101 Best Reader Photos Ever

Counting down from No. 101 (these curious monkeys on Bali) to No. 1 (who could it be?), these are the greatest winning photos of the ISLANDS Photo Contest. You'll see some surprises in this gallery, including the winner of our first-ever contest more than 20 years ago. Enter the ISLANDS Photo Contest 2013 now!

2010 HM honorable mention islands photo contest winner bonaire
ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **JOHN MUHILLY **Bonaire | John Muhilly

1991 1st islands photo contest oahu donna imrie-foulger
ISLANDS Photo Contest 1991

First Prize **Oahu by Donna Imrie-Foulger ** | Donna Imrie-Foulger

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ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012

Honorable Mention Jamaica by Jeremy Deddo | Jeremy Deddo

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ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012

Honorable Mention Fiji by Tim Rahn | Tim Rahn

2010 HM Honorable Mention islands photo contest winner boracay
ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention ELLYN NORRIS Boracay Island, Philippines | Ellyn Norris

Honorable Mention: St. Martin, taken by Marc Schneider from Oklahoma City, OK
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention MARC SCHNEIDER St. Martin | Marc Schneider

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ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention JUSTIN BAER Key West, Florida

Honorable Mention: Bali
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention LOWELL GREENBERG Bali | Lowell Greenberg

Honorable Mention: Skogafoss Falls, Iceland, taken by Ronald O. Krieger from Kirkwood, MO
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention RONALD O. KRIEGER Skogafoss Falls, Iceland | Ronald O. Krieger

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ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **SCOTT HANFT **Kee Beach, Kauai | Scott Hanft

Honorable Mention:
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention JENNIFER JENSEN Taveuni, Fiji | Jennifer Jensen

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ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention NICOLE ANDERSON Bali, Indonesia | Nicole Andersen

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ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention SCOTT HOWARD Whyte Islet, Canada

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ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention VICTOR CAROLI Palermo, Sicily

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ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **PAUL HASSELL **Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

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ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention DON GUREWITZ Bali, Indonesia

islands photo contest winners 2012 03
ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention JAMES TARANTINO Krabi islands, Thailand

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ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **JOE ENENBACH **Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos | Joe Enenbach

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ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **ERIN DE SANTIAGO **Taroko Gorge, Taiwan | Erin De Santiago

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ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **BILL LEHMAN **Melekeok, Palau | Bill Lehman

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ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Reader's Choice Winner **JESSICA VELTRI **Kailua, Oahu "There are a couple of mistakes in this image at Lanikai Beach. First, those are my footprints in the sand. I didn't do that on purpose. I'd gotten there before 6 a.m., when nobody was around to mess up the beach (being in the Army, I know how to get up early). When I saw my own footprints through the lens, I just decided to frame them. Also, in my excitement to get out the door and use my new camera, I forgot the clip for my tripod. So I had to hold it by hand. Somehow it all worked to my advantage in the end. The picture has a natural look, which makes it more special. Whenever I see it, I can feel the spirit of Hawaii, and my feet in the sand." **

** | Jessica Veltri

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ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

Grand Prize **HUDSON HENRY **Zanzibar, Tanzania Usually, one photo earns the top spot. But a stack of exceptional submissions from Hudson led us to showcase more of his portfolio.

Honorable Mention: Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland, taken by Dustin Lucas Wekesser from Lewisville, TX
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention DUSTIN LUCAS WEKESSER Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland | Dustin Lucas Wekesser

Honorable Mention: Borneo
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention ERNEST MANEWAL Borneo | Ernest Manewal

Honorable Mention: Papenoo Valley, Tahiti, taken by Lorie La Fon from Tioga, TX
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention LORIE LA FON Papenoo Valley, Tahiti | Lorie La Fon

Honorable Mention: Maui, Hawaii
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention LARISA MANEWAL Maui, Hawaii | Larisa Manewal

