Flares In Nature Photo Contest Winners

Thank you to all the photographers that shared their best photos showing flares in nature in the Flares In Nature Photo Contest with chances to win a Sony Alpha a5000 and more!

A special thanks to our friend and professional photographer Matt Hernandez for his collaboration as a guest judge in this photo contest. Matt combines his background in graphic design, his love for photography, and his passion for sports to create unique and artistic athlete portraits and composites. Recently named The Paducah Sun'sReaders' Choice for Best Photographer in his area, he has established a solid local business, and is branching out to other areas. He has photographed professional athletes as well as members of Team USA.

CongratulationsGrand Jury Winner "Lady in White" by jasonjhatfield

"Perfect composition here. The sun/starburst at the top of the frame catches your eye first and allows you the follow the image beautifully through the rest of the frame. The viewer’s eye is always drawn to the brightest part of an image, and the photographer used that to their advantage here flawlessly. " - Matt Hernandez

Congratulations Honorary Mention "Sunrise" by swqaz

"An amazing sky and sunset in this image is coupled with a slow shutter speed to give the water a milky, surreal appearance. The rocks in the front add foreground interest which is very important for any landscape image allowing it to have a three dimensional look. Outstanding post processing also draws you in to the most interesting parts of the photo, which have amazing detail." - Matt Hernandez

Congratulations Runner Up "2015-09-22_09-12-53" by Pford

"Adding an interesting subject to a beautiful landscape is always a good idea, and that was done flawlessly here. The photographer placed the sun in the perfect spot, right under the horses neck to draw your eye to the most important part of the photo, the subject. The artistic decision to leave the subject as a silhouette also creates a sense of mystery, which makes the image even more intriguing." - Matt Hernandez

Congratulations Amateur Winner "IMG_1380" by christievillalobasricchinievans