Eighth Annual Focus on Nevada Photo Contest

Desert Companion

May 01, 2020

Have we reached the new normal yet? Or is this just the newest new normal, with others to follow? Or, what if — oh, never mind. As Las Vegans, we know change is constant and unpredictable. So, instead, let’s dwell on these images, winners of our 2020 Focus on Nevada photo contest, and what they remind us of, which is that “normal” fluctuates, but many things endure. Beauty. The power of nature. The energy of cities. The mysteries of human nature. The magical interplay of light, subject, and a photographer’s inspired eye. Congratulations to these winners for providing bright visions in an uncertain time.

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ARTISTIC & ABSTRACT

1st Place

Timothy Salaz

Professional

“Dancer Amanda Powell at the dry lake beds in Boulder City. I wanted to capture dance, but tell a story in the process.”

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ARTISTIC & ABSTRACT

2nd Place

Bryne Hobbs

Professional

“In this composite photo, the view of the Strip is actually from the 65th floor of the Cosmopolitan. My wife got us a room with a balcony for our anniversary staycation specifically so I could take some photos.”

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ARTISTIC & ABSTRACT

Honorable Mention

Douglas Hughes

Amateur/student

“Lights and action from the Pinball Hall of Fame.”

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ARTISTIC & ABSTRACT

Honorable Mention

Jonathan Hamlet

Professional

“This is the ‘Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign shot in macro with extension tubes and water droplets on a plate of glass.”

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ARTISTIC & ABSTRACT

Honorable Mention

Norm Craft

Amateur/student

“This is all that’s left of the back stairs at the old school in Rhyolite.”

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ARTISTIC & ABSTRACT

Honorable Mention

Conrad Basilio

Semiprofessional

“Taken from the ongoing construction of the Las Vegas Convention Center addition. The scaffoldings were truly everywhere. It’s like a maze.”

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ARTISTIC & ABSTRACT

Honorable Mentions

Courtney Knaup

Amateur/student

“After a winter rain at Red Rock, water pooled around these rocks. Overnight, the surface froze and the pool drained, leaving these rocks entombed in a hanging sheet of ice.”

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ARTISTIC & ABSTRACT

Honorable Mention

Tayler Altman

Semiprofessional

“A drape and LED screen in the Sahara Las Vegas hotel-
casino. Very much
different than you would think.”

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CITY SCENES

1st Place

Antonio Lopez

Amateur/student

“The bright lights of Fremont. Bright even through dark times.”

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CITY SCENES

2nd Place

Marci Christie

Semiprofessional

“The Las Vegas Strip taken from an airplane window flying back to my new home of South Lake Tahoe. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, so I visit my family often since moving away.”

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CITY SCENES

Honorable Mention

Natalie Burt

Amateur/student

“Suite views from Vdara looking down at CityCenter on a Sunday morning.”

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CITY SCENES

Honorable Mention

Derrick Adabashi

Professional

“A buddy and I just decided on a whim to go shoot Downtown a few years back. I feel you get some of your best shots when you don’t plan them.”

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CITY SCENES

Honorable Mention

Samuel Marshall

Amateur/student

“Saw this opportunity to head down to the Strip when it officially closed it doors due to coronavirus. Had to capture this lonely guy outside on the sidewalk, just a perfect moment that captures how empty the
sidewalks are now.”

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CITY SCENES

Honorable Mentions

Paul Reynolds

Amateur/student

A man walks by a colorful mural Downtown.

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CITY SCENES

Honorable Mention

Mike Cowan

Semiprofessional

“The supermoon photo-bombs the Stratosphere as it prepares to set over Las Vegas.”

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STORYTELLER

1st Place

Homer Liwag

Semiprofessional

“My parents antique shopping while attending the annual Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City.”

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STORYTELLER

2nd Place

Rocky Montez-Carr

Professional

“We were out in the Eldorado Dry Lake Beds shooting Gladius the Show and its horses. I had my drone up in the air when the sun was low in the sky and I saw this shot. I loved how long the shadow was.”

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STORYTELLER

Honorable Mentions

Timothy Salaz

Professional

Native American dancers Jocy and Trae Little Sky.

