Photo Contest Winners Page

  • Winners of HSLDA's Annual Photography Contest

  • View the winning photos of previous HSLDA photography contests below. Start by selecting an available year from the first drop-down menu, and then select an age category from the second drop-down menu. Scroll down to view that year's theme and the winning photos, as well as the finalists listed at the bottom of the page.

  • Category 1 (ages 7–10): Vibrant

    Submit a photo that embodies the word vibrant.

  • 1st Place

    "Bright and Beautiful" by Eliana Nebbeling, East Lansing, MI
  • Image field 80

  • 2nd Place

    "Sun Burst" by Heidi Foy, Redwood Falls, MI
  • Image field 81

  • 3rd Place

    "All That Glitters Is Not Gold" by Zachary Judson, Lilburn, GA
  • Image field 82

  • Honorable Mention

    "Flower Child" by Milly Peterson, Bismarck, ND
  • Image field 91

  • Honorable Mention

    "Washing Rainbows" by Melrose Pettit, Murray, KY
  • Image field 93

  • Finalists:

    “The Fire Fungus” by Molly Updegraffm Trenton, ME

    “Flying on Broken Wings” by Xayden Yagiela, Santa Clarita, CA

    “burst of color” by Lydia Klausli, Columbia, SC

    “Sunrise at Gettysburg” by Jonah Smith, Angola, IN

    “Dreams” by Grace Barbat, Saint Charles, IL

    “Flowering Grass” by John Malloy, Red Lion, PA

    “Grasshopper” by Joshua Herzog, Miami, FL

    “Vibrant Monarchs and Lilies” by Kiley Reinstad, Janesville, WI

    “Long live the Mushroom” by Claire Teichert, Mechanicsville, VA

    “Cute Little Green Frog” by Juliette Netto, Mechanicsville, VA

    “Jelly Sandwich” by Abigail Keifrider, Manassas, VA

  • Category 2 (ages 11–14): Impressive

    Submit a photo that embodies the word impressive.

  • 1st Place

    "Pick a Card" by Emma Bishop, Jonesville, NC
  • Image field 98

  • 2nd Place

    "Strength and Grace" by Ella Braman, Richlands, NC
  • Image field 100

  • 3rd Place

    "Foggy Freestyle" by Archer Anderson, Fenton, MI
  • Image field 102

  • Honorable Mention

    "Saguaro Sunset" by Sienna Wiersma, Tucson, AZ
  • Image field 104

  • Honorable Mention

    “Sunset Over Home” by Ethan Unverferth, Ouray, CO
  • Image field 108

  • Finalists:

    “Sunbeam in Antelope Canyon” by Addison Stamatoiu, San Ramon, CA

    “Stunning Reminder of His Refuge” by Abby Horchuck, Telford, PA

    “Heaven’s Reflection” by Lucy Combs, Colorado Springs, CO

    “Towering Into The Clouds” by Mason Unverferth, Ouray, CO

    “Snowy Egret” by Isaiah Wynne, Washington C.H., OH

    “Wild Among the Wildflowers” by Ethan Unverferth, Ouray, CO

    “Hanging Out” by Seth Harris, Mooresville, NC

    “NYC Skyline Reflection” by Angelina Brower, Woodbridge, NJ

    “We All Can Use Some Uplifting” by Charlotte Stewart, Fork Union, VA

    “Born in the USA” by Emma Nelson, Fresno, CA

    “Details of a Dragonfly” by Sara Christiano, Tampa, FL

    “Morning Rain” by Nolan Boras, Broomfield, CO

    “Beyond the Bland” by Jubilee Matthews, Belton, MO

    “Worm Digging” by Ruth Oertel, Moores Hill, IN

  • Category 3 (ages 15–19): Ornate

    Submit a photo that embodies the word ornate.

