Human connection was a major theme in this year’s batch of Peninsula Photo Contest winning entries.
Best in Show shot “Compassion” captures a romantic moment between a young couple on a Southern California pier. Portraits winner “Embrace” shows a daughter’s arm looped around her father’s head, her dad resting his chin in her hand. And in “A Mother’s Love,” which won honorable mention in the moments category, we see a mother in Oaxaca about to take her young son’s hand.
We live vicariously through the colorful photos capturing scenes from far-flung destinations: a market alleyway in Morocco, a chameleon in Madagascar, a Carnaval celebration in Mexico. And we find moments for introspection in local black-and-white scenes, from the view of a woman’s Palo Alto hospital bed to the shot of a young protester with an American flag painted on his chest.
Some images are a study of contrasts. Landscapes winner “The Space Between” captures tall electrical towers set against the low-lying Baylands, showing “how human-made structures reshape the natural environment we’re meant to preserve and protect,” according to photographer Claire Rao. “Flowerbath” combines photography with paint and a chemical treatment to bring violet flowers to a somber portrait, “adding a delicate but striking contrast to the scene,” judge Donna J. Wan wrote.
These are among the the 12 winning shots and 12 honorable mentions from photographers who live, work or attend school in the 650 area code. All the winning entries are on exhibit Oct. 23-Dec. 13 at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road.
Adults
“I drove to Santa Monica for a luncheon at the Los Angeles Center for Photography (LACP) honoring Sam Abell, a master photographer and fabulous teacher. It is only fitting that this photo was made using a technique he taught me that he calls ‘compose and wait.’ I had composed my photo at the end of the pier and was waiting around hoping something interesting might happen. This couple walked right into my photograph without even noticing me.”
— Teri Vershel, photographer
“This photo checks so many boxes of what it takes to be a truly excellent example of photographic art. The point of focus is enhanced by the contrast of colors, the selective focus on the subjects, the light illuminating the subject, and the strong leading lines provided by the railings. All of this leads our eyes to the “moment” and the emotion of it. The time: late afternoon. The sense of place: the ocean and the pier. The mood and ambiance: light and sky. The activity: In this image, the fisherman in contrast with the quiet, romantic gestures of the subjects, it all adds up to ‘Best in Show.'”
— Neal Menschel, judge
“Taken during one of the Carnaval celebrations in Oaxaca City this past February, a group of boys take a break from the parade while their monos de calenda above them have a life of their own.”
— Chris Stevens-Yu, photographer
“The contrast between the local trappings of Carnaval and the children’s mundane expressions makes this my favorite travel photo. Every detail within the frame adds to the story.”
— Seeger Gray, judge
“Taken from my hospital room during one of many recent stays, ‘The Shape of Waiting’ reflects my longing to trade the hospital bed for the mountains beyond the window. The folds of the bedding began to resemble a landscape of their own, blurring the distance between where I was and where I wanted to be.”
— Gloria Lee, photographer
“This photo presents an atypical landscape where the mounds and folds of the bedspread echo the shapes of the mountain range beyond the window. The creative perspective of looking outward from an interior space creates an interesting connection between the domestic and natural landscapes. The beautiful lighting enhances this relationship, giving the image a soft, dreamlike and contemplative quality.”
— Donna J. Wan, judge
“A person in a large hat is leaving the festival after the town’s Carnaval festivities. Using a slow shutter speed resulted in the appearance of a blanket of light wrapping around the figure.”
— Chris Stevens-Yu, photographer
“Color, movement, composition and mystery all define this photograph. The person in the image is possibly part of a celebration or pageant, and the combination of colors and motion coalesce, eliciting a feeling of joy and cheerful emotion.”
— Neal Menschel, judge
“Madagascar is home to numerous species of exotic chameleons, but this one stole the show by shooting its incredibly long tongue at lightning speed to grab a grasshopper for lunch! The tip of the tongue has a fleshy, mucus-covered suction cup structure to hold the prey before the tongue retracts to eat.”
