“I’m really pleased that my photo is doing so well in the contest,” remarked Conner Kempe. “There are a lot of fantastic images that have been submitted to the contest, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see that one of my pieces has come out at the head of the pack.”

The photo, which is called “Edge-n’-Pop,” features one of Conner Kempe’s biggest hobbies: kiteboarding. The image features the silhouette of a kiteboarder in action against the backdrop of a calm, dark ocean and sunlight shining through shadowy clouds. One of Conner Kempe’s most recent photos, the image was captured by the twenty-three year old’s camera just in mid February, on a visit to Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, Florida. He hopes that the image has captured a sense of both what individuals can experience out on the water, as well as the natural beauty of the ocean.

“Growing up in Florida, I’ve always has a strong affinity to the ocean,” said Conner Kempe. “That’s why I was interested in entering this contest. Beyond wanting to see how my photography would do in a competition, I also wanted to be a part of something that would support the Ocean Conservancy. Every vote requires a donation to the Ocean Conservancy, so I’m glad to see that my photo has inspired so many people to help marine wildlife!”

Outside of his burgeoning interest in photography, Conner Kempe has a passion for law and economics. He studied money, banking, and finance at Dartmouth, where he was also a star quarterback on the football team, and hopes to have a career that integrates his business interests with his aptitude for the legal field. Conner Kempe also enjoys outdoor sports – in addition to kiteboarding, Conner Kempe can frequently be found fishing and diving in the Florida waters. Conner Kempe looks forward to honing his photography skills in the future.