Annual Photography COntest Results 2023

First Place

Coyote On Trail

Steve Hallmark

Walking back to the parking lot from the Satwiwa Culture Center at sunset, I surprised this young coyote. It seemed a bit confused about which way to go - I think we were both caught a bit off guard. Taken In October 2023.

Captured with a Nikon Z7II and Nikon 24-70mm. Focal length - 36mm.

Exposure - f/2.8 at 1/45th second, ISO 800.

Sheila Braden Award

Purple Rain

Jesse Sloan

A moody image of an Oak Tree overlooking the rolling hillside at Malibu Creek on a spring day. With the winter and spring rains being as plentiful as they were, the blooms of 2023 were a wonderful sight for those who ventured outdoors to take in the plentiful flora that graced us this past spring.

Second Place

Buck In Dry Grass

Steve Hallmark

Just across from the Satwiwa Culture Center, I came upon a small group of deer. To my surprise, this mule deer buck approached me. Taken in August 2023.

Captured with a Nikon Z8 and Nikon 100-400mm, Focal length - 280mm, Exposure - f/8 at 1/125th second, ISO 3200.

Third Place

Rusted Memories

Steven Friedman

Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa January 10, 2023 -- The ranching history in the Santa Monica Mountains is often overlooked and forgotten. We often think of the beaches, creeks, and wild lands of the steeper terrain, or about the Chumash, the original and long-time inhabitants of the area. But ranching played an active role in shaping the land as established in 1803.

The rancho has been sold and subdivided many times over the years. The last private owner of Ranch Sierra Vista was Richard Danielson who ranched the land for more than 30 years. The Danielson's used tilling equipment to maintain the grasslands and keep the chapparal at bay.

The abandoned tilling equipment featured in this photograph was used by the Danielsons. Abandoned on a hillside, left to rust in place, it becomes a lasting memory of the ranching in the Santa Monica Mountains. Rancho Sierra Vista was purchased by the National Park Service in 1980.

Honorable mentions

Luna Lunera

By Cassandra Sue Chavez
On August 30th, 2023, during a Moonwalk in the Mountains program at Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa, I snapped a picture of the moon with my iPhone. Thinking it would be yet another blurry moon picture, but to my surprise- what appeared to be a dome of rays beaming out of the full moon appeared in my photograph. Still, I cannot believe that this occurred and I was able to capture such a beautiful moment under the stars up at the Santa Monica Mountains.
Camera: iPhone14
The Gift

By Jesse Sloan
An image of Black Star Eyed Eagle performing the Sneak Up dance this past summer at the Satwiwa Native American Indian Cultural Center. A gift was shared on this day. An education of the culture, traditions, and beliefs, all communicated through a vibrant celebration of music and dance to honor our natural world and the many gifts it provides us.
The Sentry

By Steve Hallmark
This photo is of the dominant male quail of a covey standing guard while the rest are feeding.
Captured with a Nikon Z8 and Nikkor 100-400mm with a 2x extender. Focal length - 800mm. Exposure - f/11 at 1/6000th second, ISO 6400.
Yellow Warbler

By Justin Ford
This Yellow Warbler was spotted in Malibu Creek State Park in the Spring. I was so happy when I saw it perched, as I usually only see a yellow flash buzzing around the tree, and this was really a treat. I love how plump it looks but ready to take off with its wings hanging back!
Captured with a Canon R5 & RF100-500 lens/1.4X teleconverter at 700mm, aperture f/10 at 1/1000 sec, ISO2500.
Black Crowned Night Heron

By Jeffrey Davidson
I have a favorite spot by the water with a mostly unobstructed view and a few trees and low branches nearby. I saw a heron fly up and perch on a nearby branch. Having observed their behavior before, I anticipated when it would take off and was ready when that happened.
Captured with a Nikon D5, Nikon 200-500mm Zoom with TCIII 1.4 Teleconverter, Gitzo Tripod with Wimberly Gimbal Head.
Going For The Nectar

By Steve Friedman
Humming Bird feeding in late afternoon. I often take walks looking for birds to photograph. This humming bird was seen among the bushes at Paramount Movie Ranch. March 16, 2023. OM Digital Solutions OM-1.
Reflections Of A Summer Sunset

By Lisa McKean
High tides and late summer rainstorms created this dramatic landscape at Zuma Beach. The tide flowed so high onto the beach, a temporary reflecting pool appeared in the sand, mirroring the crimson clouds above.
Processed on metal by Bay Photo company.
Rancho Sierra Vista

By Steven Friedman
I spend a lot of time at Ranch Sierra Vista/Satwiwa as a volunteer, and I always have my camera with me just in case there is something interesting to photograph.
I also frequent the site to document the environment during different seasons. A storm had just passed, and I hoped to photograph a great sunset over Boney Mountain. While the clouds never turned bright colors, I was rewarded with some light on the peaks and midground to provide a sense of depth, and the winter grasses were lush and green.
The feature of interest in the foreground of the photograph is an “Ap,” a structure used by the Chumash for storing goods and maybe sleeping. There have been several aps at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa. Being constructed of branches and grasses aps fall apart over time. They last a few seasons at best.
Photographed in the late afternoon after a clearing storm. January 10, 2023. Rancho Sierra Vista. Olympus E-M1.