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Photo contest captures BPA’s role in the Northwest for fourth year

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Winning images from BPA’s workplace photo contest demonstrate how personnel, from substation operators to public utilities specialists, connect work to life in the Pacific Northwest.

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"BPA shutterbugs seem to take it up a notch every year with the caliber of images they submit"

Pilar Reichlein

Bonneville Power Administration personnel, from substation operators to public utilities specialists, demonstrated their shutterbug skills and shared their unique perspectives of the Pacific Northwest for a fourth year through the workplace photo contest, Your Lens/Our World.

Since 2018, the monthly contest helps participants find personal connections between their work and the invaluable service the federal power marketer provides to the region. The photo contest also supplies BPA with up-to-date imagery, depicting its people, infrastructure and service territory, for its digital and hardcopy products. The contest’s photo galleries now feature more than 1,000 images that demonstrate BPA’s many roles in the region, including power marketer, transmission provider, environmental steward and collaborative partner.

“BPA shutterbugs seem to take it up a notch every year with the caliber of images they submit,” said Pilar Reichlein, photo contest manager and graphic designer. “Outside of the contest, having all of these wonderful images to pick from – for the workforce to pick from – has breathed new life into many BPA products, all thanks to our own people.” 

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Spirit Falls in Winter

When in the audience of Spirit Falls or another powerful water source, I feel that I’m more connected and have a better understanding of this renewable source’s importance that observing from far away can’t provide. You can see, hear and even feel the power of the kinetic energy in action as gallon after gallon of water flows to the ocean, while carving through the mountains and canyons in its path. Being able to see the lifecycle and the role that water plays throughout each season is something that I often take for granted living in the Northwest, and moments like these remind me of its significance. 

By Lance Dawkins, Transmission Technology Services, supervisory IT specialist
Assignment: Water

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Games at Christmas

It’s always fun to get pictures of the Christmas tree lights twinkling in the background of a photo. Looking at the lights on houses around our neighborhood is one of our favorite holiday activities. How electricity lends itself to decoration is particularly noticeable during this wintry time of year, and it’s a wonderful reminder that power helps us celebrate the season.

By Anna-Lisa Miller, Enterprise Architecture, public utilities specialist
Assignment: Electricity

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Wood Ducks

If you walk around Salish Pond in Fairview, Oregon, you will notice the presence of several high-voltage transmission towers that are innocuously nestled among neatly maintained vegetation in the park. This combination reminds me of BPA's presence in the Northwest. Our agency maintains its mission of delivering power across the landscape but acts to conserve natural environments to fulfill its responsibilities of mitigating for the effects of the Federal Columbia River Power System. 

By Jun Deguzman, Recruitment and Placement, human resources specialist
Assignment: Wildlife

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Iridescent Bee

I have been cultivating the flower gardens around my home for about 20 years to provide for pollinators in every season. At BPA, one of the first events I attended after starting was Pollinator Week. I have also been focusing on some work projects at environmentally sensitive sites. The genuine care and concern about wildlife habitat at BPA inspires me. 

By Lisa Henry, Engineering and Technical Services, project coordinator
Assignment: Color Burst

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Citadel of Currency

Since I work just a couple miles from this location, it is easy for me to see exactly how integrated BPA is with our community and the benefit we bring to our region through providing carbon-free power to local providers. 

By Lisa Henry, Engineering and Technical Services, project coordinator
Assignment: Towers and Substations

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Lacamas Lake Winter Blues

Blue – what does blue make you think of? Peace, tranquility, calmness. This picture reflects the freshness of creation. Part of BPA’s mission is to protect the beautiful blue spaces of the great Northwest by implementing sustainable business practices, supporting the health of our rivers and other ecological areas, and generating clean power that reduces the carbon output of the nation’s energy infrastructure. 

By Anthony Willbanks, Transmission Technology Services, quality assurance analyst
Assignment: Hues of Blue

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Colchuck Lake

Colchuck Lake near Leavenworth, Washington, offers a magnificent view. BPA's service area is both rugged and beautiful. It still amazes me that our agency can move so much power around the region reliably, and it’s seemingly invisible when you are out exploring nature. 

By Andrew Imig, Transmission Field Services, substation operator apprentice
Assignment: Wildcard

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Summer Thunderstorm

While heading to The Dalles District headquarters, I noticed a classic anvil-shaped thunderstorm cloud off in the distance. This photo captures the water cycle in action. Clouds release rain and snow that keep the rivers in the Northwest flowing, providing clean, renewable hydroelectric power for the region that BPA markets and transmits as part of its mission.

By Rob Meyers, Transmission Field Services, substation operator
Assignment: Cloudy Days

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Autumn Reflection

Fall is one of my favorite times of year to take landscape photos in the Columbia River Gorge. The calm wind on this early November day allowed for a glassy, mirror-like reflection of the hills and trees on the waters of the Columbia. This river flows on all year long, providing clean, carbon-free hydropower that BPA markets and transmits as part of its mission. 

By Rob Meyers, Transmission Field Services, substation operator
Assignment: Single or Double

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Bee-Green

Bees keep the earth green. They are vital pollinators that allow plants to grow and produce food. This busy bee in-flight happens to be collecting nectar and pollen on teasel, a ubiquitous noxious weed familiar to landowners in the Pacific Northwest. Although this weed provides sustenance to pollinators, BPA works hard to control invasive weeds like these with rigorous vegetation management practices and using native seed mixes on new projects whenever possible.

By Jun Deguzman, Recruitment and Placement, human resources specialist
Assignment: Going Green

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Snowy Lakes Pass

BPA's service territory encompasses some of America's most scenic wilderness areas. BPA considers the protection of the Northwest’s natural features and resources a core aspect of our mission to serve our communities. From planning to maintenance, the agency strives to deliver power to our customers while protecting the beauty of the greater region at every stage of our projects.

By Clinton Carpenter, Engineering and Technical Services, realty specialist
Assignment: Wildernessy stage of our projects. 

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Mount St. Helens Milky Way

I’ve begun to appreciate how wonderful the night skies can be. Their contrasting luminescence and darkness offers a unique backdrop for the jagged skyline of Mount St. Helens. The Pacific Northwest, where we live, is a special place. We and other utilities are fortunate to do the work we do to keep the lights on while being surrounded by so much scenic beauty and diversity.

By Pat Rochelle, Planning and Asset Management, electrical engineer
Assignment: Nighttime

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