2010 photo contest winners

Though Peter Gottlieb regularly sees these reeds during his early morning paddles on Lake Vernon, Ont., this was the first time he photographed them. “I was enchanted by the sunlight on the water.” Shooting from a kayak “makes it tricky to have a steady hand,” he admits, but it does allow him to get close to his subjects. “I really think of my kayak as my zoom lens.”

Judges’ comments

Peter’s picture is successful because it’s so graphic. The image is all about the complimentary colours: blue, orange, green, and red. We also get a nice sense of depth, from the reeds spread throughout the frame, and the details that we can see under the water. The composition hints at the photographer’s nearness—all reeds, no horizon. We want to hang this photo on a wall.