AND THE WINNER IS ...

And the Winner Is... GRAND PRIZE BEV PETTIT, SKULL VALLEY “BRONC PICK-UP”

A rainy day made for a muddy arena at the Cowpuncher's Reunion Rodeo in Williams, but that didn't stop Bev Pettit of Skull Valley, Arizona, from taking her camera gear out to capture this peak moment. Catching the pickup man's facial expression as he struggles to control the bucking bronco makes this shot a winner. Lighting and weather conditions added to the difficulty factor.

Okay. We'll skip the suspense. Look over there. On the other page. That's the one. Of the thousands and thousands of entries in our first-ever online photography contest, that photograph by Bev Pettit is the grandprize winner. Impressive, isn't it? That's what we thought. When we launched this contest in last year's “Photography Issue,” we had no idea what to expect. Frankly, we would have been thrilled with a handful of good shots. Instead, we were flooded with a boatload of great shots. What follows are the finalists.

HONORABLE MENTION | HENK RUITER, GLENDALE | "BUSY BEE"

Henk Ruiter's fascination with honeybees' essential place in the food chain led to this photo of pollination in action with a scientific air about it. Using a 100 mm macro lens and a monopod allowed the Glendale, Arizona, resident a view into the depths of the blossom without disturbing the bee's work. Due to extreme sharpness and high resolution, you can almost count the hairs on the bee's back.

SECOND PLACE BEV SARGENT, FOUNTAIN HILLS

"THE OPENING ACT"

Simplicity and soft, warm, directional light combine to make this image by Bev Sargent of Fountain Hills, Arizona, nothing short of elegant. The photographer made excellent choices when she selected her subject and also when she opted to use a wide lens opening, allowing the background to be thrown out of focus. This would make a beautiful framed print on any wall.

HONORABLE MENTION | JACK CHALLEM, TUCSON | "SERPENTINE AGAVE"

The sharp, organic form of this agave contrasts beautifully next to the brilliant colors of a painted adobe wall in Tucson's barrio district. We like the photographer's use of 3's: three colors, three agave leaves and even the triangular shape of the leaves themselves. The graphic quality of the photo is enhanced by the photographer's choice to work in open shade, minimizing additional shadows.

In a perfect example of being in the right place at the right time, Jeannine Lavender had her eye to the viewfinder when the unexpected happened. Using her Nikon N70 camera, the resident of Mesa, Arizona, caught this desert bighorn ram midleap on the rocky cliffs surrounding Apache Lake.

3 THIRD PLACE LISA WILLIAMS, BISBEE

Most bird-watchers know how territorial hummingbirds can be, especially around a hummingbird feeder. Armed with her Canon 20D and 400 mm lens, Lisa Williams of Bisbee, Arizona, was poised to capture the ferocity of the airborne combatants. With shutter speed set at 1/2000 of a second, she followed the hummers through the viewfinder until this moment of confrontation occurred near a feeder in Patagonia, Arizona. If looks could kill!

HONORABLE MENTION DAN JACOB, SURPRISE

A long telephoto lens and a great deal of patience combined to make this a memorable photograph. In the world of wildlife photography, it pays to be vigilant and wait for magic moments to arise. With this image, the photographer placed the coyotes on the right side of the photo, allowing their shadows to become an important element, balancing the entire frame.

HONORABLE MENTION JOE BARTELS, PHOENIX

Travertine cascades and blue-green water of the Little Colorado River provided a compelling foreground for this landscape by Joe Bartels of Phoenix. Using a 16 mm lens and a slow shutter speed allowed him to accentuate the flowing water and incorporate the rugged canyon walls of Little Colorado River Gorge being kissed by the setting sun.

HONORABLE MENTION MARCO PENNACCHINI, TUCSON

Color, expression and framing add up to capture a joyous moment of a Mexican dance troop in Tucson. A fast shutter speed and a low camera angle allowed the photographer to frame the young man on the right, freezing the arching lace dress.

HONORABLE MENTION | RUDOLF VOLKMANN, FOUNTAIN HILLS | "SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS"

Light play between several layers of clouds surrounding the Superstition Mountains make this a spectacular sunrise photo. Often weather conditions play a critical role in the mood of landscape photography. No matter what your meteorologist says, if you're out shooting, be patient. The payoff will often surprise the most seasoned pros.

HONORABLE MENTION BRENDAN MOORE, TEMPE

This is a wonderful environmental portrait of a young bullrider. His wardrobe and body language give just enough information to tell his story, cocky and flamboyant. Although the cowboy is positioned in the exact center of the frame, the symmetry works. An off-camera flash was used as an additional light source to really make the subject stand out from the livestock trailer.

Powdery snow misting off the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on a blustery morning caught the eye of Dan Jacob. Backlighting the snow helped the Surprise, Arizona, resident to emphasize the graphic nature and repetition of the Canyon's descending ridgelines.