PITTSFIELD, Mass. — This summer, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. held a photo challenge to find the photo that best demonstrates why downtown Pittsfield is the “Heart of the Berkshires”. 

Entrants were encouraged to capture photos that showcased the beauty and personality of downtown Pittsfield. 

The first-place winner, as determined by a panel of local judges, is Brittany Hunter. Her photo “Fountain Flowers” has won her a prize package donated by local downtown businesses, and her photo will be featured in Pittsfield’s 2023 Downtown Guide and a Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. social marketing campaign. 

“While we were enjoying watching the sun go down at Park Square both my son and daughter noticed the beautiful flower gardens. They enjoyed looking at them and smelling them. That is where I took my photo, Fountain Flowers”. 

The second-place winner, Jason Stimpson, will also take home a prize package donated by local downtown businesses.

The winning photo is composed of 17 photographs taken over the course of an hour and forty-five minutes while the camera remained on a tripod. 

“Many evenings I will walk North Street with my family,” says Hunter.

Honorable Mentions: Nicole March: “Love always reflects back to you” (3rd Place), Julia Beth Kaplan, Jason Crane, and Susan Geller. 

The winners of the Pittsfield Photo Challenge were decided by a panel of Pittsfield judges: 

Alex Reczkowski, Berkshire Athenaeum Director
Arri Better, Executive Administrator of Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. 
Branden Huldeen, DPI Board President and Artistic Producer/Director of New Play Development, Barrington Stage Company 
Jessica Rumlow, DPI Board Chair and Executive Director/CEO, Berkshire Family YMCA 
Mayor Linda Tyer, City of Pittsfield 
Lindsey Schmid, 1Berkshire VP of Tourism & Marketing and DPI Board Member 
Michael J. Wynn, Chief of Police, Pittsfield Police Department 
Rebecca Brien, Managing Director, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. 
Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier