Winners of The Rotarian photo contest
In this year’s photo contest, we received more than 600 entries from 59 countries and geographical areas — from Argentina to Zimbabwe and many places in between. Through your photographs, we traveled to a glacial lagoon in Iceland and a mountainside in Bolivia. We saw Rotarians working on projects and met the people they encountered along the way. Taken together, the photos you sent us create a composite portrait of our world and the ways Rotarians experience it.
Our judge, George Steinmetz, brings to the task his decades of experience traveling and photographing the world. Steinmetz shoots from the elevated perspective of a paraglider, where the landscape almost becomes abstract art, so he can appreciate a photo both for its aesthetic qualities and for the story it tells. In addition to the winners and honorable mentions in this issue, you’ll see photos from the contest in The Rotarian throughout the year.
First Place
Photographer: Santosh Kale
Rotary Club of Shirol, India
Location: Pandharpur, India
![](https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_400/public/Santosh%20Kale%203--IMG_2482-DEVOTEE-CROWD-2.jpg?itok=0MkhlQpT 400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_600/public/Santosh%20Kale%203--IMG_2482-DEVOTEE-CROWD-2.jpg?itok=9yy1aYdw 600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_800/public/Santosh%20Kale%203--IMG_2482-DEVOTEE-CROWD-2.jpg?itok=vP6rvDjp 800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1000/public/Santosh%20Kale%203--IMG_2482-DEVOTEE-CROWD-2.jpg?itok=UE_9Ky2W 1000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1200/public/Santosh%20Kale%203--IMG_2482-DEVOTEE-CROWD-2.jpg?itok=XMnUhTyJ 1200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1400/public/Santosh%20Kale%203--IMG_2482-DEVOTEE-CROWD-2.jpg?itok=D56tXnB7 1400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1600/public/Santosh%20Kale%203--IMG_2482-DEVOTEE-CROWD-2.jpg?itok=PmmH8Kl- 1600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1800/public/Santosh%20Kale%203--IMG_2482-DEVOTEE-CROWD-2.jpg?itok=BejnfoBs 1800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2000/public/Santosh%20Kale%203--IMG_2482-DEVOTEE-CROWD-2.jpg?itok=UBUpGcYh 2000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2200/public/Santosh%20Kale%203--IMG_2482-DEVOTEE-CROWD-2.jpg?itok=UNiDcBZm 2200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2400/public/Santosh%20Kale%203--IMG_2482-DEVOTEE-CROWD-2.jpg?itok=Ww9Y54A2 2400w)
Steinmetz: I love the energy of this picture. It documents the flow of humanity experiencing the Pandharpur Wari pilgrimage and shows the architecture of this Indian site, the vibrancy of its storefronts. I also like that the photographer had the prescience to wait for his subject and took an unconventional approach by shooting the action with a time exposure.
Second Place
Photographer: Chin Fung Hou
Spouse of Yeong Hsiou Chen, Rotary Club of Taipei Hwachung, Taiwan
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
![](https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_400/public/Chin%20Fung%20Hou%203.jpg?itok=WLROy1fC 400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_600/public/Chin%20Fung%20Hou%203.jpg?itok=rrFKE5W7 600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_800/public/Chin%20Fung%20Hou%203.jpg?itok=BXZ3FR0g 800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1000/public/Chin%20Fung%20Hou%203.jpg?itok=uGV6vc8t 1000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1200/public/Chin%20Fung%20Hou%203.jpg?itok=1dWs8HJv 1200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1400/public/Chin%20Fung%20Hou%203.jpg?itok=Gtw_slfU 1400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1600/public/Chin%20Fung%20Hou%203.jpg?itok=AUP3dFzC 1600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1800/public/Chin%20Fung%20Hou%203.jpg?itok=undjgZrW 1800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2000/public/Chin%20Fung%20Hou%203.jpg?itok=JIjYcQWx 2000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2200/public/Chin%20Fung%20Hou%203.jpg?itok=fhmy4CR5 2200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2400/public/Chin%20Fung%20Hou%203.jpg?itok=tsOaymFu 2400w)
Steinmetz: The photographer made creative use of what many would consider a technical problem — raindrops on the lens front. Most people think great photos need good weather, but pros will tell you that bad weather is a photographer’s best friend. This picture of Taipei is very original and impressionistic.
