Photo contest winners
Your shutter finger must be exhausted. We asked you to capture the spirit of Nevada — and did you ever. From gorgeous landscapes to candid portraits of city life, we received more than 1,500 entries in our inaugural “Focus on Nevada” photo contest. Congratulations to the winners and finalists, whose work we showcase on the following pages. (And ... cast a “reader’s choice” vote for your favorite photo right from your smartphone.)
Of course, these are more than just amazing photos of Nevada. Better yet, they offer fresh and startling perspectives on our home that are eye-opening in the truest sense.
AMATEUR/STUDENT
Honorable mention, Amateur/Student
Patrick Reilly
Union Pacific rail car in Rhyolite
CAMERA: Canon 5D Mark II
LENS: Canon 24-70 mm
ISO: 640
shutter speed: 1/50
f-stop: 11
Honorable mention, Amateur/Student
Nick Portz
"Little Boxes"
CAMERA: Nikon D7000
LENS: AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm
ISO: 100
shutter speed: 1/100
f-stop: 13
Honorable mention, Amateur/Student
Mauricio Reyes
CityCenter
CAMERA: Sony NEX-5N
LENS: Sony E 18-55 mm
ISO: 100
shutter speed: 1/60
f-stop: 13
Honorable mention, Amateur/Student
chuck jones
Cleveland Clinic's Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
CAMERA: Pentax 67
LENS: 35 mm fisheye
ISO: 100
shutter speed: 1/60
f-stop: 11
Honorable mention, Amateur/Student
anthony vega
“I took this photo at the Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. From what I was told, the mind is at ease when hallways, windows and chairs are at an angle or have an arc. I stared at this chair for a long time, but never actually sat in it.”
CAMERA: Canon T4i
Second Place, Amateur/Student
Allen Albano
"Excuse Me"
CAMERA: Olympus OM-D EM-5
First Place, Amateur/Student
Chris Pflum
"I took this photo not far from the so-called 'loneliest road in the world' (US 50), which runs between Ely and Reno. It had just stopped raining, and I wanted to photograph the dramatic sky. When I saw this abandoned ranch house, I noticed that the sky and the house converged to the same vanishing point."
CAMERA: Nikon D2X
LENS: Nikon DX, 17-55 mm
ISO: 100
shutter speed: 1/90
f-stop: 13
SEMI-PROFESSIONAL
Honorable Mention, Semi-Professional
Dave Harrison
"Echo Canyon is a bit north of Rachel, Nevada. When water collects and freezes, it presents a surprise in the otherwise dry landscape. This image was taken on a lonely and stormy morning."
CAMERA: Nikon D200
LENS: Nikon 18-200 mm
ISO: 200
shutter speed: 1/5
f-stop: 22
Honorable Mention, Semi-Professional
Mark Andrews
"Gently lit by a pocket-size light, this sandstone shaft in Gold Butte provides a frame for countless astral points of light. With a weather front sliding across the sky from the northwest, Orion's Belt and the planet Venus make brilliant focal points in the southern sky."
CAMERA: Canon 5D Mark II
LENS: Canon 14mm
ISO: 1250
shutter speed: 30 seconds
f-stop: 2.8
Honorable Mention, Semi-Professional
Jeremy Helal
"Late one afternoon, I was taking a hike near one of the many lesser-known paths near Red Rock. The sun started setting behind the mountains and illuminated the clouds into this beautiful color."
CAMERA: Canon 7D
LENS: Sigma 24 mm
ISO: 100
shutter speed: 1/500
f-stop: 2.8
Honorable Mention, Semi-Professional
Wesley VanDinter
Planes landing at McCarran International Airport
CAMERA: Sony A57
LENS: Sigma 10-20mm
ISO: 200
shutter speed: 8 seconds
f-stop: 6.3
Honorable Mention, Semi-Professional
James Tanksley
A snowy day at Red Rock
CAMERA: Canon 40D
LENS: Canon 24-105mm
ISO: 1000
shutter speed: 1/30
f-stop: 4.5
Second Place, Semi-Professional
Susan Link
"I took this photograph of CityCenter just after sunset from Panorama Towers. I love the coloring the reflection of the Rio Hotel adds to this image."
CAMERA: Canon 5D
LENS: Canon EF 28-135mm
ISO: 100
shutter speed: 5 seconds
f-stop: 8
First Place, Semi-Professional
Scott Warner
"This picture depicts inside the arch on the shoulder of Bridge Mountain in Red Rock Canyon near sunset."
CAMERA: Nikon D800
LENS: Nikkor wide angle 16-35 mm
ISO: 100
shutter speed: 1/50
f-stop: 11
SMARTPHONE/APP
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Miguel Villegas
Bellagio Fountains
(Nikon D90, Instagram)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Miguel Villegas
“I took this picture of the Henry Moore sculpture in the Aria courtyard from the Crystals tram station.”