Honorable Mention: Raiatea, taken by Joan Scala from New Hope, PA
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **JOAN SCALA **Raiatea | Joan Scala

Honorable Mention: Taormina, Siciliy, taken by Lisa Parsons from St. Petersburg, FL
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention LISA PARSONS Taoemin, Siciliy | Lisa Parsons

Honorable Mention: Baranof Island, taken by Ernest Manewal from Sitka, AK
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention ERNEST MANEWAL Baranof Island | Ernest Manewal

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ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **LESLIE CLEMENTS **Margarita Island, Venezuela

Honorable Mention: Andros, Bahamas
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention JEREMIAH WILSON Andros, Bahamas | Jeremiah Wilson

Honorable Mention: Puerto Rico
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention STEVEN MAY Puerto Rico | Steven May

Honorable Mention: Kauai, Hawaii
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention ELISABETH STONE Kauai, Hawaii | Elisabeth Stone

Honorable Mention: The Byodo-In Temple, Oahu, Hawaii, taken by Wendy Parr from Milton, FL
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention WENDY PARR Oahu, Hawaii | Wendy Parr

Honorable Mention: Taormina, Siciliy, taken by Lisa Parsons from St. Petersburg, FL
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention LISA PARSONS Taormina, Siciliy | Lisa Parsons

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ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012

Honorable Mention Capri by Stuart Claggett | Stuart Claggett

Honorable Mention: Maho Bay, St. John, taken by William Czarnowski from Endwell, NY
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **WILLIAM CZARNOWSKI **Maho Bay, St. John | William Czarnowski

2000 grand islands photo contest kauai ben welborn
ISLANDS Photo Contest 2000

Grand Prize **Kauai by Ben Welborn ** | Ben Welborn

Honorable Mention: Penang
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **SYDNEY ROGERS **Penang | Sydney Rogers

Honorable Mention: Bell Island, Alaska
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention KELLY LARSON Bell Island, Alaska | Kelly Larsen

Honorable Mention: Rangiroa, taken by Penelope Van Osten from Glastonbury, CT
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention PENELOPE VAN OSTEN Rangiroa | Penelope Van Osten

Honorable Mention: Puerto Rico
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention DOUGLAS HODGKINS Puerto Rico | Douglas Hodgkins

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ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012

Honorable Mention Tierra del Fuego by Ana Martin | Ana Martin

Honorable Mention: Maui, Hawaii
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention ROSS JANUSZYK Maui, Hawaii | Ross Januszyk

Honorable Mention: Havana, Cuba, taken by Isabelle Carbonell from Ann Arbor, MI
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **ISABELLE CARBONELLE **Havana, Cuba | Isabelle Carbonell

Honorable Mention: Ireland
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention AMY CAMPBELL Ireland | Amy Campbell

Honorable Mention: Kauai, Hawaii, taken by Dustin Lucas Wekesser from Lewisville, TX
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **DUSTIN LUCAS WEKESSER **Kauai, Hawaii | Dustin Lucas Wekesser

Honorable Mention: Dominican Republic, taken by Isabelle Carbonell from Ann Arbor, MI
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention ISABELLE CARBONELLE Dominican Republic | Isabelle Carbonell

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ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Reader's Choice Winner **BRET WEBSTER **Fakarava, Tahiti "This wonderfully aged pier seems to go on forever. It actually leads to the most distinctive feature of the Society Islands: an outer ring of reef. On this day, you could pretty much point your camera anywhere and shoot a postcard. But the contrast of this bleached pier with that placid blue water made me reach for my wide-angle lens. It helped enhance the pier's leading lines and created a three-dimensional quality I love. The effect mkes me feel like I'm stil standing right there." **

** | Bret Webster

Honorable Mention: Tupai Atoll off Bora-Bora, taken by Joan Scala from New Hope, PA
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention JOAN SCALA Bora Bora | Joan Scala

