The Photographers’ Journey 2025 Exhibit showcases skill, vision and the storytelling power of photographers from near and far. Out of the 400 images submitted 64 photographs were selected in the following categories: Portait/Event/Sports, Architectural Cityscape, Wildlife, Digital/Conceptual/Abstract, Landscape/Seascape, Botanical/Still Life, Documentary/Street/Journalism, and Travel Places.
Judges Olivia Kim and Andrea Zuchegno selected a winning image within each category and then from those images, they selected two Runners-Up and a Grand Prize honoring those works that stood out not only for their technical excellence but also for their ability to linger in the mind and spark curiosity.
Representing the Portrait/Event/Sports category, Tom Kredo’s Scrum Struggle received the Grand Prize Award, which captivated the judges with its visceral energy and unconventional perspective. The black-and white composition focuses entirely on the tangle of athlete’s arms, locked in a fierce rugby scrum. By omitting faces entirely, Kredo transforms a sporting moment into an abstract study of strength, teamwork, and human connection. The image demands a second look, rewarding the viewer with layered textures, muscular tension and the grit of competition. Judge Oliva Kim noted that “a common strength among the images was a sense of surprise that made me wonder about the world—Scrum Struggle captured that perfectly.” Fellow judge Andrea Zuchegno added, “Because it was only showing arms and not the heads of the athletes, I found myself looking at it more closely. That unique framing made it unforgettable.”
From the Digital/Conceptual/Abstract category, a Runner-Up Award was given to One Step, by Jack Taylor. The image delivered an unexpected visual punch. The focal point—a single toenail on a big toe—was both curious and mesmerizing, drawing the eye with its unusual intimacy. Oliva Kim remarked, “I was particularly drawn to that image because of the focus point. It’s rare to see something so small and specific become so compelling.” The minimalist composition invited contemplation, proving that less can indeed be more.
The other Runner-Up Award was given to Anne Dunford for Climbing the Dunes, from the Travel Places category. Anne’s image transports viewers to the sweeping sands of Morocco. The golden light of early morning skims the crest of the dunes, casting long shadows of camels and their guide against a backdrop of flowing, wind-sculpted ridges. The scene is both grand and intimate—a timeless moment of human endurance and harmony with nature. The balance between vast spaces and small human figures creates a sense of awe, inviting the viewer to imagine a journey ahead.
While the Grand Prize and Runners-Up each earned a spotlight, the remaining category winners each brings delight to the visitors who view them.
In the Architectural Cityscape category, Lawrence Steinwachs’ Armstrong Museum/Space Museum No.3 is an image that uses the curvature of its dome and the sweep of concrete walls to create a striking geometric composition. The interplay between solid structure and soft sky conveys both the grounded engineering of space exploration and the limitless dreams it represents.
Beverly Goldschmidt’s tender portrait of a zebra mare and her newborn foal, called Mother and Newborn,was awarded the prize for the Wildlife category. Each curve and line of the mother and baby’s stripes harmonize beautifully with each other. The black and white presentation highlights texture and pattern, while preserving the warmth of maternal connection. The gentle nuzzle between mother and child speaks to both the vulnerability and resilience of life in the wild.
The winning photo in the Landscape/Seascape category is called Crowded Morning by Mike Haugh. In this sweeping panoramic of the Mesquite Dunes, Haugh captures the interplay of light and shadow at sunrise. The title hints at the “crowded” peaks of wind-sculpted sand, each casting a long morning shadow like a gathering of silent guards. The cool blue of the distant mountains contrasts with the golden warmth of the dunes, creating a balance between stillness and energy that draws the viewer in.
Elena Dilai’s photo, Flos Post Vitam, was the winner in the Botanical/Still Life category. Translating to “Flower after Death,” Dilai’s haunting study of a dried blossom is a meditation on beauty, impermanence and resilience. The withered petals, rendered in black and white detail, curl like fragile parchment against a dark background. Far from lifeless, the flower seems to hold the echoes of its prime, reminding viewers that grace endures even in decay.
Jennifer Stephens’ winning Documentary/Street /Journalism category image, 7,8,2,6 captures a whimsical, surreal corner of the urban landscape—a bold red and white squid mural, whose tentacles curl into the real world, seemingly wrapping around an old bicycle parked below. The blending of painted fantasy and tangible reality invites a double-take, blurring the line between street art and street life. Adding a personal hand-crafted touch, Stephens stitched thread directly around the image, creating a textured frame that subtly draws the viewer’s eye inward and makes the photograph feel as tactile as the scene it depicts.
The 2025 Photographers’ Journey Exhibit reminds us that the best photographs do more than record a single moment—they invite us to linger, question, and feel. Whether through a tangle of arms in a high-stakes match, the curve of a toenail, the sweep of a desert landscape, the arc of a museum dome, the stripes of a zebra, or the unexpected pairing of a squid and bicycle, these winning images expand our understanding of the world and the beauty it holds.
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