BEST PICTURE 2015

GRAND-PRIZE WINNER
Mountain Minions, by Peter Coskun
Sunrise illuminates teddy bear chollas and ocotillos in the rugged Kofa Mountains of Western Arizona. “This is one of the nicest photos I’ve seen from the Kofas,” says Photo Editor Jeff Kida. “There’s plenty of detail and texture in the foreground and background, and the dead ocotillo in the foreground forms a triangle that leads the viewer up into the payoff: the rising sun behind the mountain. It’s a well-framed and complete photograph that tells a story.”
Camera: Canon EOS 6D; Shutter: 1/15 sec; Aperture: f/16; ISO: 100; Focal Length: 19 mm

Second Place
Facing the New Day, by Chris Couture
A juvenile bald eagle watches the sun come up at Woods Canyon Lake on the Mogollon Rim. “This is a story about contrast and environment,” Kida says. “The colder blue and green hues of the lake and trees balance the warmer light in the foreground, while the harder texture of the rock contrasts with the soft mist rising from the lake. It’s a nice moment.”
Camera: Sony Alpha DSLR-A900; Shutter: 1/15 sec; Aperture: f/4.5; ISO: 200; Focal Length: 120 mm

Third Place
Black Aspen, by Gerry Groeber
Aspen leaves blanket the dark ground of Lockett Meadow northeast of Flagstaff. Kida notes that those leaves lead the viewer into the trunks of the aspens themselves: “The way the leaves have grouped together creates a path — a yellow-brick road — that contrasts with the dark hues around it. It’s a well-composed and well-thought-out shot that’s almost monochromatic — if you took this to black and white, it’d be every bit as powerful.”
Camera: Nikon D7100; Shutter: 1/60 sec; Aperture: f/10; ISO: 400; Focal Length: 15 mm

Honorable Mention
Rosa del Desierto, by Rich Helmer
Hedgehog-cactus blooms match the magenta of sunset in the San Tan Mountains southeast of Phoenix. “There’s a wonderful balance here,” Kida says. “Rich had the patience to shoot long after sunset, with a long exposure. That creates great soft tones, which is ideal for digital photography. I also like the way the detail on the cactus contrasts with the monolithic form in the background.”
Camera: Nikon D90; Shutter: 175 sec; Aperture: f/10; ISO: 200; Focal Length: 15 mm

Honorable Mention
Some Days, It’s About Hanging On, by Peggy Coleman
A jumping spider clings to a yucca leaf in Mesa. Kida says the yucca leaf creates a strong diagonal line, but the spider is clearly the focal point. “The spider’s brown tones are complemented by the brown at the tip of the leaf,” he says. “It’s more interesting than if it all were perfectly green. I like the light in the spider’s eyes, too — even though it’s a spider, we’re always drawn to eyes in nature.”
Camera: Nikon D800; Shutter: 1/250 sec; Aperture: f/16; ISO: 800; Focal Length: 105 mm

Honorable Mention
Working It, by Gary Smith
Honeybees search for nectar near a Southwestern pricklypoppy in Sierra Vista. “This is a great close-up that shows patience,” Kida says. “Rather than the bees sitting in the flower, they’re in flight, and it creates an interesting dynamic that we don’t normally see. It’s also strong compositionally: The flower’s petal is semicircular and draws the viewer’s eye back to the center of the flower.”
Camera: Nikon D600; Shutter: 1/2000 sec; Aperture: f/8; ISO: 400; Focal Length: 105 mm

Honorable Mention
Tatahatso Morning, by Mark Metternich
The Colorado River flows around a bend in Marble Canyon, as viewed from Tatahatso Point near Grand Canyon National Park’s eastern boundary. “The harsh, jagged and rugged forms in this photo are balanced by the soft, puffy clouds,” Kida says, “and even though it’s largely symmetrical, that composition really works — it cradles the bend in the river.”
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II; Shutter: 1/15 sec; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 100; Focal Length: 14 mm

Honorable Mention
Watson Snake, by Michael Wilson
A gartersnake enjoys the cool water of Watson Lake near Prescott. Kida points to the diagonal line formed by the snake’s body and the framing of the photo as strong compositional elements. “I also like the photographer’s patience in waiting for the snake to flick its tongue,” he adds.
Camera: Nikon D7000; Shutter: 1/60 sec; Aperture: f/2.8; ISO: 400; Focal Length: 105 mm

Honorable Mention
The Waiting Game, by Robert Jensen
A green lynx spider perches on a datura blossom at the base of Madera Canyon in Southern Arizona. “This photo is beautiful in its simplicity,” Kida says. “The spider’s legs catch your eye and draw you in — they’re so articulate, you can’t help but look. And the white flower creates a strong diagonal that contrasts with the green of the spider and the background.”
Camera: Nikon F4S; Film: Fujichrome Sensia II; Shutter: 1/250 sec; Aperture: f/22; ISO: 100; Focal Length: 200 mm

Honorable Mention
Curious Baby Owls, by Alyson Brendecke

Baby owls peek out of a hollow elm tree in Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood. “This is a sweet family portrait,” Kida says. “Alyson used a long lens to stand back and allow the owls their safety and privacy. The tree frames the owls, and there’s contrast between the soft birds and the gnarly textures of the tree. The soft light is nice, too. It all works together.”
Camera: Pentax K-x; Shutter: 1/160 sec; Aperture: f/5.6; ISO: 400; Focal Length: 450 mm

Honorable Mention
Day’s End, by Peter Coskun
The calm water of Watson Lake reflects the surrounding Granite Dells at sunset. “Peter has very adeptly kept a little separation between the bush at the end of the rock in the foreground and the shoreline in the background,” Kida says. “They’re part of each other, but there’s not an intersection, so it makes a clean composition. And he shot during the ‘magic light,’ so the colors all come together and the reflections are illuminated beautifully.”
Camera: Canon EOS 6D; Shutter: 0.4 sec; Aperture: f/14; ISO: 100; Focal Length: 16 mm