1994 grand islands photo contest maui robin madgwick
ISLANDS Photo Contest 1994

Grand Prize **Maui by Robin Madgwick ** | Robin Madgwick

Honorable Mention: Lantau Island, Hong Kong, taken by Stephanie Hill from Spokane, WA
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention STEPHANIE HILL Lantau Island, Honk Kong | Stephanie Hill

Honorable Mention: Kauai, Hawaii, taken by Heywood Greenberg from Arlington, VA
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention HEYWOOD GREENBERG Kauai, Hawaii | Heywood Greenberg

1990 grand islands photo contest hawaii f stuart westmorland
ISLANDS Photo Contest 1990 – The very first one!

Grand Prize **Big Island, Hawaii, by F. Stuart Westmorland ** | F. Stuart Westmorland

Honorable Mention: Surfboards, Maui, Hawaii, taken by Amber Cook from Redmond, WA
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention AMBER COOK Maui, Hawaii | Amber Cook

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ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012

Honorable Mention Maui by Heywood Greenberg | Heywood Greenberg

Honorable Mention: Santorini, Greece
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention DONNA WEBER Santorini, Greece | Donna Weber

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ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012

Honorable Mention Marquesas by Amanda Bonfiglio | Amanda Bonfiglio

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ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **WILLIAM CZARNOWSKI **Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Honorable Mention: Near Flateyri, Iceland, taken by Ronald O. Krieger from Kirkwood, MO
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention RONALD O. KRIEGER Flateyri, Iceland | Ronald O. Krieger

Honorable Mention: Maui, Hawaii
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **KATE MCREDMOND **Maui, Hawaii | Kate Mcredmond

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ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention JORGE DE LA TORRIENTE Java, Indonesia

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ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012

Honorable Mention Azores by Emily Sandor | Emily Sandor

2012 honorable mention islands photo contest winners palau
ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **Palau by Kathryn L. Johnson ** | Kathryn L. Johnson

Honorable Mention: Moutain Lake, South Island, New Zealand, taken by Jim Magers from Sherwood, AR
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **JIM MAGER **Mountain Lake, South Island, New Zealand | Jim Magers

islands photo contest winners 2010 02 philippines scott sporleder
ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention **SCOTT SPORLEDER **El Nido, Philippines | Scott Sporleder

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ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012

Honorable Mention **Fiji by Christopher Mullen ** | Christopher Mullen

Honorable Mention: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
ISLANDS Photo Contest 2009

Honorable Mention **Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, by Jace Rivers ** | Jace Rivers

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ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012

Honorable Mention Antigua by Jessica Lenchner | Jessica Lenchner

Honorable Mention: Kauai, Hawaii
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention HUDSON HENRY Kauai, Hawaii | Hudson Henry

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ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Honorable Mention CODY SPINADEL Oahu, Hawaii **

** | Cody Spinadel

2008 AM Artistic Merit islands photo contest winner aruba
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Artistic Merit AMY CAMPBELL Aruba | Amy Campbell

2008 AM Artistic Merit islands photo contest winner San Juan, Puerto Rico
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Artistic Merit CATHERINE FLYNN San Juan, Puerto Rico | Catherine Flynn

2011 AM artistic merit prize islands photo contest winner australia
ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Artistic Merit **DAVID WATERSUN **Great Barrier Reef, Australia "Fisherman toss their extra bait at the end of each day, and these pelicans know the routine. Suddenly, they dove toward a small harbour nearby. About a hundred of these amazingly colorful birds were sitting in the water in perfect symmetry, waiting patiently for the bait buffet." | David Watersun

