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To capture their magic moments, this year’s shooting stars ventured far and wide.
This year’s winning entry in the portrait category came from a village in Ghana, to where the photographer journeyed to bury his grandmother. The top wildlife entry came from the “Monkey City” of Thailand, where we watch a group of rhesus macaques gently welcome a tiny and fragile new member to their midst.
The photos in this year’s contest skillfully capture both motion and emotion. You can feel in the frantic stare of a Kyrgiz horse the tightly focused frenzy of the Nomadic games. You can also envision the roller king of Venice Beach leaping toward the sky moments before his triumph is forever captured by the photographer beneath him.
Some images can be found closer to home.
There is the understated bliss of a mother turning 50 and the mysterious ray of light that beams out through a crack on Market Street. Equally enigmatic is the maze of water channels that a young photographer spotted during a trip to Santa Monica this year and then proceeded to illuminate in a stark and eerie black-and-white composition. These photos challenge us with questions and make us work for answers.
And much like in years past, they also reflect the spirit of the moment — the feelings of wanderlust, hope and wonder experienced by Peninsula residents. We were pleased to receive 1,228 submissions this year from 256 photographers who live, work or study in the 650 area code, capturing a breadth of styles, subjects, sights and sensations.
The Six Fifty, the Palo Alto Weekly and the Palo Alto Art Center are proud to unveil the 12 winning shots and 12 honorable mentions from adult and youth submissions across six categories, continuing a tradition that we established more than two decades ago.
All the winning entries are now on exhibit at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road. The exhibition will continue until Dec. 7.
Adults
“I met Joshua last summer in Venice Beach and knew I wanted to photograph him as he had that special quality to him. I photographed from the ground as he jumped and then moved out of the way as fast as I could.”
— Chris Stevens-Yu, photographer
“This photo is striking in so many ways — the motion it captures, the body language of the skater, the heights of what they must be feeling in the air. This photo is the definition of the decisive moment, but it also shows an athlete’s character and personality while playing — perhaps unknowingly — with the optical illusion of the skater soaring above the trees in the background.”
— Anna Hoch-Kenney, judge
“Lopburi, Thailand, is nicknamed “Monkey City” because the rhesus macaques have literally taken over the city. Watching their behavior and comparing it to what we do as humans was fascinating.”
— Mark Kay, photographer
“This photograph, even without its obvious anthropomorphic theme, is all about character and gesture. The hands on the baby monkey and an outstretched arm to one of the adults, the angle of the head of the monkey closest to the juvenile, the look on the face of the relatively tiny and fragile-looking monkey — all of it reflects on the caring and empathy of the group. The emotion is tender, warm-hearted and thoughtful. This is also a great example of the photographer’s timing, hitting the shutter as all of those gestures come together at once!”
— Neal Menschel, judge
“Horse wrestling competition (Er Enish in the Kyrgyz tongue) is one of the popular Nomad games on the central Asian steppe, in which the skill of the horses is just as important as the riders. The emotive force of the photograph is intensely captured in the eyes of the horses, both of whom seem to be staring directly at the camera from ~50 ft away. The crucifix composition (horses vertical, boys horizontal) is set off by the lovely backdrop of Song Kul Lake and surrounding mountains.”
— Bill Newsome, photographer
“This photograph captures a perfect moment in time, with two wrestlers mid-action at the center, their energy drawing immediate attention. Surrounding them, horses gaze directly at the camera, adding a surprising, humorous touch. The composition is balanced, guiding the viewer through textures, expressions and movement.
The mix of timing and alignment is rare, making this moment feel both unplanned and perfectly arranged. It’s an instant that can never be repeated, showcasing a rare harmony of elements that make the image unique and memorable.”
— Donna J. Wan, judge
“This photo was taken during a trip to bury my grandmother in Shama, Ghana. My grandmother’s lineage led us back to the ancestral village of Krobo, Shama, Ghana, where I had the honor of taking portraits of various people living there. The portrait of this young woman provided myself and hopefully other viewers a feeling of strength, empathy, hope and resilience.”
— Moses Kinnah, photographer
“The subject’s facial expression is complex — her eyes hint that she is on the brink of either breaking into a full smile, or running out of patience with everything. The sweat glistening on her chin and the scars on her cheekbones (seemingly intentionally placed?) reveal hints of her life. The head wrap and the one earring seem to allude to the iconic painting ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring.'”
— Anna Hoch-Kenney, judge
“I had been walking since before dawn through Oze, a vast high-elevation wetland, and by late day I was completely exhausted. Then I saw this lone birch, illuminated by the low evening sun, and photographed it like a portrait using a classic Nikon 85mm f/1.4 lens.”
— Yusuke Naraki, photographer
“This stark and beautiful black-and-white photograph stands out for its clear composition and strong contrast. In the foreground, a lone birch tree’s trunk and branches are bathed in sunlight, symbolizing strength and solitude. Behind it, mountains rise, their rugged edges softened by drifting clouds. A shadow stretches from the tree toward the mountains, subtly connecting the two. The tree’s fading leaves blend into the shadow, linking light and dark.
The black-and-white format enhances the contrast, drawing attention to textures, shapes and the balance of light and space. The image feels thoughtfully composed, offering a calm, reflective moment for the viewer.”
