GRAND PRIZE WINNER
Surprise, Andy Jones
"Shooting landscapes at night is something I get excited about. There are many things to love about being out in the dark with your camera. And adding the aurora borealis to the list of things to photograph in New Mexico is absolutely worth getting excited about. In March 2023, a surprise solar storm hit Earth and triggered some auroral storms. The big surprise that night was that I could capture it by Hope, New Mexico. Since then I’ve tried to catch it as often as possible here in New Mexico." —Andy Jones
1ST PLACE
NEW MEXICO EXPERIENCE
Receding, Brian VanDenzen
"The ruins of Chetro Ketl recede into a cold morning fog at Chaco Canyon National Historical Park. Chaco Canyon is a mysterious place, marking the center of the Ancestral Puebloan culture in the 11th and 12th centuries. The great houses of Chaco Canyon were the largest structures in North America until the late 19th century. Now abandoned, those great houses of stone slowly recede into memory and sand." —Brian VanDenzen
1ST PLACE
LANDSCAPES
Don’t Get Comfortable, Andy Jones
"Don’t get comfortable is the lesson I learned on my first real storm chase. On May 24, I met a friend for a storm chase. In the past, I had shot storms as they passed by or lightning as they approached, but on this occasion, I was going to actively be in pursuit of storms. He sent me a pin for a location north of Clovis and told me to be there. So twenty minutes later, I’m pulling up to this abandoned barn next to big open dirt fields for crops. But when I got out of the car, the wind was the biggest surprise. I chose to wear shorts that day—a big mistake. This giant storm was sucking air in at 65 mph, so every grain of dirt now felt like needles in my legs. I haven’t worn shorts on a storm chase since. This storm moved slowly and steadily, just growing and gathering strength. The wind and dirt being blown around were a big adjustment. I finally found a spot I liked where the recently harvested crop made cool lines right into the storm, and I snapped this quick three-panel panorama. We stayed at this location until my friend finally got service and informed me the area was under a tornado warning. That was our cue to leave." —Andy Jones
1ST PLACE
ANIMALS
Bee Amidst the Harvest, Valerie Wells
"I captured this native bee in my backyard in Bosque Farms as it hung on the expired blooms of a sunflower. I loved the spikiness, which seemed to lend itself to a defensive gesture by the plant toward the bee. For me, macro photography offers up a whole new world in which to view the nature New Mexico has such an abundance of, and it forces me as a photographer to alter my perception of space by focusing on such tiny creatures and viewing them in new perspectives. While I love landscape and night photography, I have an innate fascination with insects that goes back to childhood, and I don't have to travel far to see them." —Valerie Wells
1ST PLACE
MOBILE
Up in Smoke, Twyla Sisneros
"'Up in Smoke' was taken in May 2024 at our annual branding in Colonias. Branding pictures have become some of my favorite photos as they show the lifestyle my family loves and enjoys. Colonias has been our home since 2001 and has been my husband’s family home for many years as they are heirs of the Anton Chico Land Grant. The brand pictured was originally registered to my late father-in-law, Silvano Sisneros, but has since changed to Sisneros Cattle." —Twyla Sisneros
1ST PLACE
NIGHTSCAPES
Searching …, Abuko Estrada
"The Very Large Array with the Milky Way core shot from NM-52. Trying to capture human isolation in an expansive universe, which serves catalyst to explore the cosmos." —Abuko Estrada
1ST PLACE
PEOPLE
A Soul on the Move, Chanel Flores
"This image features my daughter, Lanelle, whose passion for trains is inspired by her father, a BNSF Railway conductor. While scouting locations for a client, I stumbled upon this vintage boxcar on my uncle's land, where it has sat since my childhood. I submitted this photo because it evokes feelings of joy, nostalgia, and innocence. Capturing Lanelle's carefree nature transported me back to my childhood memories." —Chanel Flores
1ST PLACE
NEW MEXICO’S ROUTE 66
Blue Swallow Sunset, Reece Parker
“Long a stopping point of Route 66 in Tucumcari, the Blue Swallow Motel attracts road-weary travelers and aficionados of the Mother Road seeking an experience from an earlier time in America.” —Reece Parker
SEE FOR YOURSELF
For the ninth consecutive year, Tularosa Basin Gallery of Photography, in Carrizozo, will host an exhibition featuring the winners. The opening weekend, January 25–26, includes artist appearances and refreshments. As the largest photo gallery in the state, Tularosa Basin Gallery features the work of more than 40 New Mexico photographers. The gallery is open Friday through Sunday and by appointment.