(Nikon D90, Instagram)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Miguel Villegas
“Taken at Death Valley National Park. I saw this young boy exploring out in the distance and centered him in my frame and took a picture.”
(Nikon D90, Instagram)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Ginger Bruner
“I have a long-standing series featuring a friend's backyard pool shot in different light at different times of year, a la Monet.” (iPhone 4)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Kim Shah
“Shortly after moving to the Las Vegas area, we took a drive to Mount Charleston, and were completely taken aback by its beauty."
(iPhone 4)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Sarah Vernetti
“I can't leave Springs Preserve without taking a few photos of this unique sculpture outside the Origen Museum.” (iPhone 4, Instagram)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Tara Romasanta
“When the Sky Falls” (iPhone 4, Camera+)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Carey Christensen
The Killers perform in November 2012 at a concert in Provo, Utah (iPhone 4S)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Mark Gardberg
“My 6-year-old daughter Zoey saw this ride at a Halloween pumpkin patch in a Vegas suburb. I thought she’d be scared, but she was all smiles as she soared like Icarus!” (iPhone 5)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Carlos Montoya
“Backyard at dawn. This is a great way to wake up and have your coffee. What a view.” (iPhone)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Sarah Vernetti
“This beautiful purple flower bloomed in my own backyard.” (iPhone 4, Instagram)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Norah Strebel
Sculpture at the Red Rock National Conservation Area Visitors Center (iPhone 3, Instagram)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Aki Ishihara
Inside Hoover Dam (iPhone 5, Snapseed)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Julianne Griswold
“While visiting my best friend in Las Vegas, we completed the Gold Strike Hot Springs trail located a few miles out of the city. This photo depicts the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge as it traverses the Hoover Dam. (Also depicted is a pair of Mallard ducks who ended up swimming near my feet, hoping I would treat them to some of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich.)” (iPhone 4, Instagram)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Mark Gardberg
“My 6-year-old daughter Zoey saw this ride at a Halloween pumpkin patch in a Vegas suburb. I thought she’d be scared, but she was all smiles as she soared like Icarus!” (iPhone 5)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Carlos Montoya
“Backyard at dawn. This is a great way to wake up and have your coffee. What a view.” (iPhone)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Sarah Vernetti
“This beautiful purple flower bloomed in my own backyard.” (iPhone 4, Instagram)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Norah Strebel
Sculpture at the Red Rock National Conservation Area Visitors Center (iPhone 3, Instagram)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Aki Ishihara
Inside Hoover Dam (iPhone 5, Snapseed)
Honorable Mention, Smartphone/App
Julianne Griswold
“While visiting my best friend in Las Vegas, we completed the Gold Strike Hot Springs trail located a few miles out of the city. This photo depicts the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge as it traverses the Hoover Dam. (Also depicted is a pair of Mallard ducks who ended up swimming near my feet, hoping I would treat them to some of my peanut butter and jelly sandwich.)” (iPhone 4, Instagram)
First Place, Smartphone/App
Bryan O'Keefe 15
"I captured this on a nice mid-winter hike to the Hidden Forest cabin in the Sheep Mountains just north of Las Vegas."
PROFESSIONAL
Honorable Mention, Professional
David Kondo
A reflective moment
CAMERA: Nikon Coolpix S80
Settings: Auto
Honorable Mention, Professional
Antonio Gomez
Cowboys at a charreada (Mexican rodeo) in Las Vegas.
CAMERA: Canon 1D Mark III
LENS: 16-35 mm
ISO: 100
shutter speed: 1/125
f-stop: 6.7
Honorable Mention, Professional
Fernando Coyote
The Thunderbirds at Nellis Air Force Base
CAMERA: Sony A55
LENS: Sony 18-55mm
ISO: 100
shutter speed: 1/1600
f-stop: 4.5
Honorable Mention, Professional
Alan Goya
Canyoneering in Keyhole Canyon in the El Dorado Mountains
CAMERA: Nikon D300
LENS: AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5 mm
ISO: 200
shutter speed: 1/400
f-stop: 10
Second Place, Professional
Lucky Wenzel
City Hall at night
CAMERA: Canon 5D
LENS: 50mm
ISO: 3200
shutter speed: 1/100
f-stop: 1.8
First Place, Professional
Greg Anderson
The "watering hole" in Ely
CAMERA: Canon 1DS Mark III
LENS: Canon 24-70 mm
ISO: 320
shutter speed: 1/60
f-stop: 7.1
PUBLISHER'S CHOICE
David Reisman
"This long exposure of McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip was taken from the top level of the parking structure at the airport. The long traffic light trails have been transformed into beautiful ribbons of color by applying what is called the 'tri-color' effect in Photoshop. Before the days of digital editing, the same effect would be done by using red, blue and green filters while shooting."
CAMERA: Canon 7D
LENS: Canon 15 mm fisheye
ISO: 100
shutter speed: 30 seconds
f-stop: 16