Honorable Mention - Joel Le. JUDGE COMMENTS: I like the sunset vibe and the contrast of the windows in the buildings. It seems like you can feel them. || It has a very simple composition and the sunset feel!
10th Place - Mandy Pelton. JUDGE COMMENTS: I’ve seen this location a thousand times but what makes the whole thing work is the wavy water line at the bottom. That line almost overshadows the whole impressive skyline. || Excellent use of interesting foreground elements. The undulating shoreline seems to imitate the distant skyline. || I like the color and symmetry. The city buildings are the brightest objects and the center of attention.
9th Place - Azgan Mjeshtri. JUDGE COMMENTS: You really get the quaint city feeling in this photo with a hint of peacefulness because of the lack of people. Makes me want to go sit down at one of the tables and take it all in. || Love the wet, gritty nature and the textures.
8th Place - Jim Trewin. JUDGE COMMENTS: This is my top choice because it really communicates the energy of the city street. I love the colors, the composition and the light and shadows. It has a feel of movement to it. || I feel like I'm in the city, or that I want to be; this image has great emotion.
7th Place - Mick Haupt. JUDGE COMMENTS: Amazing photo of Seattle skyline! Well composed, good tone. Feels like the city is rising out of the forest. || Strong contrast; love how the Needle pops.
6th Place - Gary Nomura. JUDGE COMMENTS: Iconic, and the perfect balance of waning daylight and approaching nightlife. || I like how the city colors reflect on the water. Also the starburst effect on the bridge adds a nice touch. || Vibrant hues || Absolutely beautiful due to the rich colors.
5th Place - Mick Haupt. JUDGE COMMENTS: I LOVE the colors of the pond and the feel of the city vs. nature, or the nature in the midst of the city. || Love the colors and composition || This image contrasts the bright green pond algae with the bright blue sky which is mediated by the buildings.
4th Place - Tim Moon. JUDGE COMMENTS: I love the near and far elements, high dynamic range, and old-world theme with no modern buildings. || Beautiful framing and light. I think that landscape/skyline photos can be really challenging to execute well. This image has a thoughtful composition. || Love the clarity of the image and the perspective it gives. || Love the contrast between the large, dominant building on the left and the smaller buildings to the right.
3RD PLACE - GARY NOMURA. JUDGE COMMENTS: Strong leading lines and movement || Great capture of the bustle of San Francisco. You get the feel of a city that doesn’t sleep. Great colors, great clarity. || I love the warm lights and cool sky going on in this long exposure. There is a lot of vibrancy and the composition is pretty good along the thirds lines. || This photo gives off a really cool city night vibe! I appreciate the composition and colors for a night shot.
2ND PLACE - MANDY PELTON. JUDGE COMMENTS: Love the tone and perspective here. Every region of this photo has so much wonderful detail for the viewer to explore. || Love the leading lines, the unique structures, the gritty texture. || Great Chicago picture. Love the angle of perspective, bridges, parallel, and leading lines. Good natural colors. || I love the composition, colors, and sharpness! It shows a lot of depth with the bridges and the buildings. It's a very aesthetically pleasing photo to me.
1ST PLACE WINNER - TIM MOON. On 11 of 15 ballots. JUDGE COMMENTS: Marvelously minimal shot. Nicely framed and just enough interior lighting to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. || This would be an awesome Soularium image. || In my opinion, this is the most creative interpretation of the theme. I love how the artist communicates the crowdedness of the city through a small frame - shot through a single window. Very well executed. || My top pic - it tells a story about life and scale within a skyline picture.