— Shubha Tuljapurkar, photographer
“Good light, excellent framing, rich colors: check, check, check! The patience and sense of timing to capture this possibly unpredictable moment is to be lauded! This moment of predator and prey sets it apart from all the images we see of sea otters floating on their backs, birds sitting on a limb, colorful butterflies on a leaf, and so on. Wildlife, dynamic and active in their natural settings, as this image does, sets the higher bar.”
— Neal Menschel, judge
“Children begin life placing their whole trust in their parents. With time, somehow, the roles quietly reverse: The parent learns to lean on the child. In this image, a father and his daughter share that beautiful circle of love and trust: arm embracing, head resting and a bond that needs no words. Image was created for a personal project.”
— Joanna Koziara, photographer
“We were drawn to this portrait because it’s unlike any of the other submissions. The simplicity of the background and lack of color leaves nothing to distract from the connection of the head and arm.”
— Seeger Gray, judge
Youth
“The photo was taken quickly and instinctively as students streamed out of their classrooms and onto El Camino Real. This was pretty much my first time photographing a protest and it was my favorite photo from the day because of its symbolism and emotion.”
— Dashel Chun, photographer
“The details make this photo, like the messy but recognizable flag and the bit of paint on the student’s fist. The background shows us just enough to set the scene of the protest without being distracting.”
— Seeger Gray, judge
“‘Self Reflection’ explores the differences between how we perceive ourselves and how others see us through reflections, disturbances and a ghostly out-of-body feeling. This image was taken as a 30-second exposure, using a flashlight behind the subject to add the wings.”
— Lev Bicer, photographer
“Light painting – thinking out of the box and experimentation is basic to creating original images. This image is a good example of both. Starting with the concept of doing a portrait of an individual with the combination of natural light, flash and then painting with a light source to create the bright patterns, drawing the observer’s eye to the subject.
The reflection in the pool is the ‘out of the box’ part. Painting with light in combination with the other lighting elements often involves a bit of trial and error. That is the experimental part. All combined, creating a terrific piece of original art.”
— Neal Menschel, judge
“I was interested in capturing how human-made structures reshape the natural environment we’re meant to preserve and protect. The rigidity and repetition of the structure emphasize the scale and reinforce the widespread impact of human encroachment.”
— Claire Rao, photographer
“This industrial landscape photo has a strong composition, with the electrical cables creating leading lines that draw the viewer’s eye from the pylons toward the airplane in the center. The lighting emphasizes the structures and adds depth to the scene. The repeating pylons create a sense of infinity, drawing the viewer into the landscape and creating a captivating relationship between the industrial structures and the open sky.”
— Donna J. Wan, judge
“California Mountain Kingsnake found in habitat in the coastal mountain range.”
— Tobias “Toby” Lobell, photographer
“Out of many beautiful wildlife photos, this one made the best use of the animal’s environment. The color of the snake pops out of the background and the light draws our attention without appearing too artificial.”
— Seeger Gray, judge
“This photo was a part of a larger portfolio focusing on the weight of being a teenage girl through themes like femininity, body image, self-perception and concealment. I took this photo in a bathtub and, once printed, used flower printing to represent inner balance and growth.”
— Archer Sherry, photographer
“This is an interesting, layered portrait that combines photography with paint and what appears to be a chemical treatment, creating a textured and altered surface. The girl appears contemplative, resting her head on her knees in a bathtub behind the curtain, giving the image a quiet, somber quality. This mood is unexpectedly interrupted by the painted violet flowers on the wall, adding a delicate but striking contrast to the scene.”
— Donna J. Wan, judge
“I captured this photo in the medina of Fez, where dyed wool is hung throughout the alleyways for customers to see. A worker carrying a bucket of dye through the market offers a glimpse into the daily life behind the colorful displays.”
— Sianna Walia, photographer
“This is an intriguing photograph that leaves the location uncertain while surrounding the viewer with vibrant colors, yarn and textiles. The man walking away from the viewer creates a sense of mystery, especially as we cannot see what he is carrying in the bucket. This ambiguity invites the viewer to imagine the story behind the scene and wonder about the place, the person and his destination.”
— Donna J. Wan, judge
Honorable mentions
See galleries of past winners here:
2025 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2024 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2023 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2022 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2021 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2020 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2019 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2018 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
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