Thank you to our sponsors of the 24th Annual Photo Awards: Muench Workshops, New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, New Mexico Department of Transportation, the Hatch Chile Store, World Balloon, the Camera Shop of Santa Fe, Bosque Brewing Co., Restoration Pizza, and Heritage Hotels and Resorts. Your support makes this contest possible.
1ST PLACE
A Soul on the Move, Chanel Flores
"This image features my daughter, Lanelle, whose passion for trains is inspired by her father, a BNSF Railway conductor. While scouting locations for a client, I stumbled upon this vintage boxcar on my uncle's land, where it has sat since my childhood. I submitted this photo because it evokes feelings of joy, nostalgia, and innocence. Capturing Lanelle's carefree nature transported me back to my childhood memories." —Chanel Flores
2ND PLACE
Socorro Grit, Jonathan Cardwell
“Most people wouldn’t guess it, but New Mexico has an abundance of world-class rock climbing. There is a rich history of climbing, from the mountains in the north to the hidden limestone valleys of the south. Box Canyon Recreation Area, in Socorro, is home to some of the oldest climbing in the state, primarily due to the easy access and quality rock.” —Jonathan Cardwell
3RD PLACE
Peeking into the Church at Nambé, Paula Selzer
"This past summer, our family was visiting, and the sisters and sister-in-law decided it would be fun to have matching vacation dresses. During our sightseeing, we stopped at the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús in Nambe. The church was closed, but the women simultaneously stood on their toes to peek in the sanctuary window. I was walking up behind them when I saw the shot—pink dresses, random sun hats, and tip-toes." —Paula Selzer
HONORABLE MENTION
Making Tortillas with Grandma, Joaquin Martinez
"My daughter and mom spend most Sundays together. They will usually make lunch together, go for a hike, a bike ride, or do some sort of crafts together. When I took this picture of them making tortillas, my mom said, 'The masa has to be sort of light.' To which my daughter replied, 'Like this?' and threw the masa in the air. It was another beautiful moment on another beautiful Sunday." —Joaquin Martinez
HONORABLE MENTION
Testament of Faith, Julie Davis Basile
"This image is a very emotional piece for me. It’s probably one of the last photos of my mom. On this day, Mom and I took a day trip to visit some New Mexico towns we hadn’t been to in a while. Born and raised in New Mexico, Mom was a wealth of information about New Mexico’s history. We stopped in Lake Valley, once a booming mine town founded in 1878, but now just a forgotten ghost town. A couple of buildings—the church and school—have been restored by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and still stand intact. We walked into the church, and Mom sat down to rest while I snooped around. I had been taking photos of the ghost town while listening to Mom talk nonstop about her childhood growing up in the area. Suddenly, she quit talking, and when I looked up, I saw this image of her sitting quietly as the sun bathed her in its light. I reached for my camera and took the shot. It was an in-the-moment experience I won’t soon forget. I dedicate this image to my mom and hope I can continue her legacy as a born and bred New Mexican." —Julie Davis Basile