Judges Comments

We felt much of the category lacked a bit of creativity and looked more like straightforward documentation than visual storytelling. The winning entries were more unique and had stronger points of entry. The winning image of the tree-planting ceremony succeeded because it found an unusual perspective on a common event. We appreciated that the photographer got low and created something more interesting than a standard record shot. Second-place stood out because we were looking for a moment, and this one delivered. The third-place image appealed to us because the photographer looked beyond the obvious. We saw it almost as a commentary on modern life, with everyone absorbed in their phones.