2010 photo contest winners

Shutterbug Sally Matteo, 14, had already taken multiple photos of her best friend, Mimi, walking along a cottage road near Sturgeon Lake, Ont., before she got this one. She used the digital SLR that her dad gave her for her birthday in June. Mimi was a good subject, says Sally. “Looking off to the side was intentional. She got used to posing.”

Judges’ comments

A lot of people would try to get this shot; it’s a classic. But this photo is successful for a number of reasons. The diagonal lines created by the road meet at Mimi’s right eye in a vanishing point. And she has that Mona Lisa smile, which makes her fascinating. What’s she looking at? What’s she thinking? When shooting in full sun, it’s hard to avoid harsh shadows under the chin and nose, but here, the pale road may have reflected light back up to the subject. Beautiful job.