First Place: Juan Aguilar-Bertini from Saint Claire Shores, Michigan
A tour de force that sensitively expresses an innocent spiritual communion using composition, "Biblical" lighting and finely controlled exposure.
If photography is painting with light, this is an exemplary sample of that.
The red tulips show us how color isolation can bring the viewer's eye to a smaller subject with-in an image.
Second Place: Amanda R. - Berkely, Michigan
The photo is not only a loving expression of a child's wonder with the beauty of nature...it expresses a delightful renewal of life after an oppressive winter of pandemic.
This image uses controlled depth-of-field to place your attention right at the point where the little girl's hands gently cup the delicate flower...the soft dreamy look adds to the over-all emotional landscape.
Third Place: Jaclene Simpson - Chicago, Illinois
A magnificent example of forced wide-angle perspective adding power and majesty to an image of simple white tulips.
The towering religious statue seems to command the little flowers to rise out of the dreary winter...which they enthusiastically do...fearlessly strong and straight.
Selfie Award: Alicia Stevens - Shelby Township, Michigan
A mama's love reinforced by a little army of tulips behind them. A gleeful young face reminds us to shed our year of trials and tribulations if only for a few moments...
Spring has sprung and the tulips are its most vivid heralds.