A huge thank you to everyone who entered our recent photography competition. We’ve received some absolutely phenomenal photos, and we’re showcasing the final 50 entries today! Read on to view the images, and find out how to choose the winner.
The Voting Process
We’ve gone through all the submissions received, and picked around 150 that we feel are worthy of putting to a reader vote. If yours wasn’t included, we hope you won’t be discouraged and will try again next time!
Voting will take place in three parts of around 50 images each, with the 10 highest rated photos of these three rounds going into a “final”.
This is the third and final round. Later this week, we’ll be closing the polls and posting up a “final vote”. We’ll showcase the top 10 images from all three voting rounds, and let you choose the one that will win overall!
Spend some time looking over the following photos and, when you’ve decided which you’d like to win, scroll to the bottom of the page to cast your vote! You’ll be able to vote once for each round, and again in the final!
The Competition Finalists – Round 3 of 3
Entry Number: 1
Two boys are playing with toys in their classroom. We have to educate children by showing them animated videos based of their syllabus will easily understand by them.
Entry Number: 2
This image reminds me of all my great visits, in essence it reminds me of travel. Most notably our annual trip to the south of Italy to see family and friends.
Entry Number: 3
The dusted piano of my mother – if she opens it and begins to play she falls back in her younger years and she feels like a teenager (again)… You could call her piano her youth water but it doesn’t wipe out her first wrinkles – no, it’s just “the youth water” for her feelings which getting free with it.
Entry Number: 4
Mother and son – The relationship stronger. Trust, affection, spontaneity. Never forget the mother’s lap, his arms, hugging… And we know that we’ll never be forgotten, we have a person willing to do anything for us. It’s great to have a mother. Really great.
Entry Number: 5
This image shows the bike path from Battery Park to the World Trade Center. What makes this an eerie memory is that at the end of the bike path is what would have been the entrance to the World Trade Center. The only thing you can see now are the clouds that fill the center. What once held two of the most historic buildings at the end of this path is now surrounded by office buildings.
I remember going down this path a lot when I was younger. There were many skaters, strollers, and businesspeople walking down this path to head to the World Trade Center. After the tragic events of 2001, you can see the result. There’s hardly anyone who travels down this path. This is what makes it an eerie memory.
Entry Number: 6
We don’t know to enjoy the time when the easiest things are so difficult for us. Instead, we remember all the difficulties we approached with no thinking.
Entry Number: 7
Everything in my life has been set to music. I can remember the first time I heard songs from Backstreet Boys to Coldplay. And then on another level, I’ve played flute for seven years and piano for eleven years. In high school, I did marching band for a very competitive high school and I can remember the hours we would spend outside in 100 degree weather marching in a parking lot while my director would yell through speakers.
I learned everything I ever needed to learn about perseverance and made the closest friends I ever needed in marching band.
Entry Number: 8
This memory goes beyond my own memories. The subject of this picture is Marilu, my mother’s first porcelain doll. For my mother, this doll represents the perfect scent of her childhood. The memory of her parents, the old happy days are condensated in this porcelain face.
This image is plenty of memories for me too. Suddenly, the remembrance of my grandmother’s old house appears to me. I lived there until my eight years old and I remember the doll as an immanent and mysterious presence. By then, it wasn’t a toy anymore. It was a relic. And it remains the same way nowadays, like a silent witness of the passing days. Now it’s my baby niece who stares the same face.
An image that pass through three generations of memories, and goes on.
Entry Number: 9
Represents my momeries of the university. The light past getting darker in my mind. But some silhouettes will remain forever.
Entry Number: 10
“Old is Gold” – Film has recorded memories for many years now. Many photographers feel a sense of nostalgia just seeing a roll of negatives as it reminds them of their days in the darkroom. I still enjoy using film thanks to my high school B&W photography class. The more I see this picture the more I really appreciate it because it has countless hidden meanings in it.
