Winners of the SeaBird Designs 2009 Photo Contest have been determined!

...and the prize snapshots are:

I place

II place

III place

Judges' commentary:

First-place photo:
The picture shows co-existing natural abundance and exquisite color play and in which reflections are also to be found. The image's content is abrupt and concurrently thoughtful. It is also a piece properly composed in a natural manner. The picture is pleasant and calm, yet beckoned emotion immediately comes forth. At the same time, it has a classical approach that is neither tiring nor dull in the passing of time.

Second-place photo:
This image has an exceptionally good and naturalistic emotion that immediately gives the feeling and desire to pull on a wetsuit as well. Again, the photograph's narrative does not have a dual understanding and is also not specially arranged; rather it gives forth an earnest experience. The picture's quality is of course slightly poor, yet I believe that this could be improved a bit using some Photoshop (if one needs to publish the shot somewhere in a magazine). This might simply be the issue of the file format and therefore it is slightly fuzzy. However I want to emphasize that this cloudiness does not bother me; it is left far in the background compared with the photograph's storytelling.

Third-place photo:
Once again, a very good photograph – it radiates strength, adventurousness, certainty and enjoyment. It might have been selected for first place if the person had less of their back facing the camera. Nevertheless I recognize that such moments are relatively coincidental and unplanned. What is more unparalleled is the work itself: that the fine colors and play of nature became well enticing for those adventurous souls.

Selections were firstly based upon emotion and what story the picture starts to relate. Afterwards we focused on colors, tiny linear details and finally on composition.

Prizes for the winners included B4 MK II touring paddles for second and third places and a brand new Expedition Sandwich for the winning photograph. Winners were selected by a panel of SeaBird Designs judges (Katrin Nõmküla, Len Frode Ystmark, Aljona Jurgens and Maria Simson).

Great work to all contributors and keep snapping more photos!