Sometimes you get lucky, and that winning photo practically takes itself. Other times you have to work for it, angling for the best composition or waiting for perfect lighting. Either way, photographers create art that captures the viewer’s eye—and sometimes their heart, as is the case
with our grand prize winner.
What we always look for when selecting finalists and then winning images from this contest is, first and foremost, an emotional reaction: Does the picture make us think Wow!? If so, then we look at technical merit such as whether the image is in focus, has a pleasing or surprising composition, or is overprocessed. Blurry, ho-hum, or fake coloring all get an automatic pass. While we appreciate those rare times when every aspect of a scene synchronizes and the photographer is paying attention enough to capture it on the fly, we know the thoughtfulness, time, and attention to detail
it requires more often than not to actualize a superior shot.
For this year’s selection of winning images, Alaska magazine editors Susan Sommer (action and scenic categories) and Michelle Theall (Alaskan life and wildlife categories) reveal what drew them to each photo.
CATEGORIES
ALASKAN LIFE
Alaskans and/or their way of life, traditions, culture, or authentic “only in Alaska” moments.
ACTION
Anything in motion—people, animals, sports, nature, or anything else that shows movement.
SCENIC
Photos emphasizing the landscape and scenery of Alaska with or without the human element.
WILDLIFE
Photos of animals native to Alaska (not including images of animals in captivity).
GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Colleen Kilbane
How often do you get to see a baby walrus? Pretty much never—in a contest or on a calendar or anywhere…and it’s technically well done too. Sharp. Good resolution.
ALASKAN LIFE
1st Place
Amy Johnson
This image perfectly captured the harsh beauty of making a living in the isolated and remote parts of Alaska. The twilight, the heavy snow, the starburst of headlights contributed to the technical execution.
2nd Place
Fiona Wappett
Nothing says Alaskan life quite like mushing in extreme temps with dogs who can’t wait to go. The eyes of the dog tell the story, arresting the viewer with their bright enthusiasm.
3rd Place
Todd Graven
The colors, aerial view, symmetry, and clear background made this image stand out and added to the feelings of preparation and waiting for a day on the water fishing.
HONORABLE MENTION
Jacqueline Bock
I loved the “when you least expect it” surprise of a wolf strolling by camp. Very Alaskan.
ACTION
1st place
Utkan Kocaturk
At first glance, I thought this was a detail of bubbles in ice, but upon closer inspection, it dawned on me that it’s a drone shot of ATVs racing on frozen Wasilla Lake. The temporary pattern they made on a natural feature is surprising and beautiful.
2nd place
Lance Bassett
This stood out among numerous bear images for its immediacy of motion and that salmon leaping out of the dangerous reach of an intense Katmai brownie.
3rd place
Mary Weiland
I laughed out loud at the “Alaskanness”—and absurdity—of the driverless car adorned with moose antlers launching airborne at an annual Fourth of July event in Glacier View. Old clunkers sans any fluids that might taint the environment (this one was dubbed Jurassic Park) find their forever homes at the bottom of a cliff beside the Matanuska River to the cheers of hundreds of attendees.
HONORABLE MENTION
James Gordon Patterson
I feel like I’ve got a front-row seat to this historic dockside lumberjacks’ battle along Ketchikan’s waterfront.
SCENIC
1st place
Todd Frame
I want to be that person, lucky enough to be in such a stunning landscape (Castner Glacier). And the tangible aspects of this photo attract me: I want to touch the smooth ice, breathe in the chill air, hear the silence.
2nd place
Kourtney Gundersen
The aurora borealis doesn’t get much better than this. I love the layers, from the stars so far away to the lights in the middle ground to the trees that anchor the image.
3rd place
Jith Lau
Lushness everywhere—in the water’s flow, the deep greens, even the lumpy rocks of Virgin Creek near Girdwood. I feel enveloped by the scene.
HONORABLE MENTION
Lauren Kathryn Photography
This photo speaks to how we sometimes get to those places in Alaska where amazing things like northern lights and Denali appear before us. It says something more complex than simply “Here’s a beautiful scene.”
WILDLIFE
1st place
Jennifer Smith
The eye contact and symmetry stopped me in my tracks. The photographer captured an intimate moment with a technically perfect image, where the fur stands out in exceptional detail. When half the images we receive are bears, we’re always looking for technical excellence combined with a unique perspective.
2nd place
Dana Foley
Stunning and beautiful capture of a loon on the water with a buttery smooth bokeh, reflection, and rich detail in the feathers. Bird photography at its best.
3rd place
Andrea Shaw
A hard-to-capture moment of eye contact with a young arctic fox was selected because of the feelings evoked by the change of seasons, including the morphing of the animal’s fur, as well as the moody background.
HONORABLE MENTION
Qutan Lambert
I loved the moment captured here: the surprise visitor—a bearded seal—to the ice-fishing hole. This is an image we haven’t seen before!
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