When taking this photo I didn’t even realize the frame number that is shown (13). You will notice that part of the film was exposed and part hasn’t. Taking the frame number into account this picture reminds me of the endless number of times I’ve been frustrated over a shot not coming out the way I’d like. Though when a shot does come out great, it really is like gold.
Entry Number: 11
On our first trip out of Argentina, we found a spectacular and very unique place. Colonia del Sacramento, in Uruguay was what we where expecting. I love taking photographs, travel, walk around different cities, towns and places. Meet people, talk with them, and try to gees the spirit of each place.
Smell the trees, touch the walls, and hear all the noises around me. I feel like I´m travelling through time, when I left my house. Colonia was for us, very special. A place with magic and colors in every step we took. This picture is from a street called “Calle de los Suspiros” (Sigh St.). It is called like that, because in the past, there was a port at the end of that street. Ships from many countries arrived there and the crew went into to that small town, crossing athis street. Along “Calle de los Suspiros” women offered their services and company. The sailors walked that block sighing for those women.
Today is a very romantic and beautiful place. With a mixture of past and present, with colors that represent the passion of the past.
Entry Number: 12
I collect photos of feet from around the world. It’s been so long since i started it that now i can track back to all the places i’ve been just by looking at them. Why feet? because they carrie us around… step by step trough out life.
This particular ones belong to a fisherman in Bangladesh, they not only represent a very beatifull memory of a boat ride, but most importantly they can tell us stories of the sea, memories of a rough life…
Entry Number: 13
There is a belief that we all carry not only the memories of our own experiences but the memories of our past lives and ancestors. My first entry, Sit Still, is meant to invoke the memories of Native Americans and their memories of their first colonizers.
This photos was staged as Native American woman being sat down to have her photo taken. The hand on her shoulder is guiding her and restraining her at the same time. She is wild and anonymous, wearing a mangled men’s warbonnet. Her identity is not shown because like memories, some details are lost or forgotten in the recurrence.
Entry Number: 14
This photo was taken at the end of a magical day of cycling near a little village called Bellagio on Lake Como, Italy. Here I was with two of my best mates by my side about to crest the final climb of our ride that day. And not just any old climb either… the famous Madonna Del Ghisallo church and cycling museum are at the top (you can see the cross on the church at the top left of the photo). It gave me goosebumps at the time and still does when I look at the photo and reflect back on the moment.
A little background: The photo was taken during a 3 week dream holiday to France and Italy last year. None of us had been to this special place before and it was the realisation of a goal that we all shared… to ride the climb and visit the old cycling church with so much history and explore the museum. A treasure trove of memories for all of us.
Entry Number: 15
I found these guys at a mate’s place, discarded in the middle of the sand pit- abandoned by his two sons, presumable at the promise of something more immediately exciting. I started playing around with different shots, manipulating difference figures until I realised that all I was doing was playing out various Comboys & Indians scenarios; essentially what the boys were doing, only I was recording my childish actions for posterity.
This shot still reminds me of that point of realisation, and how we never actually lose that sense of escapism we enjoyed in our childhood, it just needs to be drawn out of us occassionally.
Entry Number: 16
Every time I look at this picture I can’t help but smile. This picture represents spring to me, my favorite season of the year. It seems like every year, no matter what heart-ache I go through or no matter how stressed out with school I am, when spring comes along all, it all seems to melt away.
Entry Number: 17
This is one of my favorite pictures that I’ve taken. To me it signifies the times where I should of been more focused on the simpler things in life instead of worrying about the huge things right in front of me that I had no control over.
My brother has had many problems throughout his life, and I was always left worrying about his safety and how he would turn out. But I’ve realized that all I can really do is set a good example and pray that God is looking out for him.
Entry Number: 18
Although this is one of the newer photo’s I’ve taken, it will definitely be a memory for me. The day I shot this I was supposed to do a photo-shoot with a bunch of people, but they ended up all bailing on me.
So I decided to just go ahead and go out by myself and I actually had a really great time and got some cool pics. Moral of the story… Sometimes it’s nice to just outside with your camera and let your imagination go wild!
