2015 photo contest winners. Prepare to drool.

[Phil Herring]

I want to start by saying, this was impossible. And heartbreaking. We all had favorites that didn't win and the difference between the winner and 7th runner up was razor thin.

I have never seen a boating photo contest with so many outrageously good entries. We're truly blessed to have so much talent here.

Without further adieux, here are the winners starting with a few that deserve special recognition and building up to the Grand Prize Winner.

Special award: Here's something you don't see every day Photo by Jackdaw

Special award: Most startling date stamp Photo by meb135

Special award: Best ineligible photo Photo by Brian D

Honorable Mention: Mountain sailing spot, Park County, Colorado Photo by walt

Honorable Mention: Fore sails at dusk, San Diego Bay Photo by pmirenda

Honorable Mention: A book you can't put down. Photo by Kris Cringle

Runner-Up: Mast rings on the schooner Meerwald, docked in Beach Haven, NJ Photo by pmirenda

Runner-Up: North Channel Sunrise Photo by keithbennett

Runner-Up Photo by gilmore

People's Choice Winner: Marina at 2am Photo by GorillaToast

Grand Prize Winner: Up Perry Creek at dawn Photo by Kris Cringle

Congratulations to Kris Cringle! An amazing photo and a distinguished body of work. Kris wins a $250 gift certificate for the SailboatOwners.com store. Honorable Mentions, Runners-Up, and People's Choice winners receive a World's Greatest Line Hanger.

 

[Davidasailor26]

So Kris Cringle wins just when Christmas is on its way? I guess Phil doesn't want coal in his stocking. Just kidding, that's a beautiful pick, with the sky and reflection. Wonderfully done contest Phil and team.

 

[DAVA390]

The peoples choice award was the one that got my vote, glad to see that.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Good choices, enjoyed seeing all the photos, great idea !

 

[Kermit]

Phil got it right. A sleigh full of toys *always* trumps homemade peach ice cream.

 

[Kermit]

The peoples choice award was the one that got my vote, glad to see that.

Mine too! I mean, who else on this forum would get up at 2:00 am?

 

[TomY]

Wow! A great and completely unexpected surprise this morning! Thank you Phil and Sailboatowners.com. There were so many great photos posted, I'm more than flattered.

 

[Ron20324]

+1 on the 0200 wake-up, Kermit. My sailing club has an annual photo contest. Lots of nice sunset pictures, but NEVER any of a sunrise, though. Maybe if sunrise came later....

 

[SailboatInteriors]

Beautiful images!!!

 

[Rich Stidger]

Outstanding job to Phil and the team! Perhaps this could be an annual contest? Then we could sharpen our skills through the year and make the judging totally impossible.

 

[DHaranSailor]

So many great pictures. Congratulations to everyone who was mentioned and thanks to everyone for sharing!

 

[Brian D]

As part of the "I believe in sharing" philosophy, I have zipped up my image of the Oceanside Lighthouse at night photo and will make it available to all here on SBO, without any watermarks.

http://briandphoto.net/IMG_8001a1.zip

Please enjoy and if you wouldn't mind, please give credit if you use the image outside of your personal use. Credit would go to Brian B Donaldson Photography.

Thanks and congrats to everyone who entered. I was green with envy on a lot of the images presented. Next year I will demand exif data so I can see the camera, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and a few other things. LOL

 

[Stu Jackson]

Phil & gang, thanks so much. Too many of these "contests" end up with tons of "cutie little grandkid" photos that I tend to just gag.

This one had tons of high quality photography.

Thanks to all who posted. I go back and run through them every few days, truly spectacular material.

 

[GorillaToast]

Thanks to all who voted for Marina at 2am and to all who participated in this great contest! I'm truly honored to have been chosen for the People's Choice award.

And a vote of special thanks to Phil Herring and the group of Moderators whose tireless efforts keep this forum running. This contest was a great idea as I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the wonderful entries.

 

[centerline]

Congratulations to ALL the winners!!
the neat thing about a contest such as this is, most of the photos seemed to be all "spur of the moment" shots.. very little of the pre-planned and setup moments with filters and such to try and enhance what is naturally beautiful. even the "losers" had some pretty spectacular photos that should have been winners...

 

[RussC]

Wow! A great and completely unexpected surprise this morning! Thank you Phil and Sailboatowners.com. There were so many great photos posted, I'm more than flattered.

Well deserved!!

Russ

 

[Fred Villiard]

WOW!

 

[woodster]

congrats to all the winners and contestants....... a big thank you for the contest to the SBO gang and sponsor i suspect you guys bit off more than you could chew being the judges ...but you got through the process being unscaved or bribed ...well except for that one frog from carolina ...there is a cornucopia of talent on this site ..it has been a real pleasure to see all the places that were posted

 

[WayneH]

Well, now I am soooo glad I didn't post that picture that would have gotten me banned from this site. I would have missed all these beautiful pictures. Personally, I am so glad I didn't qualify as a judge, too. I don't think I could have made ANY choices.

 

[BigEasy]

Congratulations to all the winners! These are really incredible photos. Have to admit that I too am a bit envious of you who got to experience these precious moments. I have just about given up taking pictures on the boat as they always look the same over the years. Not that it would help me, but it would be nice to know what cameras were used & settings.