Every month, photographers submit their favourite images for a chance to win a 16x20” Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print. And every month, our McBain judges confidently declare they’ll be able to pick a Winner. But every month, that confidence disappears about ten minutes into the judging process, and we find ourselves tangled in a deep tie-breaker debate.
Behind the scenes, we talk amongst ourselves, highlighting images that immediately grab our attention, ones that snuck up on us out of nowhere, and ones that made us reflect. And so the time has come to celebrate these submissions and feature the top honorees who took a little time out of their summer to showcase their creativity!
Submit your Photo for our August Monthly Photo Contest!
WINNER
Dennis Macajelos
This month’s winning image by Dennis Macajelos is a great example of why spontaneously bringing your camera pays off, even when you’re not expecting much. Captured during a last-minute evening walk outside Louis Hole Centennial Park, the photograph freezes a fleeting moment as an Eared Grebe bursts into motion across the water. This bird’s striking red eye immediately draws the viewer in, while the trailing droplets in motion in its wings add a sense of energy and anticipation, as though takeoff is only moments away. The smooth reflective water provides a clean, uncluttered backdrop, allowing the bird to take center stage.
Dennis commented, “In Alberta’s summer, the sun sets late around 9 pm- 10 pm.” This allowed him a last-minute evening stroll. “After several seconds, this wonderful waterbird displayed some amazing action, and luckily, I captured it on shutter. Sometimes amazing things come unexpectedly!”
Congratulations, Dennis!
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Monique-Langevin-Connell
On the opposite end of the creative spectrum from spontaneity lies intention, and Monique’s striking image of Edmonton’s Walterdale Bridge is a beautiful example of what can happen when preparation meets opportunity, proving that sometimes the best images belong to those willing to get out of bed long before the rest of us.
Monique says, “I got up ridiculously early on this particular morning as two of my apps predicted fog. As I was driving, I noticed how the Walterdale Bridge was casting shadows in the fog. Naturally, I had to pull over to photograph this unusual phenomenon!” And wow, what a photograph she was rewarded with. Such a beautiful photo, in fact, that it rivalled tightly for the top spot, losing out on only one vote. McBain staff loved celebrating this photo, and we hope to see more contributions from Monique in the future!
Tyler King
Carnivals are typically connected with bright lights, bold colours, and endless energy, which is probably why Tyler’s black-and-white interpretation immediately led us to linger a bit longer on this photo. Captured on a rainy day at K-Days here in Edmonton, the monochrome treatment transforms a familiar scene into something more timeless and reflective. Smiling children in the foreground and a bustling swing ride overhead still convey the excitement of the midway, but it’s the young girl peering into the camera lens off-center that changes the mood a bit. With her wind-tossed hair and serious expression, her face makes the statement that she could be evaluating every decision you’ve ever made. It provides a wonderfully unexpected contrast to the cheerful atmosphere around her. McBain staff gravitated to the subtle nostalgia in this photo, and I suspect it lingers in the space between the rainy fairgrounds and the girl’s enigmatic stare.
Once again, our McBain judges learned the same lesson they learn every month: choosing a winner is easier in theory than in practice. Thank you to everyone who submitted their creations this month and gave us the difficult task of narrowing down such a talented collection of images. While this month’s honours belong to Dennis, Monique, and Tyler, the photographs below showcase all the other talent submitted this month - proving how difficult the voting process can be!
Submit your Photo for Next Month’s Contest!