Entry Number: 19
This picture is of one of the battlefields of Gettysburg. I was able to capture this scene while on a break from driving across the country on a Symphonic Band tour that I was a part of through my University. It reminds me not only of the great time I had on that tour and the friendships I made, but also of the soldiers who lost their lives right there in that field, fighting for the freedom and rights of others.
During the tour I was able to get know a young woman who I admired, and eventually became friends with. When I look at this photo, it reminds me of the good times on tour getting to know her. And then I start to think about the battle, visualizing the fighting, and thinking about what it would have been like for the soldiers to leave the young women they loved to go fight in a brutal war.
Having my own pursuit of a woman tied to this scene gave me a new perspective, a better appreciation for what all soldiers sacrifice for causes greater than themselves.
Entry Number: 20
When I’m considering of memories, I always hear the voice of older people who tell me stories when there were young. It’s amazing how detailed these stories are although there are more than 50 years old. The same happens to me when I look at old photographs from my family. It’s amazing how expressive stories they can tell you. Photographs and old people are databases of memories.
But memories can only be perceived when something changes. When we recognize that maybe our appearance or the place where we lived in our childhood change or when we watch old photographs and start to remember our past, memories come into our head. They are like visions, sounds or smells and each person has it´s own.
Entry Number: 21
Memories. The joyful memories of the day my son was born are still vivid, yet the hard work, nerves and pain of that day are already starting to fade. What kind of memories will he cherish? A stroll on the beach, the wind blowing through his hair, his first love, his grandchildren… Will he remember that same moment in time, where time does not exists?
Entry Number: 22
I wish our mind could hold a lot more of childhood memories. They are the most pure and innocent part of our life and we can remember so little of it. Those colorful and most carefree times of our life are lost forever and will always remain as a missing piece of our lives.
Entry Number: 23
The old Nikon FG was my first film camera which I’m still using it until now to do create some black and white effect. It was given by my father in law before he died in 2002. He took a lot of pictures with this camera since he bought it in the early 1980. The picture is represent a memory of my father in law that I’m still taking care of his camera by cleaning it up very often, use it and store it as he did.
Entry Number: 24
This photo reminds me of my Dad, (who passed away a few years ago). He use to take me fishing early in the morning in this area before the wind ‘got up’, when I was young. I remember mornings like this when the water was like a mirror. I think this is when I started to develop my passion for landscape photography, it was so calm, quiet and serene. This photo holds special memories for me.
Entry Number: 25
This is a picture from my recent trip to Ghana, West Africa. It is also in the northern part of Ghana. This is in what is known as a witches camp. It is sort of like a refugee camp for women who have been accused of witchcraft.
When I took this picture, we were asking the group of women about their life stories. This woman was reflecting on the question and thinking about her life, along with what she wanted to tell us about it. Along with this trip being an incredible memory for me, this photograph captures the woman thinking about her life and what has transpired over the years.
Entry Number: 26
This is a photograph from a trip to Ghana, West Africa that I was a part of this past fall. My group was visiting a Shea Butter Women’s empowerment micro-finance operation. I turned around and saw this girl staring at us. She watched us for a while as we asked questions about the process of making Shea Butter lotion.
This took place in northern Ghana, and from my understanding is that they do not necessarily see a lot of white people (my group was almost all white). Most places we went the kids would be extremely excited to see us and almost immediately come running over. I was struck by the reserved nature of this girl. She almost seemed indifferent to us being there. Overall the trip was incredible and will be a memory for me for the rest of my life.
Entry Number: 27
I took these images in a shopping mall when I left my son alone and hid somewhere to capture these precious expressions of being lost and left alone. I never wanted him to pose for camera; I needed very natural expressions on his face, that’s why I played this trick and it worked luckily. He was very scared and cried a lot at the end when he found me. This is one of unforgettable memories in my life.