— Donna J. Wan, judge
“The geometric structure of this scene, captured outdoors at night on Market Street, called out to me. I enjoy the ambiguity of the image, which some viewers may see as an indoor scene with daylight streaming in from outside.”
— Cole Leahy, photographer
“This photograph has a strong composition, with light and windows drawing the viewer’s eye to the center. The building’s illuminated facade adds a subtle, spooky character to the scene. Though under renovation, the covered windows and obscured structure create mystery, leaving us to wonder what lies behind the plastic sheeting.
The eerie glow and uncertainty give the image a haunting, cinematic feel. The limited palette enhances the stark atmosphere, emphasizing contrast and form. More than just documenting a space in transition, the photograph transforms it into something unsettling and poetic.”
— Donna J. Wan, judge
Youth
“I took this photo on Feb. 14, 2025, on a short trip to Santa Monica. I was walking down the beach when I saw a drain outlet with really interesting textures and shapes left behind by the combination of seawater and the water from the drain. I was inspired by abstract drone photos and decided to edit the photograph in black and white to really showcase the water lines.”
— John Fan, photographer
“Abstracts, as this one, often leave questions and are open to multiple interpretations, depending on the viewer. The patterns and the texture in this image are compositionally balanced and offer the viewer multiple openings for exploration in a search for meaning — or is it simply a wonderfully graphic image? This photograph works very well either way. At first glance it reminds me of a nighttime cityscape taken from a jet as it approaches an urban runway/airport. On closer examination one realizes they are photographic highlights, but of what? The mystery continues.”
— Neal Menschel, judge
“Sometimes, all it takes is a shift in perspective to uncover hidden beauty. What seems like an ordinary wall reveals an entire secret world when viewed through the right frame. Behind this small window, a quiet alleyway unfolds — a timeless scene tucked away behind the plain boring wall.”
— Benjamin Patel, photographer
“The famous street photographer Elliott Erwitt shares photographic advice with one word: ‘Notice!’ We often walk down colorful, exotic streets, lift our camera (or smartphone) and snap a photo to share our amazement of the colors and old architecture, thinking that those two things will be enough to awe the friend and viewer. That is how we fall into lazy cliches.
The photographer here avoided that by looking at the scene and working at recording it in a more personal way. Framing the view with the beautiful, brightly colored and weathered door/window frame, the photographer took the ordinary, predictable visual recording of the street scene and turned it into a much more interesting view of the street. Nice color and composition, unusual view and a great sense of place presented in a refreshing manner.”
— Neal Menschel, judge
“I captured this photograph of my mother at her 50th birthday celebration. I used my personal monochrome style and high contrast to further amplify her emotion and details.”
— Archer Viola, photographer
“What a beautiful, intimate moment! In this photograph, I see a woman taking an intentional moment to contemplate all the complex feelings that accompany getting older, acknowledging the passing of time and smiling with those thoughts as she prepares to celebrate with her loved ones. It’s truly touching. The light of the candles and the sparkles on her sash create beautiful and celebratory contrast against the slightly underexposed image.”
— Anna Hoch-Kenney, judge
“I used a sheer fabric, broken mirror and acrylic sheets over a portrait light to create this photo. I was experimenting with broken mirrors and colors as a light source. It’s a really great photo in my opinion because it really creates the question: What is going on? What is her emotion? It makes the viewer expand and create their own meanings of the photo.”
— Jeremy (Kae) Huang, photographer
“Photographs often work best when there is a “point of focus” that, with help of light, lines (real and imagined) and composition, the viewer’s eye is drawn to. In this case it is literally the subject’s brightly lit eye, looking directly at the viewer.
This image, with its powerful mood, begs for interpretation. The expression of the subject, their very direct stare, the obscuring aspect of the fabric, the disjointedness created by the glass and the overall darkness with the isolation of the model create a wonderful mystery, leaving questions unanswered only to be guessed at or assumed.”
— Neal Menschel, judge
“I took this photo while backpacking in Point Reyes, and the contrast between the foggy trail and dark foreground was super interesting and mysterious.”
— Josh Cohen, photographer
“I love the use of framing and leading lines in this photo. Looking out at a path winding through the fog from the darkness of the deeper forest conveys a sense of eeriness, but also a hint of hope and direction.”
— Anna Hoch-Kenney, judge
“This photo was taken during a trip to Indonesia, into the monkey forest. I took the photo from bottom up, enlarging the amount of dread and risen hope in the photo.”
— Reece Feng, photographer
“This striking photograph captures a monkey looking upward, its face conveying a mix of awe and uncertainty. The object of its attention is unseen, with a vague reflection in its eyes adding to the mystery. This uncertainty sparks curiosity about what lies just outside the frame. The monkey’s expression draws us in, making us feel connected to its emotion, whether it’s fascination or unease. By focusing on this singular moment, the image offers a simple yet powerful portrayal of a fleeting experience that feels both personal and universal.”
— Donna J. Wan, judge
Honorable mentions
See galleries of past winners here:
2018 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2019 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2020 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2021 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2022 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2023 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
2024 Peninsula Photo Contest winners