  • 1st Place

    “Refraction” by Abby George, Linwood, NY
  • Image field 110

  • 2nd Place

    “Tomato Hornworm” by John Strange, Union Mills, NC
  • Image field 115

  • 3rd Place

    “Harmony of Henna” by Chloe DeGraeve, Madison, AL
  • Image field 117

  • Honorable Mention

    “Antique Beauty” by Lauryn Atwood, Wilseyville, CA
  • Image field 119

  • Honorable Mention

    “Diaz Pesos” by Alexander Rose, Albany, CA
  • Image field 121

  • Finalists:

    “Colorful Character” by Malachi Isome, Redding, CA

    “Wings on Pansies” by Abigail Timmer, Hopkins, MI

    “Morning Majesty” by Amy Siebert, Gastonia, NC

    “Reflections” by Abigail Jenkins, Bellefontaine, OH

    “U.S. Capital Rotunda” by Lillian Neff, Curwensville, PA

    “Beauty Within” by Jansen Stahl, Columbus, MI

    “Leaf Labyrinth” by Abby George, Linwood, NY

    “Leaf boi” by Ashley Scoon, Corpus Christi, TX

    “The Ornament Arches” by Gabrialla O’Hagan, West Melbourne, FL

    “Raindrop Succulent” by Abigail Timmer, Hopkins, MI

    “Adorned in Feathers” by Alyssa Mazak, Egg Harbor Township, NJ

    “The Residences” by Sophia Davis, Mt. Vernon, IL

    “Lantern Ecstasy” by Leanna Carlson, Elgin, IL

     

  • Category 1 (ages 7–10): Small

    Submit a photo that embodies the word small.

  • 1st Place

    “Just one Drop!” by Danea Vidales, Thornton, CO
  • Image field 127

  • 2nd Place

    “Hidden Treasure” by Marisa Mermoud, Waynetown, IN
  • Image field 129

  • 3rd Place

    “Chippy Reminds Us to Always Recycle” by Eliana Nebbeling, East Lansing, MI
  • Image field 131

  • Honorable Mention

    “Character the Caterpillar” by Ruby Pettit, Murray, KY
  • Image field 133

  • Honorable Mention

    “Chippy Does the Laundry” by Eliana Nebbeling, East Lansing, MI
  • Image field 135

  • Finalists:

    “Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly” by Zayden England, Alvaton, KY

    “The Little Bee on a Sunflower” by Grace Carlson, Elizabeth, CO

    “Purple Petals” by Adah Stenersen, Wilmington, NC

    “Spiky Ball” by Sarah Enfinger, Colquitt, GA

    “Glossy web in the morning” by Annabelle Botha, Hutchinson Island, FL

    “Rippling Flower” by Jackson Beck, Hamburg, PA

    “Summer Daisy” by Isaiah Smith, Angola, IN

    “Blanketflower Beauty by Siena Alonzi, Davison, MI

    “snowflakes melting” by Joanna Spender, Enfield, ME

    “Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly” by Zayden England, Alvaton, KY

  • Category 2 (ages 11–14): Natural

    Submit a photo that embodies the word natural.

  • 1st Place

    “Spring Scene” by Leah Mason, Gentry, AR
  • Image field 138

  • 2nd Place

    “Regality” by Tobiah Gorneau, West Gardiner, ME
  • Image field 140

  • 3rd Place

    “Point of view” by Emma Bishop, Jonesville, NC
  • Image field 142

  • Honorable Mention

    “Early Morning Reflections” by Isabella Reay, Woodland Hills, CA
  • Image field 144

  • Honorable Mention

    “African Sunset” by Landon Hopper, Weatherford, TX
  • Image field 146

  • Finalists:

    “Tufted Titmouse with Personality” by Samuel Kitkowski, Mishawaka, IN

    “The Observer” by Judah Brogdon, San Antonio, TX

    “Perfectly Devine!” by Larissa Vidales, Thornton, CO

    “Token of the Covenant” by Elijah Pettit, Mounds, OK

    “Cardinal in Winter” by Christopher LeBlanc, Montgomery, TX

    “Raindrops” by Alison Trahan, Edmond, OK

    “Hope through Molly’s Eyes” by Nina Hasbrouck, Walton, NY

    “Radiant Reptile” by Lydia Rivera, Tampa, FL

    “Succulent” by Emily Wheeler, Marysville, OH

    “Peaceful Sunrise on a Lake of Reflection” by Jonah Smith

    “Promises” by Annajoy McCallister, Eagar, AZ

    “The Fungus Among Us” by Gabriel Faulkner, Enterprise, AL

  • Category 3 (ages 15–19): Dazzling

    Submit a photo that embodies the word dazzling.

