Empire State Building Honors Winners of First-Ever "My Empire State Building" Digital Photo Contest

NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Empire State Building (ESB) announced the winners of the iconic landmark's first annual digital photo contest, "My Empire State Building," recognizing the submissions of amateur and professional photographers from across the country. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121102/NY04925 )

The contest kicked off on August 7, 2012, offering fans the opportunity to submit photos of the beloved international icon by entering on the Empire State Building's Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/EmpireStateBuilding). Facebook fans were able to vote on their favorite photos, narrowing the pool to 100 semi-finalists.  Of the 100, ESB recognized the top 47 images, and selected one Grand Prize-winning photo.

The Grand Prize Winner, Raphael E. Paez of Sinking Spring, Maryland, will be honored with a $5,000 prize and is being featured as ESB's Facebook profile photo beginning now until December 31, 2012. On a weekly basis throughout 2013, the 47 Finalists will then also receive honors by having their photos showcased to the global online community as the building's Facebook profile page. Additionally, all of the Grand Prize and Finalist photos will be showcased in an exhibit in the landmark's highly-trafficked Fifth Avenue Gallery lobby windows in 2013, and possibly in ESB marketing collateral.

"The Empire State Building's first-ever digital photo contest has resulted in hundreds of submissions from fans, underscoring the building's iconic status and the connection that people have to the building," said Anthony E. Malkin of the Empire State Building. "The grandeur of and passion for the World's Most Famous Office Building is evident as it is captured through the lens of Raphael Paez with his Grand-Prize winning photograph."

The 47 Finalists include (in alphabetical order):

• Denise Acker (Killingworth, CT)
• Tim Adams (New York, NY)
• Carolina Aguilera (New York, NY)
• Rachel Alban (New York, NY)
• Jason Alicea (Fleming Island, FL)
• Caroll Alvarado (Ridgewood, NY)
• Alexander Asimi (New York, NY)
• Kamran Aslam (Plainview, NY)
• Leslie Bliss (Clearwater, FL)
• Barbara Borghesi (Jackson, NJ)
• Emily Cafritz (New York, NY)
• Cassie Carter (New York, NY)
• Alexander Cerna (Clifton, NJ)
• Richard Cleves (New York, NY)
• Amber Collins (New York, NY)
• Chelsea Conner (Vienna, WV)
• DeShaun Craddock (Brooklyn, NY)
• Ryan Crane (Clinton, NJ)
• Heather Ellis (Mt. Pleasant, WI)
• David Formichella (West New York, NJ)
• Regina Geoghan (Union City, NJ)
• Lydiberto Gonzalez (Elmwood Park, NJ)
• Jamie Greene (Sayville, NY)
• Reetom Hazarika (Fremont, CA)
• Shaun Jones (Los Angeles, CA)
• Kevin Koepke (Clifton, NJ)
• Daniel Koszegi (Weehawken, NJ)
• Kevin Landrigan (Farm Drive, VA)
• Dixie Lopez (Spring Hill, FL)
• Yvonne Lundin (King George, VA)
• Keith Mooney (Oak Ridge, TN)
• Jennifer Owens (Marion, NC)
• Gerard Padden (New York, NY)
• Jose Pagan (New York, NY)
• Stephen Papageorge (New York, NY)
• Bill Pellegrino (Mays Landing, NJ)
• Ginnette Polanco (Corona, NY)
• Kirit Prajapati (Weehawken, NJ)
• Michelle Sager (Hoboken, NJ)
• Rafael Santana (Tempe, AZ)
• Brad Sloan (Springfield, OR)
• Christine Staton (Simpsonville, SC)
• Lisa Thomas (E. Northport, NY)
• Steven Tom (Franklin Square, NY)
• Dorian Vazquez (Brownsville, TX)
• Michael Wiltbank (New York, NY)
• Simos Xenakis (Brooklyn, NY)

About the Empire State Building

Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna), the Empire State Building is the "World's Most Famous Office Building." With new investments in infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper's robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America's favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects. The Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world's most beloved attractions and is the region's #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.esbnyc.com, http://www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding, or @EmpireStateBldg.

Media Contact: Edelman Public Relations 
Jessica Redling, 212-277-3773 
[email protected]

SOURCE Empire State Building