This year’s photography contest reflects the natural beauty of the Vineyard, from skies filled with rainbows and stars to beaches both lively and quiet. After narrowing down the nearly 800 entries, judges have chosen ten images that capture the Island at its most spectacular.  

First Place
Rainbow at Chappy Point by Jon Cohan
Edgartown, Massachusetts

Jon Cohan knows that rainy days typically bring fantastic sunsets. One day after the rain cleared, he headed to the Chappy Ferry lot, where he captured this perfectly timed scene. “This photo made me smile immediately,” said a judge. “The joy the photographer captured is infectious!”

Second Place
Feather Dance by Chris Scott
Edgartown, Massachusetts

Egrets were once hunted almost to extinction for their delicate feathers. Today, they are a relatively common sight on the Island. Even so, it’s a rare treat to witness the hunting ritual seen here, in which the bird moves its feathers to create shade and confuse fish. Judges praised the tone, texture, and subject matter of the photo, which invites you to take a closer look. Said one judge: “I love to see images of nature that are not perfectly poised and that show something beyond the picturesque.” 

Third Place
Best Buds by Jamie Fishman
Cortlandt Manor, New York

Every day, drivers line up in the Steamship Authority parking lot as they wait to board the ferry. Plenty of dogs anticipate the end of the journey too. Some of them enjoy the standby line more than others, like the two furry friends seen here. “What a great capture! The timing is perfect, the composition strong, and the choice of black and white draws the viewer’s eye right to the action,” raved one judge. “In a world saturated with pictures of cute pets, this one is something a bit more,” said another.

Honorable Mention
Cousins at Lambert’s Cove by Lisa Sherman
Edgartown, Massachusetts

Most years, when fireworks streak across the sky, photographer Lisa Sherman tries to capture the glow reflected on her family members’ faces. This year, she took up a spot behind them instead. The image makes “me think about years into the future when all of these cousins are grown up and have these magical shared memories from their childhood together,” she said. Judges also saw magic in the end result. “I love how the colors of the sunset are mirrored in the light of the fireworks, both in view of the rapt spectators,” one of them said.

Honorable Mention
On the Ropes by Karen Morgenbesser
Greenwich, Connecticut

A pile of ropes is a pile of ropes is a pile of ropes – that is, until a talented photographer casts his or her eye upon it and spies something striking and different. In the case of Karen Morgenbesser, it was the rainbow of colors that caught her attention. Judges were captivated by the color too. “I am a sucker for details! And color,” said one. “I love when a photographer can get us to see something ordinary in a new light.” Another judge praised the interplay between the warm late-day light and cool shadows. 

Honorable Mention
Different View by Tessa Schulz
Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School student Tessa Schulz was on a return flight from Block Island when she spied an array of boats from a new perspective. “I love the colors, composition, and perspective,” said one judge. “It’s both familiar and a little mysterious, which kept drawing me back to it.”

Honorable Mention
A Perfect Day! by Susan Garrett
Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

A day spent clamming in Katama Bay is all about textures: squishy mud, sloshing tides, metal tines clacking shells. Photographer Susan Garrett’s photo captured the full endeavor. Judges praised her decision to place “the figure to one side, giving us an idea of their view and experience.”

Honorable M.ention
Katama Bay Under the Stars by Michael DePalma
Bedminster, New Jersey

On a freezing winter night, Michael DePalma donned waders and ventured into the chest-high water to set up his tripod. He had to keep wiping the frost from the lens. “The still water, the starry sky, the reflection of the boat in the water – this image isn’t just beautiful,” said one judge, “it also demonstrates a tremendous amount of skill.” Said another: “This one perfectly captures the beauty and tranquility of the moment with a strong composition.”

Honorable Mention
Edgartown Harbor in the Morning Fog by Jon Cohan
Edgartown, Massachusetts

Jon Cohan set out for a morning of fishing on Chappy. Although he failed to get a bite, he did walk away with this haunting image – his second win in this year’s competition. “Great inverted triangular composition, with the foreground Herreshoff positioned dead-center in the frame,” said one judge. “The high view helps provide separation between the dozens of boats. And the foggy, nearly-white negative space top and bottom frame the overall scene beautifully.”

Honorable Mention
Buds by Parker Bradlee
Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts

A group of three cows is called a herd. But what about a pair of two cows, walking side by side, one on land and one in the water, together yet still apart? For photographer Parker Bradlee, the word that came to mind was “buds.” The artful framing of the shot captured judges’ attention and admiration. The photograph is “enhanced by the symmetric composition, made subtly asymmetric by the 50/50 split of land and water and the diagonal dirt path visually connecting the two cows,” one judge explained.

About the Contest

Special thanks to our expert judges who make this contest possible. They include: Alison Shaw, a fine art and editorial photographer who has photographed the Vineyard for more than fifty years; Jocelyn Filley, an Island-based professional film and digital photographer; Vivian Ewing, associate editor of Martha’s Vineyard Magazine, and Emma Young, the art director of this magazine. Additional thanks go to the nearly 800 individuals who submitted entries to this year’s competition, and to our prize sponsors: Winnetu Oceanside Resort, Claudia, and Vineyard Vines. For information on next year’s contest, go to mvmagazine.com/photo-contest.