Third Place
Photographer: Luca Venturi
Rotary Club of Siena Est, Italy
Location: Siena, Italy
![](https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_400/public/Luca%20Venturi%203.jpg?itok=DMQ7nyGa 400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_600/public/Luca%20Venturi%203.jpg?itok=vH5t1lwF 600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_800/public/Luca%20Venturi%203.jpg?itok=CP1xXN1T 800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1000/public/Luca%20Venturi%203.jpg?itok=8moU5d0c 1000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1200/public/Luca%20Venturi%203.jpg?itok=MKY7n7ee 1200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1400/public/Luca%20Venturi%203.jpg?itok=2UneYKFr 1400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1600/public/Luca%20Venturi%203.jpg?itok=v33v3aOp 1600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1800/public/Luca%20Venturi%203.jpg?itok=Kk7-najD 1800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2000/public/Luca%20Venturi%203.jpg?itok=DHc3Dwfz 2000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2200/public/Luca%20Venturi%203.jpg?itok=smwiTdIK 2200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2400/public/Luca%20Venturi%203.jpg?itok=M9-NLqW5 2400w)
Steinmetz: This photograph perfectly captures a public event at the Palio di Siena, a twice-annual horse race in the heart of the city. The rider’s expression and the faces in the foreground convey a lot of emotion, but then your eye travels around the image and you see the context of the town square. Framing on a tilt makes it feel like you are part of the scene, being jostled in the crowd. It’s a great way to capture the energy of the moment.
Honorable mention
Photographer: Yeong Hsiou Chen
Rotary Club of Taipei Hwachung, Taiwan
Location: Keelung, Taiwan
![](https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_400/public/Yeong%20Hsiou%20Chen%203.jpg?itok=d5VjEw7o 400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_600/public/Yeong%20Hsiou%20Chen%203.jpg?itok=WMsDcPP1 600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_800/public/Yeong%20Hsiou%20Chen%203.jpg?itok=vLsHXcf_ 800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1000/public/Yeong%20Hsiou%20Chen%203.jpg?itok=jZPmfNXe 1000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1200/public/Yeong%20Hsiou%20Chen%203.jpg?itok=Ey3SrWNo 1200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1400/public/Yeong%20Hsiou%20Chen%203.jpg?itok=5DKvRSQ7 1400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1600/public/Yeong%20Hsiou%20Chen%203.jpg?itok=KiskvKRg 1600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1800/public/Yeong%20Hsiou%20Chen%203.jpg?itok=3u0oXXEV 1800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2000/public/Yeong%20Hsiou%20Chen%203.jpg?itok=tUuyQlRO 2000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2200/public/Yeong%20Hsiou%20Chen%203.jpg?itok=RiZyKGeI 2200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2400/public/Yeong%20Hsiou%20Chen%203.jpg?itok=bKvVeBhd 2400w)
Steinmetz: This picture has a wonderful way of showing calm in the middle of an urbanized seaport. I like the subtle accents of color framed between a monochromatic sea and sky, and the surprising blurring of the boat in motion in the foreground.
Honorable mention
Photographer: Tono Valdes
Rotary Club of Guatemala Sur, Guatemala
Location: Guatemala City
![](https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_400/public/Jose%20Antonio%20Valdes%203.jpg?itok=Sg_e89Tr 400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_600/public/Jose%20Antonio%20Valdes%203.jpg?itok=UgAPUGfH 600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_800/public/Jose%20Antonio%20Valdes%203.jpg?itok=VJvFJghq 800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1000/public/Jose%20Antonio%20Valdes%203.jpg?itok=Y7zfOe2s 1000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1200/public/Jose%20Antonio%20Valdes%203.jpg?itok=-K8dDD3w 1200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1400/public/Jose%20Antonio%20Valdes%203.jpg?itok=LN3L1NLK 1400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1600/public/Jose%20Antonio%20Valdes%203.jpg?itok=-2zUoNgH 1600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1800/public/Jose%20Antonio%20Valdes%203.jpg?itok=guCpptqm 1800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2000/public/Jose%20Antonio%20Valdes%203.jpg?itok=W0Gd4elZ 2000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2200/public/Jose%20Antonio%20Valdes%203.jpg?itok=gL6yj3F6 2200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2400/public/Jose%20Antonio%20Valdes%203.jpg?itok=w32Fnija 2400w)
Steinmetz: Sometimes you like a picture for what it doesn’t show. Here, you can’t see the ground or the background, just the emotions. What the smoke conceals creates mystery. In a way, it is like the mystery of religion itself. And this is a very sensuous photograph; you can almost smell it.
Honorable mention
Photographer: Roberta Kayne
Rotary Club of Dublin A.M., Ohio
Location: Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska
![](https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_400/public/Roberta%20Kayne%201.jpg?itok=HoFB73rd 400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_600/public/Roberta%20Kayne%201.jpg?itok=nOVTw3V8 600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_800/public/Roberta%20Kayne%201.jpg?itok=99VGyogZ 800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1000/public/Roberta%20Kayne%201.jpg?itok=Mz6TB0No 1000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1200/public/Roberta%20Kayne%201.jpg?itok=hjZy5_fg 1200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1400/public/Roberta%20Kayne%201.jpg?itok=FKEE_f7_ 1400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1600/public/Roberta%20Kayne%201.jpg?itok=6f8wouEI 1600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1800/public/Roberta%20Kayne%201.jpg?itok=99bMduYS 1800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2000/public/Roberta%20Kayne%201.jpg?itok=fR9mCTBY 2000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2200/public/Roberta%20Kayne%201.jpg?itok=mtN2Yg7p 2200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2400/public/Roberta%20Kayne%201.jpg?itok=NcC5G2q7 2400w)
Steinmetz: We shouldn’t project human feelings onto animals, but you can read the child-parent relationship in the postures here. I think of times I have seen this sort of scene in the wild, with bears on the shore catching salmon.