Entry Number: 28
This photo represents the simplicity of being a child. Blowing bubbles as a grown up brings back the same memories and care-freeness that you feel when not having to worry about a mortgage or paying taxes. I think the fact that bubbles are so light and float with the wind makes us wishful that we could be the same way, and to just escape our world and troubles.
But the hurdles we encounter keep us grounded and develop us into intricate creatures. The community center I volunteer at held an Easter fun day and the kids went on an egg hunt and played bean bag toss for prizes. I hope that I never forget what it’s like to be a child – to trust others no matter what, to love unconditionally and to not be afraid to get dirty.
Entry Number: 29
The Dudes, as I like to call this photo. It’s taken in the summer of 2009 when I was in France with friends. We traveled around the west coast of France for surfspots and enjoying the holidays.
As I saw my friends walking next to each other I just had to make a shot. So I run away in front and tried to shoot them. It really reminds me off the great trip we had. So for me it is a memory to treasure.
Entry Number: 30
A balloon in the sky, always brings back childhood memories of joy, whenever we saw a balloon up in the air we thought of how great it was to fly and admire the view from above. This also, is taken at Disneyland Paris, so for anyone who’s been there it could bring back memories of happy moments.
Entry Number: 31
Sometimes the limit between memories, dreams and reality is particularly small. No post production, just a big puddle which mirrored the image of my friend.
Entry Number: 32
Memories are not always clear. We do not remeber everything, just the most important thing. Big piece of cardboard cut and some play with silhouette.
Entry Number: 33
Sometimes it’s difficult to separate good memories from bad memories. Unfortunately sometimes they win the day, so you would just turn off the volume and remember good things.
Entry Number: 34
When I was little I really, really wanted to fly up in the sky. Not only did I want to fly but I really wanted to be an astronaut. Ever since, I’ve been obsessed with anything sci-fi or space related, only because it helped me imagine a world beyond our own. This picture of my girlfriend reaching for the moon signifies what remember feeling as a child.
Obviously, I am not an astronaut and probably never will be. That hasn’t kept me from looking up at the sky though. Now as a photographer, I find myself looking at the clouds and sky more often than most would, while remembering how my passion for the skies all started.
Entry Number: 35
I find that as humans, our memory is not as good as it should be sometimes. I forget things all the time and have realized that memories are best kept when written down. Hence the ever-so-humble pen in this photograph. Pens stand by and are always ready to be used and abused. Everything we use them for aids our memory.
The pen takes a huge load off of our shoulders. Sadly, I feel that the pen itself will soon be a memory. As technology advances and pens become obsolete, I urge you to never forget how to write that handwritten letter that has the potential to send a stronger message than a typed one ever could.
Entry Number: 36
“My Inner Child?”
Entry Number: 37
Summer. Freedom. Driving. Uninhibited. Friends. Hitching. Camping. Cooking. Music. Love. Singing. All those unplanned moments. Late night campfires. Drumcircles on the beach. This picture is a memory of my road trip summer, colorful, dreamy, warm, lonely at times, but never dull.
Entry Number: 38
I created this image as in homage to the childhood adventures that I had in the woods in the summer. The neighborhood children would gather and slowly creep into the woods, our feet sinking down into the mud and cracking small branches and twigs. There was always such a feeling of mystery surrounding the woods. Our parents never came with us; it was a place that became our Neverland. This image is about visiting past memories, trying to recall and re-experience times long past.
Entry Number: 39
My parents have been travelling by airplane since I can remember. So some of my early memories are from spending time in a lot of airports. The people moving, the smells, the feeling that you are going to some place different or even returning home. I took this photo in the Paris airport, and the girl playing with some strange young man through the window reminded me of those times of early travelling with my parents.
Entry Number: 40
In San Pedro de Atacama, in the Chilean northern desert, clean running water and reliable food supplies are something that was unheard of just a few years ago. Now tourists enjoy all the luxuries they are accustomed to, while memories of what was a real danger not so long ago fade away, together with the street signs that reminded you what to do to avoid trouble.
