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Workforce photo contest highlights BPA’s vital ties to Northwest for third year

The Your Lens/Our World photo contest enables members of the BPA workforce to create connections among individual work, the agency and the greater prosperity of the Northwest.
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The photo contest not only helps photographers visually connect what they see through their camera lens to BPA’s mission, it also helps the greater workforce better understand how their work contributes to our mission.

Pilar Reichlein

For a third year, many members of the Bonneville Power Administration workforce picked up their cameras and smartphones to engage in the workplace photo contest Your Lens/Our World. Initiated in 2018, the creative effort aims to help participants find personal connections between their work and the invaluable service the federal agency delivers to the region. It also supplies BPA with up-to-date imagery that beautifully depicts the people, natural environment and infrastructure of the Northwest for a multitude of digital and hardcopy products. Since the contest’s inception, more than 280 people from across the agency have submitted over 750 images in response to monthly photography assignments. Ranging from the weather to our communities, the assignments rendered a variety of unique images from all corners of BPA’s service territory. The growing photo collection demonstrates the agency’s many roles in the region, including power marketer, environmental steward and collaborative partner.

“The photo contest not only helps photographers visually connect what they see through their camera lens to BPA’s mission, it also helps the greater workforce better understand how their work contributes to our mission,” said Pilar Reichlein, photo contest manager and graphic designer. “The contest is something that many workforce members look forward to. Shutterbugs continue to share comments that Your Lens/Our World is a fun, engaging and creative outlet for them, while other employees share their appreciation for being able to look at colorful, uplifting and unique images.” 

Photos submitted to the contest often appear in agency publications, such as bpa.gov articles, the 2021 Annual Report and social media posts.

The snapshots below represent the winning photographs from each monthly assignment for the fiscal year 2021 contest. BPA’s workforce selected the monthly winning photos by voting for their favorite featured image after each assignment closed. As you scroll through the photos, read their corresponding captions to learn how the photographers related their images to BPA and its mission in the region. 

FY 21 People's Choice winners

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Electricity Mows My Lawn

Power truly makes our lives easier, and what’s a better example than a rechargeable robotic mower. At BPA, it’s part of our mission and values to operate efficiently. We embrace innovation and regularly look for energy and work efficiencies. Thanks to the reliable supply of hydropower, we can also accomplish these goals at home or in the workplace.

Photo by Teresa Smith, Supply Chain Services, Purchase Card Program specialist
Assignment: People Using Power

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The Dalles, Oregon

BPA serves The Dalles by delivering power to the local public utility district, in part with clean hydropower from The Dalles Dam on the Columbia River. As a substation operator in The Dalles District, I'm part of the BPA team that keeps the power flowing to this city.

Photo by Rob Meyers, Transmission Field Services, Substation Operator
Assignment: Communities We Serve

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After the Burn

From the top of the Halls Ridge radio site, which overlooks Detroit Lake on the North Santiam River, I inspected surrounding tree damage after fires came through, ensuring there was no loss of infrastructure reliability onsite. BPA cannot stop weather events from occurring or keep every tree outside of our rights-of-way from falling onto our lines, but the agency’s job is to manage issues safely and appropriately to the best of our abilities, and to prepare the best we can for forces outside of our control.

Photo by Jennifer Strombom, Transmission Field Services, Natural Resource Specialist
Assignment: Wildcard

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Sunset

My dog and I walk the path by the Bell-Usk and Bell-Boundary transmission corridor near Mead, Washington, every morning. Good things do come in pairs, as many of our transmission lines run parallel throughout the region, sometimes traversing the same path or diverting away but always providing reliable energy. In some way, every employee supports BPA’s overall mission to responsibly market and deliver power via our transmission grid to our customers.

By Adrienne Wojtasz, Pollution Prevention and Abatement, Environmental Physical Scientist
Assignment: Good Things Come in Pairs

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Hood River Twilight

As the last of the light fades into the night, hydroelectric power generated from the Columbia River and distributed on BPA’s transmission system helps keeps the lights on in the town of Hood River. BPA’s mission is to market and transmit the hydroelectric power generated from the dams of the Columbia River to Pacific Northwest communities and beyond.

Photo by Rob Meyers, Transmission Field Services, Substation Operator
Assignment: Capture the Seasons

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Sunrise at McNary

I feel very blessed to work in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where vistas like this are possible. It reminds me of our duty as BPA employees to be good stewards of the land and help preserve the natural beauty of this amazing place where we live and work.

Photo by Kevin Christensen, Transmission Field Services, Substation Operator
Assignment: Color Burst

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Columbia River Rainbow

A dramatic double rainbow needs both sun and water, with the latter being an incredibly important renewable energy resource in the Northwest. BPA markets wholesale electrical power from the 31 federal hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River Basin to provide clean, renewable power to the region and beyond. 

Photo by Rob Meyers, Transmission Field Services, Substation
Assignment: Weather

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Columbia River Reflection

A glassy surface covered the Columbia River on a tranquil January day. This incredible, beautiful waterscape provides the Northwest with clean, renewable hydroelectric power marketed and transmitted by BPA to fulfill the agency’s mission.

Photo by Rob Meyers, Transmission Field Services, Substation Operator
Assignment: Waterscapes

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Wildflower Sunset

This photo exemplifies the spring season in the Columbia River Gorge when there is an abundance of wildflowers and picturesque sunsets. The Columbia River flows on through the gorge, providing clean, renewable hydropower and many other benefits to the region.

Photo by Rob Meyers, Transmission Field Services, Substation Operator
Assignment: Capture the Seasons

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Conductor Inspectors

I just happened to be driving by the spare conductor reels at the Ross Complex in the early morning and saw these cute raccoons milling about and sheltering from the rain. BPA’s facilities exist all over the Northwest, which means we have an impact on local ecosystems. It is important to remember this, so we can be good environmental stewards at all times. Similarly, one of our many agency goals is to mitigate for the impacts of the federal hydropower system on wildlife living in the area. Ross Complex is home to all manner of wildlife, and we do our best to coexist.

Photo by Jesse Byron, Transmission Field Services, Substation operator Apprentice IV
Assignment: Wildlife

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Alpine Lake Wilderness

While taking in the beautiful fall colors and watery reflections at Robin Lakes, which is part of Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness, I was reminded of how lucky I am to live in the Pacific Northwest. BPA’s value in environmental stewardship permeates every aspect of our projects. From planning to energization, BPA strives to serve its customers while protecting the natural beauty of its service area. BPA’s steadfast efforts help preserve areas like these for our enjoyment.

Photo by Clint Carpenter, Engineering and Technical Services, Realty Specialist
Assignment: Wilderness

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