11th Annual Focus on Nevada Photo Contest

We ask a lot of a photo. That it be beautiful, surprising, technically refined, well-framed and -lit. That it delight, provoke thought, tell a story. Be artistic, be editorial, be neither of those, or both those, and more. That it represent the value of 1,000 words, as if that were possibly enough. By extension, we ask all this of

photographers. Be patient, have the right lens, the right lighting, the right angle. Get rid of the rough edges, the extraneous elements, make it perfect, but for god’s sake, don’t touch it too much! All this to say, photography is hard work. The most basic aim of this contest is to recognize — and in our small way — reward that. The photographers featured on this page worked their asses off, and it shows. The judges saw it, and now you, reader, get to, too. Thank you to all who contributed. We asked a lot, and here’s how you answered.