Entry Number: 41
Memories are made of Paper and Music. The photo represent a “cinematic like” point of view of what memories can be, such as a music album or a photo-album, and how they can evoke other memories only looking this objects.
Entry Number: 42
This last weekend I went backpacking. We went to an old ranch in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. The ranch house was built in 1912. Pictured is the front door. To me, this picture brings back the memory of the brave men and women that settled the American west.
Entry Number: 43
This image reminds me of when I was young without a care in the world,unaware of the hate, lies, and dilemmas that surround us. Every waking day was an adventure waiting to begin, whether real or constructed in my mind. Love was in abundance, love was simply pure….but as I grew realities came into play.
Every time I take a look at this picture it reminds me that sometimes we can still close our eyes, dig a little deep and bring out that young kid in our hearts, as we know somewhere within, these things still do exit. The inner child in me still plays a big role in my life.
Entry Number: 44
This is how I want to remember my wife, my muse. In thirty, forty, fifty years when we are both older and hardened by the years, we’ll have this reminder of youthful beauty and romanticism. The flower is pretty too. Taken inside the Princeton university campus in early Spring of 2010.
Entry Number: 45
On 9 November 2009 we celebrated 20 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Bornholmer Strasse was the first checkpoint that opened that night in 1989. My family and I were living just a stone-throw away, in fact I was looking at that checkpoint every day from our living room window.
Going back to the place where history was written 20 years ago was a very emotional moment for my father, myself and thousands of people with us that were listening to the words of German chancellor Angela Merkel, former Russian president Michael Gorbatschow and former Polish president Lech Walesa.
Entry Number: 46
There is a very real innocence with children. The way children reach out for our help, our guidance, is something that is so special, no parent could ever forget. As children glow older, they reach out to us less and less, and our memories of when they did become that much more sacred.
This photo represents every time a child has reached out to an adult, and that adult took their hand in turn and led them. Every memory in every parent’s mind that can never be taken away.
Entry Number: 47
When I first took this picture, I had a specific scenario in mind. It is of me and one of my dearest friends meeting for the last time before we move away to college, and as we leave, we both reminisce of the day we met each other at the same location. This picture was posed but was meant evoke the feeling of sadness that is always associated with the parting of close friends.
In a memory, you don’t always remember every single aspect of what actually happened; you only remember the parts that mattered to you. That is why I implemented this idea within the photo by making only the significant subjects clear and the rest blurred. Our former selves are also translucent symbolizing the fact that they aren’t truly present at that moment and that this memory, which we once held so dear, is now destined to fade.
Entry Number: 48
Growing up, my dad worked 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, in a busted up factory on the corner of my street. During the summer, my mom and I would take him a cold Pepsi during his lunch break and sit out on a rotted, old picnic table just beside the smoke stacks.
I’ll never forget how dark and swelteringly hot those buildings were or how happy he was to see us pull up every day. Whenever I pass by a factory, I always think back to those summer lunches.
Entry Number: 49
We never forget – we simply move from remembering the split second event to remembering the years in witch we shined, and we sigh at the mental picture of our ineffable treasure.
Entry Number: 50
Thousands of photos are being made today, thousands of moments are fading out in digitals. Creative abilities have no border today, like the butterfly flies the way of its dream. But its hard through all this thousand of choices chose the real one, the moment full of life and emotions, the moment of your real dream.
The new generation won’t know about film, won’t appreciate each printed photo and won’t try to penetrate its depths. And when I look through the photo, which was made my father’s “Zenit”, the memories in my heart alive, the brightest memories of my childhood and youth. And it does not matter how far the progress will lead, the only what matters, is the way you chose to go to your dream.
I am very grateful “Zenit” gave me the chance to chose my way, where the memory of my family forever alive.
Cast Your Vote
Which image did you like best in round 3?online surveys
Coming up Next…
Stay tuned to the site, because we’ll have the grand final coming up later this week. The top ten photos from each voting round will be put to a final poll to determine the winner!