2010 AM artistic merit prize islands photo contest winner haiti
ISLANDS Photo Contest 2010

Artistic Merit **Port-au-Prince Haiti by Hal Myers ** | Hal Myers

2012 AM artistic merit islands photo contest winner
ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest

Artistic Merit** ** AARON FEINBERG Kauai, Hawaii "This ridgeline between Honopu and Kalalau valleys offers incredible views. The sun was getting ready to pop out below the clouds, and across the valley the fluted ridges were holding tremendous light. I put on my telephoto to isolate a section of cliffs and left a small amount of trees at the bottom for a sense of scale. We eventually hiked back down with the aid of our headlamps." tech ⎢ Canon 1Ds3, 70-200 mm/2.8 lens, f/11, 1/6 second, ISO 100 prize ⎢ One-week workshop at the Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, Maine. | Aaron Feinberg

2009 AM artistic merit islands photo contest winner Big Island, Hawaii
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Artistic Merit HUDSON HENRY Big Island, Hawaii | Hudson Henry

2008 3rd prize islands photo contest winner alaska
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Third Place ERNEST MANEWAL Kake, Alaska | Ernest Manewal

2009 3rd prize islands photo contest winner zanzibar
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Third Place **ELIZABETH BAILEY **Zanzibar | Elizabeth Bailey

2010 3rd prize islands photo contest winner greece
ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

Third Place **JANE MOTTERN **Santorini, Greece | Jane Mottern

2012 3rd prize islands photo contest winner
ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest

THIRD PRIZE YEN BAET Venice, Italy "I wanted to show how this city can be peaceful while in motion. After the sun retired and the buzz faded to a murmur, I knew that by slowing things down to a mere 30 seconds, the gondolas' frantic dances could be softened to a blur and the speedboats in the distance could disappear into trails of light. That's when the magic of this city truly starts." tech ⎢ Nikon D700, 24-70 mm lens, f/14, 30 seconds prize ⎢ Five nights at the Whaler on Kaanapali Beach on Maui from Aston Hotels & Resorts, plus a photo prize pack. | Yen Baet

2011 3rd prize islands photo contest winner kauai
ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Third Place **MICHAEL ALDRIDGE **North Shore, Kauai "A morning earlier I saw a guy planting this field. That's what pulled my attention toward the glassy water and backdrop. I knew I'd have something special by shooting the field at just the right time." | Michael Aldridge

2011 2nd prize islands photo contest winner bahamas
ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Second Place **HEATHER MOORE **Harbour Island, Bahamas "This man spent 20 minutes showing my son and me his church and sharing island history. We'd just met him on the street. A total stranger. He was so passionate, so proud and engaging that my 4-year old son couldn't stop listening. The man was happy to let me shoot a few frames." | Heather Moore

2008 2nd prize islands photo contest winner honolulu hawaii
ISLANDS Photo Contest 2008

Second Place TATIANA RIVEST Honolulu, Hawaii | Tatiana Rivest

2010 2nd prize islands photo contest winner zanzibar
ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

Second Place **LIBBY BAILEY **Zanzibar, Tanzania "Just outside the building where Dr. Livingstone once lived, I came across this old Zanzabari babu (grandpa)." | Libby Bailey

2009 2nd prize islands photo contest winner puerto rico
ISLANDS 2009 Photo Contest

Second Place GREG SULLIVAN Puerto Rico | Greg Sullivan

2012 2nd prize islands photo contest winner maldives
ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest

Second Prize MARK STANKUS Huraa, Maldives "I was surfing with a guy who had spent a few years on Huraa in a fishing village. He asked me if I wanted to go meet some of the people. The island was full of vibrant colors and welcoming locals. 'Mama' was with us most of the day. Come nightfall, I felt as though I'd experienced the Maldives in a way very few others have, and Mama graciously gave me this look and a photo to remember her by." tech ⎢ Sony DSC-H50, 35 mm lens, f/4, 1/160 second, ISO 100 prize ⎢ Five-night stay on Scrub Island, a private-island luxury retreat in the British Virgin Islands, plus a photo prize pack. | Mark Stankus

2009 1st prize islands photo contest winner jamaica
ISLANDS Photo Contest 2009

First Place HAL MYERS Jamaica | Hal Myers

2010 1st prize islands photo contest winner philippines
ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

