, Mich., in the professional category, and Cathy Havedink of Hamilton, Mich., and Frank Koshere of Superior, Wisc., in the amateur category.

In addition to printing the winning photographs on the 2008 beer coasters, Huyser-Honig and Jones will receive Budweiser merchandise.  All of the photos by the six finalists will be placed on the 2008 Great Lakes Forever/Budweiser Great Lakes Poster that will be available through participating Anheuser-Busch wholesalers, as well as receive recognition on the Great Lakes Forever Web site.

"On behalf of Budweiser, we'd like to congratulate Steven, Brenda and all of the finalists for their beautiful photos of the Great Lakes," said Bob Fishbeck, product manager for the Budweiser brand.  "The photo contest is not only about recognizing their talents, but reminding consumers about the importance of protecting the Great Lakes as a valuable resource for the region and our country."

Great Lakes Forever is a program of the Biodiversity Project, based out of Chicago.  Since its creation in 2004, Great Lakes Forever has become a source for public education and action programs that help strengthen the movement to protect the Great Lakes.  Budweiser has joined with the Biodiversity Project to help sponsor initiatives and projects of Great Lakes Forever since 2005.  In addition to supporting the coaster photo contest, Budweiser has made a $20,000 donation to Great Lakes Forever for education and awareness programs that focus on protecting water quality and conserving water.

Budweiser is brewed by Anheuser Busch, the leading American brewer that holds a 48.5 percent share of U.S. beer sales.  Based in St. Louis, the company brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light.  Anheuser Busch also owns a 50 percent share in Grupo Modelo, Mexico's leading brewer, and a 27 percent share in China brewer Tsingtao, whose namesake beer brand is the country's best-selling premium beer.  Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired U.S. and Global Companies lists in 2008.  Anheuser Busch is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world's largest recyclers of aluminum cans.  For more information, visit www.OurPledge.com.