  • 1st Place

    “Comet neowise” by Gabe Cooper, Nevada City, CA
  • Image field 149

  • 2nd Place

    “Blinding Lights” by Madison Foltz, Apache Junction, AZ
  • Image field 151

  • 3rd Place

    “Notre Dame de Montreal” by Trinity Alvarez, Miramar, FL
  • Image field 153

  • Honorable Mention

    “Purple Flower in Dewdrops” by Abram Looy, Big Rapids, MI
  • Image field 155

  • Honorable Mention

    “God’s tapestry” by Jennica Bowman, Snowflake, AZ
  • Image field 157

  • Finalists:

    “Sunset” by Joseph Ng, Santa Clarita, CA

    “Brilliant Streams Among Golden Flowers” by Abigail Nispel, Red Lion, PA

    “Frozen Fireworks” by Abby Lane, Enfield, ME

    “God’s Light Show” by Gavin Martin, Greencastle, PA

    “Illuminated Snail” by Anne Amalong, Chapel Hill, NC

    “Buoyant Beauty” by Lillian Neff, Curwensville, PA

    “Riding On Top of the World” by Gage Schlueter, Moscow, ID

    “Holden Beach Sunset” by Ryan Boyd, Saint Charles, IL

    “Blithesome” by Sophie Sanchez, Atascadero, CA

    “America’s Finest Dazzle” by Taylor Ackerland, Santee, CA

    “Alone in a crowd” by Margaret Alvine, Palmdale, CA

    “Another Day has Dawned” by Abigail Goodman, Kannapolis, NC

    “A dewy morning” by Megan Keller, Belfair, WA

  • Category 1 (ages 7–10): Hidden

    Submit a photo that embodies the word “hidden.”

  • 1st Place

    “Anise Swallowtail Butterfly Pupa and The Hidden Glue” by Ily Marie England, Alvaton, KY
  • Image field 167

  • 2nd Place

    “I lost my lamb” by Eli Herman, Kulm, ND
  • Image field 169

  • 3rd Place

    “Garden Thief” by Anders Kraemer, Paynesville, MN
  • Image field 171

  • Honorable Mention

    “Sunny Days” by Rachelle Kraemer, Paynesville, MN
  • Image field 174

  • Honorable Mention

    “Bunny in Bushes” by Constance Hardy, Bald Knob, AR
  • Image field 176

  • Honorable Mention

    “Baby Birds” by Annemarie Burckel, Hoover, AL
  • Image field 178

  • Honorable Mention

    “The Lurking Cuteness” by Roland Guthrie, Colorado Springs, CO
  • Image field 180

  • Finalists:

    “Peek-a-boo” by Caiden Fontanez, Dover, PA

    “Underwater Hide-and-Seek!” by Maverick Marceau, Dexter, NY

    “Hiding in Plain Sight” by Roland Guthrie, Colorado, CO

    “The Hidden Grumpy Cricket” by Zayden England, Alvaton, KY

    “The Nice Spider” by Easton Posey, Orangeville, PA

    “The Butterfly and the Hidden Cup” by Zayden England, Alvaton, KY

    “Jimmy Shaffer Takes a Nap” by Jubilee Cvar, Cheyenne, WY

    “Wolf Spider” by Simon Oertel, Moores Hill, IN

    “Massey Harris in the Weeds” by Alexander Hendress, Wilton, IA

    “Begging for a Treat” by Liam Kraemer, Paynesville, MN

    “Hidden Beauty” by Gabe Underwood, McGee, MO

    “Coming in for a Landing” by Gracelynn Juett, Ainsworth, NE

  • Category 2 (ages 11–14): In Your Face!

    Submit a photo that embodies the phrase “in your face!”