First Place **SCOTT SPORLEDER **Luzon, Philippines "I saw the details of this young couple wearing traditional attire in pink. The vibrant colors of the Pahiyas Festival shone through." | Scott Sporleder

2012 1st prize islands photo contest winner sicily
ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest

First Prize DON GUREWITZ Caltagirone, Sicily "In Sicily, I spent about 10 days driving across the island, from the Mount Etna volcano in the east to the capital city of Palermo in the west. The town of Caltagirone is known for its spectacular ceramic work, especially these tiles on the steps of the Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte. This was a hard shot to get. The light wasn't quite right, and the steps are usually filled with people. I did a lot of lying on the ground shooting the stairs to get this shot." tech ⎢ Canon 1N, 28-200 mm lens prize ⎢ Seven-night Caribbean cruise for two with Star Clippers, plus a photo prize pack. | Don Gurewitz

2008 1st prize islands photo contest winner bali
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

First Place DAVE GALLAGHER Ubud, Bali | Dave Gallagher

2011 1st prize islands photo contest hawaii
ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest First Place Winner PHIL NELSON Kuamoo Bay, Hawaii "My wife, Marilyn, and I were driving toward Kona on the Big Island when we saw the tops of waves and some mist off in another direction. So we took a side road to get as close as we could, and then walked on a footpath toward the coast. This is what we found." | Phil Nelson
1992 grand islands photo contest bora bora robert randall
ISLANDS Photo Contest 1992

Grand Prize **Bora Bora by Robert Randall ** | Robert Randall

2006 grand islands photo contest madagascar douglas nason
ISLANDS Photo Contest 2006

Grand Prize **Madagascar by Douglas Nason ** | Douglas Nason

2007 grand islands photo contest puerto rico wilson tsoi
ISLANDS Photo Contest 2007

Grand Prize **Puerto Rico by Wilson Tsoi ** | Wilson Tsoi

2008 Grand Prize: Bora-Bora, taken by Joan Scala from New Hope, PA
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest

Grand Prize JOAN SCALA Bora Bora | Joan Scala

2009 grand prize photo contest winner palawan
ISLANDS Photo Contest 2009

Grand Prize Palawan by Jace Rivers "I almost threw in the towel this particular evening since it had been raining. I was walking on El Nido Bay, and the sun came out at this moment." | Jace Rivers

2011 grand prize photo contest winner mozambique
ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest

Grand Prize Winner **MARKO DIMITRIJEVIC**** **Inhambame Bay, Mozambique "These fisherman are pulling their dhow to shore to bring it home. The scene reminded me of those early 20th-century images of Africa. So I went for a backlit composition to silhouette the people. I enjoy taking photographs, but I'm no pro. When I see this image, I just see a wonderful souvenir." | Marko Dimitrijevic

2012 grand prize islands photo contest winners indonesia
ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest

Grand Prize Winner JESSE ESTES Java, Indonesia "My first trip to Mount Bromo, I took a Jeep up to this viewpoint. But the light wasn't great, so I vowed to come back. Two years later, that wasn't as easy. The volcano is active, and an eruption had closed the road. I started hiking at 2:30 a.m. to capture this sunrise. I love how the light hits the crater and how fog covers the valley, enhancing the prehistoric feel of it." tech ⎢ Canon 5D Mark II, 24-70 mm lens, f/16 prize ⎢ Seven-night Tahitian cruise for two with Paul Gauguin and airfare, plus a photo prize pack from Tamrac and Lexar. | Jesse Estes

2010 grand photo contest winners zanzibar
ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest

Grand Prize **HUDSON HENRY **Zanzibar, Tanzania "I threw my wide-angle lens on my Nikon D700, jumped from the boat and shot before anyone tracked up the beach. It's a photo I can look at during a hectic, gray city day and be transported back to Zanzibar in my mind." | Hudson Henry