A photograph can capture a moment in a way that words simply can’t. And the way in which that point in time is portrayed has everything to do with the person behind the camera. Each photographer’s unique view of the world—the way they think, how they look at things, what they find interesting—colors the snapshots they choose to take. Since 1994, the New Times Media Group has invited local photographers to show us their perspective of the spaces that surround them in our annual Winning Images contest. This year brought in 329 photos, which our judges narrowed down to three winners each in eight categories and three judge’s picks. Each of those entries also came in with a $5 fee, which will be rolled back into prize money for the winners, who also receive awards from the contest’s sponsors. Although you can see the winning images from 2016 on the following pages, you can also view them on the wall at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art through Nov. 6.
—Camillia Lanham
This article appears in Nov 3-9, 2016.