WINNERS

WINNERS EDITED BY JEFF KIDA

Landscapes, portraits, nature shots ... we spend a lot of time looking at photographs, and we're fortunate to have access to some of the best in the world. In September, we're exposed to even more during the annual Arizona Highways Online Photography Contest. Like every other year, we were inspired by this year's entries. What follows are the finalists, and first up is the big winner.

GRAND PRIZE | LANDSCAPE

Beverly Copen, Sedona, Arizona Sunset of the Century "This image is a study in light and form. It's a beautifully simple photograph, and what stands out is the juxtaposition of colors and shapes," says Photo Editor Jeff Kida. "You have these wonderful soft clouds and this vertical, very architectural century plant. Beverly had the presence of mind to use fill flash to open up the greens in the plant. There's a yin and yang, a warm and cool going on here. What's more, she waited for this hummingbird to come into the frame. It's a little accent mark, something extra and unexpected."

SECOND PLACE | WILDLIFE

Alan Lucio, Snowflake, Arizona The Journey "The first time I saw this image, I was blown away by the number of elk; I had no idea we had elk herds that large in Arizona," Kida says. "Alan had the determination to go out and endure the elements, and the outcome is this really nice photo. The space around the photograph gives you a sense of the enormity of the area and how harsh these conditions must have been."

THIRD PLACE | MACRO

Cathy Bruegger, Phoenix, Arizona New Growth "What I really like about this image is the delicacy and the light," Kida says. "The image is backlit, which is why it glows. Cathy took advantage of the backlight and used a shallow depth of field to further separate the fern from the background."

HONORABLE MENTION | MACRO

Kristen Wood, Flagstaff, Arizona Expand "This is really a study of shapes, textures and patterns," Kida says. "The photographer chose to utilize great depth of field by using a small lens opening, thereby creating interest throughout the image. It's almost monochromatic, which makes it very simple, and simple is a good thing photographically."

HONORABLE MENTION | WILDLIFE

Aaron Kader, Tempe, Arizona Food Fight "This image is all about timing, patience and anticipation. You have to prepare yourself for something like this," Kida says. "Maybe you saw this once, so you have to put yourself in a place where you could capture the image and make the photograph work. The French photojournalist Henri CartierBresson would have called this 'the decisive moment.'"

HONORABLE MENTION | PEOPLE

James Schrimpf, Nogales, Arizona Mission Girl "She has this wonderful little blue dress on, and I just love the diagonal line created by the rays of sunlight," Kida says. "Her little left foot is raised off the ground, so it's not a static photograph, and it creates this anticipation or spontaneity. This photograph asks the questions, 'What's going on? Is something going to happen?'"

HONORABLE MENTION | PEOPLE

Diane Oeste, Scottsdale, Arizona Spirit Pow Wow "This image shows movement in still photography," Kida says. "We're so often taught the image has to be frozen, but I don't think that's the case. Not everything we do in this world is frozen. There's a real beauty to this photograph. It speaks to movement and transience. I also love the color - the color and the movement seem celebratory."

HONORABLE MENTION | LANDSCAPE

Joe Bridwell, Albuquerque, New Mexico Storm Gods "This is a great lesson in landscapes, specifically in shooting during weather conditions, or rather interesting or impending weather conditions," Kida says. "The effects of light are so magnificent, and when you photograph a place that doesn't change, like Monument Valley, it's important to consider what does change - and what does change, often, are weather conditions."