Honorable mention
Photographer: Lee Won-Geol
Rotary Club of Daegu-Chungsan, Korea
Location: Andong, Korea
![](https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_400/public/Lee%20Won-Geol%201.jpg?itok=sp0V1cR0 400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_600/public/Lee%20Won-Geol%201.jpg?itok=FY-aWy9b 600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_800/public/Lee%20Won-Geol%201.jpg?itok=1fxYTIsG 800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1000/public/Lee%20Won-Geol%201.jpg?itok=ymCAxDzA 1000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1200/public/Lee%20Won-Geol%201.jpg?itok=hpEnYY4i 1200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1400/public/Lee%20Won-Geol%201.jpg?itok=kAreSGVo 1400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1600/public/Lee%20Won-Geol%201.jpg?itok=dU1m-XzK 1600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1800/public/Lee%20Won-Geol%201.jpg?itok=drkE3CcZ 1800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2000/public/Lee%20Won-Geol%201.jpg?itok=KWiqalcZ 2000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2200/public/Lee%20Won-Geol%201.jpg?itok=Z6vD1S5d 2200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2400/public/Lee%20Won-Geol%201.jpg?itok=KxhPwo3i 2400w)
Steinmetz: The few bits of color make an otherwise monochromatic scene come alive. The snow adds beautiful texture to the traditional architecture, and the leaves and branches in the foreground create a nice frame. This is a landscape you want to explore.
Honorable mention
Photographer: Chris McDiven
Rotary Club of Sydney, Australia
Location: Niagara Falls, New York
![](https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_400/public/Chris%20McDiven%201.jpg?itok=QrQLBkrf 400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_600/public/Chris%20McDiven%201.jpg?itok=DwJE2YJV 600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_800/public/Chris%20McDiven%201.jpg?itok=A7ADPxB6 800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1000/public/Chris%20McDiven%201.jpg?itok=FD4Sj8Cb 1000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1200/public/Chris%20McDiven%201.jpg?itok=_gMvnCcC 1200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1400/public/Chris%20McDiven%201.jpg?itok=kLTS6PlB 1400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1600/public/Chris%20McDiven%201.jpg?itok=_CXo_V8O 1600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1800/public/Chris%20McDiven%201.jpg?itok=dOHjtqGq 1800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2000/public/Chris%20McDiven%201.jpg?itok=xnytaJm6 2000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2200/public/Chris%20McDiven%201.jpg?itok=lhnyBB7m 2200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2400/public/Chris%20McDiven%201.jpg?itok=WDZWZDbE 2400w)
Steinmetz: I’ve seen this kind of situation, a rainbow created by mist, many times in photographs, but this is one of the finest versions that I’ve come across. Sometimes simplicity is best. I love the placement of the boat at the end of the rainbow. It’s simple, powerful, and unexpected.
Honorable mention
Photographer: Roberta Kayne
Rotary Club of Dublin A.M., Ohio
Location: Westerville, Ohio
![](https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_400/public/Roberta%20Kayne%202.jpg?itok=yJNQwrHb 400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_600/public/Roberta%20Kayne%202.jpg?itok=yy1YU_7z 600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_800/public/Roberta%20Kayne%202.jpg?itok=4cX8Hra5 800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1000/public/Roberta%20Kayne%202.jpg?itok=-h3h0ug2 1000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1200/public/Roberta%20Kayne%202.jpg?itok=KwDS0tfr 1200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1400/public/Roberta%20Kayne%202.jpg?itok=78HU-c63 1400w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1600/public/Roberta%20Kayne%202.jpg?itok=5TMe3Fwn 1600w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_1800/public/Roberta%20Kayne%202.jpg?itok=5_i428sW 1800w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2000/public/Roberta%20Kayne%202.jpg?itok=w2um8A6V 2000w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2200/public/Roberta%20Kayne%202.jpg?itok=0n250X3- 2200w, https://www.rotary.org/sites/default/files/styles/w_2400/public/Roberta%20Kayne%202.jpg?itok=geSmq2pe 2400w)
Steinmetz: Newspaper photographers are asked every year to photograph something that conveys the idea of patriotism for Memorial Day; this is an excellent version. The lines of flags create perspective and depth, which makes the person walking through stand out.
Get ready for your close-up
The next edition of The Rotarian’s photo contest will open on 1 October 2019 and close on 15 December 2019. For more information, go to on.rotary.org/photo2020.
Meet our judge
Our judge, George Steinmetz, brings to the task his decades of experience traveling and photographing the world. Read story.