Participants and guests in the 2012 Fall Suffolk PhotoWalk learned of their successes on Saturday at a gallery exhibit showing off their work.

The 65 photos in the show were taken around downtown Suffolk on Nov. 10, when a group of 26 photographers set off with cameras in hand to capture the moment. Seventeen of those photographers submitted their best images for judging and display at the Suffolk Art Gallery through Jan. 26.

The winners’ names were a closely guarded secret until Saturday, when winning photographers arrived to find ribbons on the wall next to their photos.

“I’m surprised my work was chosen out of all these great photos,” said Jim Wetherbee, who won first place in the architecture category. “It was quite an honor.”

Wetherbee and his son Wesley participated in the photo walk together. Wesley also had photos in the exhibit.

“This is a nice opportunity for amateur photographers,” Wetherbee said. “There’s a lot of opportunities for (Wesley) to learn about photography and art.”

Marsha Mears won first place in the landscape category. She and her friend have done the photo walk together several times, she said.

“We just like to take pictures,” she said.

The photo walk is a community outreach initiative of Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church, designed to help local residents get to know each other and appreciate God’s creation.

“It’s been good,” Jinks Babey, coordinator of the walk, said of Saturday’s turnout.

Sherri Stone, who received an honorable mention in the people category, was so thrilled to see the award that she started crying.

“I’m so happy,” she said. “Just to have been included was amazing.”

Award winners were as follows:

Best in show

Maria Booth, “Porch”

Abstract

1st place: Dawn Day, “How Old Am I?”

Honorable mention: Brandy Wesloski, “Pumpkin Navel”

Landscape

1st place: Marsha Mears, “Ivy Lead”

Honorable mention: David Lamp, “Safe Haven”

Architecture

1st place: Jim Wetherbee, “Keep Out”

Honorable mention: Danny Mears, “Simple Lines”

People

1st place: Dinah Oliver, “The Puff”

Honorable mention: Sherri R. Stone, “Pedestrian Walking”