Annual Photography Contest Results 2024
TJ Hastings received the Sheila Braden Award from Judith Eichenbaum for his photo of juvenile house wrens in their nest
Winners of the Open Photo Competition - Rich Greene, Austin Simpson, TJ Hastings, Steve Hallmark, and Albert Gasser
The Annual Awards took place at Santa Monica Mountains Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center at king Gillette Ranch on a beautifully sunny and warm February Day!
Suzanne Clark won the People’s Choice Award
A massive THANK YOU goes to Pauls Photos for their generous donation of prizes!
Austin Simpson received the Student Award
Sheila Braden Award
Juvenile House Wrens
TJ Hastings
I heard some juvenile house wrens on Santa Ynez Canyon Trail in Topanga State Park and was able to find their next in a dead tree. There were a total of 6 nestlings (only 4 pictured) and both parents kept returning to the tree feeding them. I was able to capture on of the adult birds by the nest while its young were begging for more food. Camera: Sony a6400 Lens: Tamron 150-500mm
TJ is a student at Occidental College
First Place - OPEN
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First Place - OPEN *
House Finch on Century Plant
Albert Gasser
I like to go to the Malibu Lagoon often throughout the year. It is always an adventure, and I always discover new things like this House Finch on a Century plant in bloom.
Location: Mailbu Creek State Park
Camera: Fujifilm X-T3
Lens: XF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6 , Teleconverter XF 1.4
Settings: ISO 640 560mm f/8.0 1/500sec
Second Place
El Matador: A Sunset For The Birds
Rich Greene
Any time of year is good one to photograph here, but winter is my favorite. One will usually find more interesting skies and great chances for epic sunsets.
Nikon D7000, Tokina 11-16mm lens.
Focal length 11mm, f/16 @ 1 second, ISO 200.
Third Place
SUNSET SURFER AT LEO CARRILLO
Austin Simpson
Sunset Surfer at Leo Carrillo
A surfer I captured at Leo Carrillo during the last moments of sunset. I slowed down my shutter speed and panned as I took the shot.
Honorable mentions
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![Western Gray Squirrel]()
Western Gray Squirrel
By TJ Hastings
A western gray squirrel sits on top of a broken tree as the sun sets through the oak trees behind it. Photo taken on Santa Ynez Canyon Trail in Topanga State Park.
Sony a6400 Lens: Tamron 150-500mm
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![Acorn Woodpecker]()
Acorn Woodpecker
By Steve Hallmark
People’s Choice
Mantilija Poppies
Suzanne Clark
The native Matilija poppy is always a show stopper. And against the backdrop of a spectacular sunset over Malibu Creek State Park, they definitely strut their stuff!
Judges Choices
"Thirsty" This is a worker honeybee known as a water forager. Its job is to collect water for the hive. The bee uses its proboscis, a straw-like tongue, to suck up water; it can hold 1/250th of a teaspoon in its stomach. Back at the hive, the bee will regurgitate the water. Water is used in the hive to hydrate other bees, regulate hive temperature on warm days, and mix with pollen to feed the queen and her brood. Rock Pool, Malibu Creek State Park,. February 3, 2023.
"Oaks in Fog" Photographed at Charmlee Wilderness Park, Malibu, California, May 2003. Original image on slide film, drum scanned to digital July 2003. Digital print November 2024: archival pigmented ink on glossy metallic paper, mounted on acid-free foam core.
Great Egret captured at Malibu Lagoon - I saw this lovely white bird walking against the colorful foliage, with the estuary framing it from below, and thought it would make a nice image. Canon 7D and EF400mm lens - captured in September 2010
Beaches and Coast
FIRST PLACE "Pelican And The Seagulls" By Jerry Cowart. I took this photograph at Malibu Lagoon, one of my favorite places to walk on the beach and photograph birds. On this adventure, I saw this beautiful Pelican coming in for a landing among the seagulls. It's always special when the unexpected happens when I am out shooting, this was one of those special moments.
SECOND PLACE "Foam at Point Dume" By Deborah Suterko. Foam from a recent wave at Point Dume on a November day.
THIRD PLACE "On The Hunt By Jerry Cowart. I took this photograph of an Egret looking for food in the surf at Malibu Lagoon, one of my favorite places to photograph wildlife. I love the way the sun highlights his wings and the foam in the surf. When I am out shooting, It's always exciting when the unexpected happens and I come away with a beautiful moment captured.
HONORABLE MENTION "A Sunset For All" By Jesse Sloan. A late fall sunset being enjoyed by people and birds, alike. The tide was low, allowing for reflective spots and perfect front-row seating on the rocks and sea-stacks at El Matador State Beach, one of the most popular and scenic beaches along the SoCal Coast. Date: November 15, 2019 Exp: 1/250 sec f8 35 mm
People in the parkland
SECOND PLACE "Malibu Paint Out at El Matador Beach" By Deborah Suterko. I went out to capture the artists at work and view their renderings of our beautiful landscapes and seascapes. Canon 5D MKII
FIRST PLACE "Welcome Back!" By Scott Harrison. On the right, Bonnie Morgan welcomes Amanda Barrett to a reunion at Paramount Ranch for former Renaissance Pleasure Faire staff and participants. March 21, 2010
HONORABLE MENTION "Jump" By Mary Maki. Jump Laura, a French foreign exchange student, stopped to enjoy the view of the Conejo Valley with a celebratory jump as we hiked up from the Danielson Monument to Boney Mountain in the western Santa Monica Mountains. Mugu State Park July 24, 2017.
THIRD PLACE "Four Kids" By Jerry Cowart. I took this photograph at El Matador State Beach, one of my favorite places to go. I never know what I will find, but I am never disappointed. I was photographing the beautiful sunset and as I was getting ready to leave, I saw these kids having fun as their dad was taking photos of them, so I grabbed this candid shot.
History OF SAMO
FIRST PLACE "Old Place" By William Horstick. Found this cool old rustic-looking restaurant on a drive up the mountains. I had wanted to go back and try it (but I heard it was destroyed in a wildfire). iPhone.
SECOND PLACE "Trail's End" By Scott Harrison. A chimney is all that remains of a cabin at the Trail's End Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains after a brush fire. Trail's End Ranch owner Donald Scott died during a 1992 law enforcement raid on the property. October 28, 1993
THIRD PLACE "Waves of Flags" By Scott Harrison. Sunset over the "Waves of Flags" at Pepperdine University in memory of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001. September 7, 2013
HONORABLE MENTION "Waves of the Flags" By Deborah Surterko. Pepperdine University, honoring the lives lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Canon 5D MKII