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STORYTELLER

Honorable Mentions

Justine Burton

Amateur/student

“Is it ice? Is it snow? Is it salt? A young boy jumps with joy in the otherworldly playground of Death Valley.”

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STORYTELLER

Honorable Mentions

Juan Cardenas

Professional

“Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell watches Conor McGregor weigh in ahead of his fight at UFC 246.”

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STORYTELLER

Honorable Mention

Carlos Manzo

Semiprofessional

Spider-Man looks on as another street entertainer performs a card trick at the Fremont Street Experience.

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THE RURALS

1st Place

Cassia Lopez

Professional

A girl plays in a puddle after a desert rain in Logandale.

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THE RURALS

2nd Place

Marci Christie

Semiprofessional

“This was taken in Tonopah after having no choice but to pull over from a very foggy night driving through Nevada. We stayed at the Mizpah Hotel, and this was our view from the window.”

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THE RURALS

Honorable Mentions

Paul Reynolds

Amateur/student

“Seven-year-old Maylee competes in her first Mutton-Bustin’ event at the Clark County Fair and Rodeo in Logandale.”

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THE RURALS

Honorable Mention

Norm Craft

Amateur/student

A ghost gas station in Rachel.

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THE RURALS

Honorable Mention

Daria Osipova

Semiprofessional

An RV in rural Nevada as storm clouds gather on the horizon.

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THE RURALS

Honorable Mention

Carlos Manzo

Semiprofessional

“Driving through Beatty after camping in Death Valley on Thanksgiving
weekend, we came across this group of burros stopping for a bite at the local diner.”

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WILD NEVADA

1st Place

Warren Lee

Semiprofessional

“Costas and Annas hummingbirds are year-round residents of the valley. This female is enjoying a solar fountain in our backyard. Our bright desert light enables a fast shutter, which suspended droplets in mid-air and ‘caught’ the wide open beak of this female.”

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WILD NEVADA

2nd Place

Helen Montez-Carr

Amateur/student

“We found this tiny fence lizard inside our window. Before we moved him to safety, he was kind enough to let me take a few photos. He was perfectly calm and only cared that he was able to bask in the sun.”

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WILD NEVADA

Honorable Mentions

Warren Lee

Semiprofessional

“Take a gander at that handsome dude. The old Henderson quarry, now Cornerstone Park, is a rich area for sunlight, wildlife, and exercise with social distancing. Early morning provides interesting opportunities.”

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WILD NEVADA

Honorable Mention

Alex Isom

Semiprofessional

“Taken during the Blood Moon of early 2018 at Red Rock. I scouted out the location the day prior and prayed for good visibility. As the moon lowered behind Mount Wilson, I thought it was over. I walked north about 50 yards and saw that the moon was sliding down the side of Mount Wilson. The clouds were thin and low. I shot as best as I could and got the tree as a bonus. It was an incredible experience."

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WILD NEVADA

Honorable Mention

Jarrod Ames

Professional

“This is the Big Dune at Amargosa, two hours north of Las Vegas. Through the freezing temperature and the windchill, I was able to line up this photograph of the Big Dune with the moon behind it.”

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WILD NEVADA

Honorable Mention

Homer Liwag

Semiprofessional

“The layers of Red Rock Canyon revealed by storm clouds on an unpredictable but beautiful sunset.”

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WILD NEVADA

Honorable Mention

Therese Doney

Amateur/student

A bird relaxes at Sunset Park pond.

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WILD NEVADA

Honorable Mention

Daniel Shumny

Semiprofessional

A vibrant Valley of Fire

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LIGHT & SHADOW

1st Place

Jim Wiltse

Semiprofessional

“On my granddaughter’s birthday, she was a little sad when it was over, laying in the grass in my backyard with a balloon as I was trying to take her picture.”

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LIGHT & SHADOW

2nd Place

Jonathan Boarini

Amateur/student

“The harsh light of the afternoon creates mysterious silhouettes among the figures in the Las Vegas Strip.”

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LIGHT & SHADOW

Honorable Mentions

Brendan Stave

Semiprofessional

“This was taken in The Shops at Crystals. I was impressed by the geometric designs that encompassed the insides, as well as the dramatic light that was hitting this certain section of geometry."