  • 1st Place

    “Duck!” by Emma Oertel, Moores Hill, IN
  • Image field 183

  • 2nd Place

    “Summer Hummer” by Joel Aeschleman, Newhall, CA
  • Image field 185

  • 3rd Place

    “Blissfully Blowing Bubbles” by Kylie Knobloch, Wayland, MI
  • Image field 187

  • Honorable Mention

    “Welcome to the Party!” by Katelyn Schutte, Kentwood, MI
  • Image field 189

  • Honorable Mention

    “Butterfly Belle” by Mariska Schooley, Waynesboro, PA
  • Image field 191

  • Honorable Mention

    “A Little Summer” by Emma Adkison, Ennis, TX
  • Image field 193

  • Honorable Mention

    “Head of the Flock” by Nicholas Dunn, Hermitage, TN
  • Image field 195

  • Finalists:

    “Wide Eyed” by Grant Westbrook, Graniteville, SC

    “In the Face of God’s Creation” by Damian Kochergin, Lincoln, CA

    “Sweet Summer Days” by Hannah Keisling, Bluffton, SC

    “Hee Haw Hello!” by Cate Thornton, Athens, WV

    “Blinding” by Esther Herman, Kulm, ND

    “Kitten Cuddle” by Melrose Pettit, Murray, KY

    “Heartburn” by Dominic Cabrera, Salado, TX

    “Chicken Little” by Andoni King, Imlay City, MI

    “Hello Beautiful” by Brooke Oldfather, North Manchester, IN

  • Category 3 (ages 15–19): Nostalgic

    Submit a photo that embodies the word “nostalgic.”

  • 1st Place

    “Medieval Escape” by Lillian Neff, Curwensville, PA
  • Image field 198

  • 2nd Place

    “Freedom!” by Thia Scott, Mobile, AL
  • Image field 200

  • 3rd Place

    “Jack” by Noah Carter, Simpsonville, NC
  • Image field 202

  • Honorable Mention

    “Weathered” by Liliana Harper, Midland City, AL
  • Image field 204

  • Honorable Mention

    “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” by Sophia Tavolacci, Woodside, NY
  • Image field 206

  • Honorable Mention

    “VINTAGE FILM FORGOTTEN” by Ela Cabunoc, Fallbrook, CA
  • Image field 208

  • Honorable Mention

    “Many Winters Gone By” by Jackson Varga, Le Roy, WV
  • Image field 210

  • Finalists:

    “64 Years” by Lee Winn, Peachtree City, GA

    “Simplicity” by Ela Cabunoc, Fallbrook, CA

    “No Vacancy” by James Bowman, Snowflake, AZ

    “Zoom!” by Carianne Holt, JBLM, WA

    “Sunday Drive” by Taylor Snook, Clermont, FL

    “Turn of the Century Typewriter” by Abigail Austin, Peachland, NC

    “Books in a Barn” by Krista Moore, Colorado Springs, CO

    “Pen of the People” by Lainey Carpenter, Scarbro, WV

    “The Dr’s Car” by Kathryn Richards, Prairie du Sac, WI

    “Vistoso” by Nora Sullivan, Carrollton, GA

    “Riding Down Memory Lane” by William Marinello, Jacksonville, FL

  • Category 1 (ages 7-10): Fancy

    Submit a photo that embodies the word “fancy”.

  • 1st Place

    "Playing Dress-Up" by Erin Byrd, Evans, GA
  • Image field 248

  • 2nd Place

    "The Roses of the Night" by Jacob Adkison, Ennis, TX
  • Image field 249

  • 3rd Place

    "Crystal Columns" by Caleb Adkison, Ennis, TX
  • Image field 250

  • Honorable Mention

    "Spotlight" by Lucas Locascio, Carmel, NY
  • Image field 251

  • Honorable Mention

    “Elegance” by Faith Rinehart, Vadnais Heights, MN
  • Image field 252

  • Honorable Mention

    “Queen Susannah” by Gregory Sims, Sylacauga, AL
  • Image field 253

  • Honorable Mention

    “The Eloquence of a Toddler” by Sophie Green, Bradenton, FL
  • Image field 254

  • Finalists:


    “Butterfly” by Willow Jean Jones, Unionville, TN

    “Pretty In Pink” by Mark Toews, Narvon, PA

    “Fancy Sun” by Griffin Fussman, Mount Pleasant, MI

    “The Lone Teacup” by Adeline Scott, Clayton, NC

    “Fancy is Flowers” by Rhylynn Wallenburg, Culleoka, TN

    “Tea Party with Jenny” by Kate Larson, Osseo, WI

    “Tea Party in the Gardens” by Faith Rhinehart, Vadnais Heights, MN

    “Intricate Doorknobs” by Creed Fuhriman, Nashport, OH

    “The Guardian” by Esther Schwinghammer, Wahpeton, ND

  • Category 2 (ages 11-14): Serene

    Submit a photo that embodies the word “serene”.

  • 1st Place

    “Peace at Quartz Lake” by Buster Makinen, North Pole, AK
  • Image field 255

  • 2nd Place

    “The Promise” by Alison Trahan, Boise, ID
  • Image field 256

  • 3rd Place

    “Bluebells Kissing a Mountain Stream” by Hannah Dietrich, Graysville, TN
  • Image field 258

  • Honorable Mention

    “Sleeping Beauty” by Nicholas Dunn, Hermitage, TN
  • Image field 257

  • Honorable Mention

    “Good Morning” by Andrew Stevens, Lakebay, WA
  • Image field 259

  • Honorable Mention

    “Jellyfish Floating Listlessly Under a Sea of Blue Serenity” by Rachel Shafer, Archbold, OH
  • Image field 260

  • Honorable Mention

    “Rippling Stream” by Justice Street, Defiance, OH
  • Image field 261

  • Finalists:

    “Morning Dew” by Sophia Morris, Minnetonka, MN

    “A Restful Place” by Sean Scott, Clayton, NC

    “Running River” by Michael Korman, Arroyo Grande, CA

    “Meditation” by Madeline Male, Fairway, KS

    “Dawn Over the Rockies” by Cora Hardley, Grand Forks, ND

    “Afterglow” by Adelyn Mason, Ankeny, IA

    “Red Barn in Pocahontas County, West Virginia” by James Barkley, Marlinton, WV

    “Peaceful Perch” by Adah Stenersen, Atkinson, NC

    “Coastal Sunset” by Kozette Walter, La Center, WA

  • Category 3 (ages 15-19): Simple

    Submit a photo that embodies the word “simple”.

  • 1st Place

    “First Life” by Elisabeth Shay, Irvine, CA
  • Image field 262

  • 2nd Place

    “The Reptilian Gaze” by Hannah Hainge, Fayetteville, NC
  • Image field 263

  • 3rd Place

    “Wheat in the Wind” by Amelia Booher, Fayetteville, NY
  • Image field 264

  • Honorable Mention

    “Anticipating the Peace” by Elisabeth Shay, Irvine, CA
  • Image field 265

  • Honorable Mention

    "Leaf Me Alone” by Keelan Clough, Marion, IA
  • Image field 266

  • Honorable Mention

    “Little Subject, Big View” by Quin Jones, Spokane, WA
  • Image field 267

  • Honorable Mention

    “Sing A New Song” by Hayden Riley, Hanover, VA
  • Image field 268

  • Finalists:

    “Black Hole” by Isaiah Gonzales, Hayward, CA

    “Once Second of Stillness” by Lianne Annoni, Lake Forest, CA

    “Sunrise Reflection” by Jordan McGuire, Fort Wayne, IN

    “Dance of a Lifetime” by Callie Brimberry, Wolfforth, TX

    “Fresh Dewy Cherries” by Allison Estabrook, Hanover, VA

    “Hand in Hand” by Thomas Imrick, Fort Wayne, IN

    “Resting in the Shade” by William McDonald, Owens Crossroads, AL

    “Play With Me?” by Ela Cabunoc, Fallbrook, CA

    “Casual Mountain Stroll” by Quin Jones, Spokane, WA

    “Lonely Tree” by Katie Rea, Mueang, Chiang Mai



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