Congratulations to this year’s Photography Contest winners! Here are the first place winners. Thank you to this year’s judges Susan McClellen, Larry Mendenhall, and Tim Schoon, and to the contest coordinator, UIRA Board member Diana Lundell. Many thanks to Hills Bank & Trust for once again sponsoring the contest.

University of Iowa

First Place: Todd Stewart, Chit Chat Wright hits a 3
Judges’ Comments: Sports photographers often focus too tightly on the peak action of a game. What stands out about this photo is that it features both the right moment with the ball going through the net, but also the reaction that goes with it. Reaction photos are often so much more storytelling about a game than action photos, and this one does it well.

Iowa

First Place: Mark Reagan, Bald Eagle catching breakfast on the Iowa River
Judges’ Comments: Great catch! For both the photographer and the eagle. This is peak action captured at the exact right moment. The bird is tack sharp, and the shutter speed is perfect for catching the action. Getting low to the ground, so you were shooting at the level of the bird really helps this photo to shine.

USA

First Place: Vicki Siefers, Smoky Mountains near Bryson City, North Carolina
Judges' comments: We loved the beautiful hazy light in this photo that really accentuated the layers of mountains receding into the distance. Using the foreground tree for framing and adding a sense of depth worked well here.

International

First Place:  John Donelson, Sunrise in Cappadocia, Turkey
Judges’ comments: This is our favorite photo of the entire contest. It’s a lovely scene with beautiful light. When you throw in the extra element of interest with the balloons, it takes it to a whole other level. Capturing this scene with a panoramic format only accentuates all the good things in the scene.