Advertisement

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 bali
ISLANDS Photo Contest 2010
Honorable Mention **Bali by Marc Schneider **
Marc Schneider
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
2012 hm islands photo contest 07
ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012
Honorable Mention Jamaica by Jeremy Deddo
Jeremy Deddo
2012 hm islands photo contest 09
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
islands photo contest winners 2010 06
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
isl1011_photo10
ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest
Honorable Mention **SCOTT HANFT **Kee Beach, Kauai
Scott Hanft
Honorable Mention: "The Ledge" off Taveuni, Fiji, taken by Jennifer Jensen from Castle Rock, CO
ISLANDS 2008 Photo Contest
Honorable Mention JENNIFER JENSEN Taveuni, Fiji
Jennifer Jensen
isl1011_photo13
ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest
Honorable Mention NICOLE ANDERSON Bali, Indonesia
Nicole Andersen
islands photo contest winners 2012 12
ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest
Honorable Mention SCOTT HOWARD Whyte Islet, Canada
islands photo contest winners 2012 09
ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest
Honorable Mention VICTOR CAROLI Palermo, Sicily
islands photo contest winners 2010 08
ISLANDS 2010 Photo Contest
Honorable Mention **PAUL HASSELL **Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
islands photo contest winners 2012 11
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
isl1011_photo08
ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest
Honorable Mention **JOE ENENBACH **Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
Joe Enenbach
isl1011_photo12
ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest
Honorable Mention **ERIN DE SANTIAGO **Taroko Gorge, Taiwan
Erin De Santiago
isl1011_photo09
ISLANDS 2011 Photo Contest
Honorable Mention **BILL LEHMAN **Melekeok, Palau
Bill Lehman
isl1011_photo06
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
islands photo contest winners 2010 12
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
islands photo contest winners 2010 11
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
2012 hm islands photo contest 05
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
2012 hm islands photo contest 04
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
isl1011_photo07.jpg
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
2012 hm islands photo contest 03
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
2012 hm islands photo contest 01
ISLANDS Photo Contest 2012
Honorable Mention Marquesas by Amanda Bonfiglio
Amanda Bonfiglio
islands photo contest winners 2010 07
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
islands photo contest winners 2012 02
ISLANDS 2012 Photo Contest
Honorable Mention JORGE DE LA TORRIENTE Java, Indonesia
2012 hm islands photo contest 02
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
2012 hm islands photo contest 10
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
2012 hm islands photo contest 08
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
isl1011_photo14
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
Advertisement

Email Newsletters and Special Offers

Sign up for Islands emails to receive features on travel destinations, event listings and product reviews as well as special offers on behalf of Islands’ partners.

By signing up you agree to receive communications from Islands and select partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You may opt out of email messages/withdraw consent at any time.

Advertisement