Brandi Sauls is a busy woman. She's a sonographer who spends her days caring for patients and teaching at Darton College in Albany. But her heart is on the family farm in Randolph County in southwest Georgia, and that's where she snapped the Best Overall photo in the 2011 Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Photo Contest.

Sauls' photo, "Afternoon Pickin," depicts a cotton picker gently rolling through a cotton field – a field that almost looks like a snow-filled street.

Brandi Sauls' Best Overall Photo earned her $150

"When I got married, I fell in love with the farm," Sauls said. "I just love being out there. And I love to take pictures – in fact, they call me the paparazzi!"

Sauls says she's never submitted her photography for a contest before this one, though her husband and mother-in-law have urged her to. "I take a lot of pictures," Sauls said. "I take photos of family and friends and church and the farm. And I love to give them away. But this is the first time I've ever submitted a photo and I'm very excited."

Kellie Morris of Lee County took first place in the "At Home in the Country" category and in the "Rural Landscapes" category. Jo Smith of Decatur County earned first place in the category, "Kids and Nature," and Kathryn Trawick of Seminole County took first place in "Life on the Farm."

In its third year, the contest grew again this year with more than 100 entries.

"Our judges were overwhelmed by the quality and creativity of the photos we received," said Liz Nogowski, Director of Marketing at Southwest Georgia Farm Credit. "From beautiful landscapes to adorable children to the best Nature has to offer, the photos we received were remarkable!"

Click a winning photo below for a larger image.  Categories are
Rural Landscape
At Home in the Country
Life on the Farm
Kids & Nature