Congratulations to this year’s Photography Contest winners! Here are the first-, second-, and third-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, Fireworks over Old Cap
Judges’ comments: Beautiful fireworks photo. Fireworks can be tricky, but this is well done. The sky is full of color and the dome adds an element that is often missing from fireworks photos. Good job.
2nd place: Doug Brenner, Spirit Dance (2023) by Nnenna Okore, as seen from above.
Judges' comments: Lovely composition with nice symmetry and color. Including all four walls as framing for the sculpture really directs your eye to the artwork.
Third place: There was no third place winner.
Iowa
First Place: Mark Reagan, Bald Eagle Rocket
Judges’ comments: Beautiful photo of an eagle in flight with the nest building materials in the talons as an added bonus. This is really nice.
Second Place: Roseanne Meyer, Wilson Orchard flower and bee.
Judges’ comments: Nice bold composition with nice bold colors. The little bee on the flower is a bonus.
Third Place: Mary Palmberg, State Fair horse
Judges’ comments: Fun picture of a large horse. We were wondering if the human leg that disguises itself almost perfectly as the horse’s leg was intentional. Whether it was or not, we loved that aspect of this photo. We got a good chuckle out of it.
USA
First Place: John Moyers, Roseate Spoonbills on Sanibel Island, Florida
Judges' comments: Nice photo with birds playing.fighting, and lovely color.
Second Place: Kevin Heckman, Eunice Lake, Washington.
Judges’ comments: Beautiful color. Beautiful reflection. The clarity and crispness one gets at a high mountain lake really comes through in this photo.
Third Place: Jan Lawler, Sunset from Chilkoot Inlet, Haines, Alaska.
Judges’ comments: Nice sunset color, beautifully captured.
International
First Place: John Donelson, Stokksnes Peninsula, Iceland
Judges’ comments: Beautiful color and details and nice symmetric composition.
Second Place: Lee Alward, Sunset from an Antarctic expedition cruise ship.
Judges’ comments: Beautiful color and the small boat in the lower right helps to show the scale of the landscape.
Third Place: Linda Jones, Africa—Sunrise in Kruger National Park.
Judges’ comment: Beautiful dusty light on a pair of giraffes. The color palette is just lovely.
