Picture perfect
Winning images from photographers across the Central Coast capture the world
BY CAMILLIA LANHAMPhotographs can’t always convey an image as the human eye sees it, but sometimes a photographer can translate it exactly. They have the skills to show the world for what it is, in all the light, color, and emotion that a moment can muster. And sometimes, we absolutely get
JUDGES
lucky. Both of those mean that everyone else gets to view a part of the world they may not have otherwise seen.
Since 1994, New Times Media Group has asked for those images. We’ve invited local photographers to send us their favorites for our Winning Images contest. This year’s all-digital contest received more than 350
Jayson Mellom began his photojournalism career at the Marion Chronicle-Tribune in Indiana before moving on to the Athens Daily News and then The Atlanta Journal/Constitution before eventually settling in San Luis Obispo. He worked for the SLO Tribune for 16 years and has been New Times’ photographer since 2016. Along the way, he’s won state, regional, and national awards for his photojournalism; has been published in National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, In Touch, and Der Spiegel magazines; and has had photos in the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and The New York Times.
photos. Our judges narrowed them down to three winners each in eight categories, plus honorable mentions, and judge’s picks.
Every entry also came in with a $10 fee, which will be rolled back into prize money for each of the winners, who also receive awards from the contest’s sponsors. Winning photographs will be on display at The Photo Shop (1027 Marsh St., SLO) through July 19.
Check out the winning images from 2024 on the following pages, and be sure to keep an eye on what you could submit in 2025’s contest! ∆
Contact Editor Camillia Lanham at clanham@newtimesslo.com.
San Luis Obispo native and perennial Winning Images judge Peggy Mesler is a photographer and the owner of The Photo Shop in SLO, where she shares her appreciation for—and knowledge of— photography with customers, clients, and friends. Peggy earned a journalism degree from Cal Poly, and she opened her shop in 1995.
Stephanie Secrest has a master’s degree in photojournalism from Ohio University. She’s been a freelancer for more 15 years and was with the press for 21 years before that. Stephanie was invited to attend the exclusive Eddie Adams Workshop, a top honor for photojournalists. She was also a pre-qualification judge for Adobe with its ADAA contest. She’s been published in Newsday, The London Sunday News Magazine, The Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, The Baltimore Sun, and San Francisco Chronicle among others and was chief photographer and photo editor for two newspapers. ∆
PHOTO COURTESY OF JAYSON MELLOM PHOTO COURTESY OF PEGGY MESLER PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHANIE SECREST
Winning Images 2024 Judge’s Pick
Winning Images 2024
Mica Gross, Colorado High Mountain Stream, JUDGE’S PICK
Winning Images 2024 Animals
Winning Images 2024
Jonathan Shapiro, Animals, Portrait of an Elephant Seal, HONORABLE MENTION
Winning Images 2024
Bob Canepa, Animals, My Dogs Can Fly, THIRD PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Marlin Harms, Animals, She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not, SECOND PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Carl Sepulveda, Animals, Untitled, FIRST PLACE & BEST OF SHOW
Winning Images 2024 Flora
Winning Images 2024
Lincoln Sullivan, Flora, Growing Through Adversity, HONORABLE MENTION
Winning Images 2024
Dan Baum, Flora, Oak First Spring Leaves and Lichen, THIRD PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Kathleen Bosch, Flora, Poppy Pop, SECOND PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Carl Sepulveda, Flora, Untitled, FIRST PLACE
Winning Images 2024 In Motion
Winning Images 2024
Jonathan Shapiro, In Motion, Rodeo Action, HONORABLE MENTION
Winning Images 2024
Christopher Hamma, In Motion, Nature’s Roomba, THIRD PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Tim Bennett, In Motion, Acrobatic Surfer at Morro Bay Competition, SECOND PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Heather Shultz, In Motion, Hummingbird, FIRST PLACE
Winning Images 2024 Landscape/Seascape
Winning Images 2024
Kathleen Bosch, Land/Seascape, Over the Fog, HONORABLE MENTION
Winning Images 2024
Jonathan Shapiro, Land/Seascape, Moonset by Morro Rock, THIRD PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Shad Giordano, Land/Seascape, Groovy Rays at Montaña De Oro, SECOND PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Amy Joseph, Land/Seascape, Blue Wave, FIRST PLACE
Winning Images 2024 Open
Winning Images 2024
Andy Samarasena, Open, Cascade Capture: Bear’s Fishing Triumph at Brooks Falls, HONORABLE MENTION
Winning Images 2024
Andy Samarasena, Open, Stealth and Serenity: Wild Sri Lankan Leopard, THIRD PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Wayne Angeloty, Open, Predawn Lotus in First Light, SECOND PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Dan Baum, Open, Condor Love, FIRST PLACE
Winning Images 2024 People
Winning Images 2024
Andy Samarasena, People, Radiant Birthday Glow, HONORABLE MENTION
Winning Images 2024
David Sirgany, People, A Blink in Time, THIRD PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Roa Clark, People, Summer Evenings in Avila, SECOND PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Michael Messina, People, That was Then, This is Now, FIRST PLACE
Winning Images 2024 Travel
Winning Images 2024
Andy Samarasena, Travel, Tranquil Journey, THIRD PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Andy Samarasena, Travel, Yosemite Majesty, SECOND PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Andy Samarasena, Travel, Nature’s Nurturer: Mother Bear Protecting Cubs by the Creek, FIRST PLACE
Winning Images 2024 Youth
Winning Images 2024
Izzy Huls-Hutton, Youth, All Bark No Bite, HONORABLE MENTION
Winning Images 2024
Aria Patterson, Youth, Murphy and Me, THIRD PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Lance Wilson, Youth, Outflow, SECOND PLACE
Winning Images 2024
Izzy Huls-Hutton, Youth, In Your Face, FIRST PLACE