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
Blue Swallow Sunset, Reece Parker (above)
“Long a stopping point of Route 66 in Tucumcari, the Blue Swallow Motel attracts road-weary travelers and aficionados of the Mother Road seeking an experience from an earlier time in America.” —Reece Parker
2ND PLACE
Buckaroo Motel, Clif Wright
"I took this photo on a foggy morning in September 2023 on old Route 66 in Tucumcari. I was visiting from my home in Taos, working on a recurrent photo project depicting Tucumcari and Quay County. On this particular morning, I woke up a bit late and, after quickly checking the weather, hurried out the door of my motel to take advantage of the foggy conditions. As I made my way west on Route 66 through Tucumcari, the Buckaroo Motel emerged from the fog." —Clif Wright
3RD PLACE
Neon Zia, Jim Shepka
"This neon Zia image was captured one evening along Central Avenue in the Nob Hill section of Albuquerque. Although the original image was shot in color against the backdrop of one of our well-known pink sunsets, the black-and-white application brings a level of sophistication and classic charm to New Mexico's iconic symbol." —Jim Shepka
HONORABLE MENTION
Night at the Blue Swallow, Christopher Eakins
"As a New Mexican, one of my favorite local photo subjects is the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari. This iconic motel, with its unique neon signs, is located on Historic Route 66 in northeastern New Mexico. The atmosphere of the entire property immediately pulls you in and seems to transport you back in time to the route's Golden Age. I had originally planned to capture a scene at sunset, but as the neon glowed after dark, it created a magical and nostalgic view that became one of my favorite shots." —Christopher Eakins