Results of the 14th Annual TI Life Photo Contest

We want to wholeheartedly thank every photographer who sent in images for the 14th annual ThousandIslandsLife.com Photo Contest. What a thrill it was to open the folder from editor, Susie Smith, and view, one-by-one, all the outstanding, multiple-season River and nature images!

Photos tell a story, evoke emotions, and transport viewers to a time and place that may be very familiar or could be brand new and exciting. Each image sent to TILife in 2025 has some sense of wonder or beauty.

Narrowing our choices down to just three award winners was not an easy task, given the high quality of the 69 images Susie sent us, but the top three photos have an undeniable, immediate visual impact. Each of the top three photos tells a story that stays with the viewer, is technically outstanding and offers some unexpected visual “reward.” Because we come to this task with different skills and experiences, we decided to post our individual responses as to why we could agree that these images deserve such high placement.

We also recognized several superb Honorable Mentions. Narrowing down our choices to six images made for a lively conversation about all the elements of a good photo, such as lighting, visual impact, creativity, style, subject matter and how the image tells a story. We encourage TI Life readers to keep making River and nature images in 2026 so, if we are invited to return, we can again enjoy seeing and sharing this glorious region through the lenses of people who seek out its extraordinary scenic attributes.

Larry: This image won gold because it's beautiful! Part of what makes it so beautiful is its simplicity. Generally, the subject should be the brightest point or the highest contrast point in an image. This is where the eye naturally wants to go. The choice to photograph the island against the light gray sky makes wonderful use of a high contrast subject on a low contrast day. Well done!

Erin: Our top choice for this contest stopped me in my tracks when I first went through the collection of photos Larry and I received from Susie Smith. The photo's black and white presentation allows the eye to focus on its symmetry and many textures; viewers are not distracted by color. The white vignette around the border also helps viewers focus on the island's details: tall trees, weathered cottage, rocky shoreline, and the canoe and dock awaiting use by the island's residents. The island's smooth reflection in the River is dreamy, likely created with a slow shutter speed. The story this image tells is one of calm, rest and the value of temporary seclusion.

Larry: This image triggers timeless memories and tells the story of good friends having a wonderful time. This was not a lucky snapshot. The photographer made the effort to get down low. That perspective put the jumpers against the blue sky and brought the horizon down. All of that helped to focus the viewers attention on the subjects. In addition, the crop works well, the jumpers are right of center leaving some room in front of them. On top of all that, this photograph makes me smile.

Erin: Oh, how I love this image! The three boys jumping into the River truly embody Henri Cartier-Bresson's “decisive moment.” The photographer placed themselves at just the right spot and provided us with an image of quintessential River joy. The action is captured so well; the photo was taken from the River, a perfect perspective that literally puts the photographer and viewers in the middle of the action. The color palette is light, matching the joy-filled action. One visual “reward” viewers should notice on very close examination is the line of water droplets coming off the left heel of the boy at far right, one small detail in a delightful composition.

Larry: Composition is key. In this case the lines and the bright sun force the viewers attention to the gazebo. Combined with an interesting sky, it makes one want to sit on that dock and gaze at the River. It's an image you might see in an art gallery.

Erin: We all love our St. Lawrence River sunsets, and this image provides viewers with the ideal setting to enjoy the end of a day on the River. The first thing one notices is the pure harmony delivered in the image's symmetry: The dock is balanced; the ruffled clouds mirror the River ripples; shadows create symmetrical lines; even land masses are presented symmetrically. The next thing viewers notice is texture everywhere: The dock, the clouds, the movement of the water. Most of all, the sun does quite a bit of heavy lifting in this image, becoming the literal center of attention without overwhelming other aspects of the image. I suspect each of us could picture ourselves decompressing at the end of a long day with this view before us.

HONORABLE MENTIONS (presented in alphabetical order)

The images we chose for Honorable Mention recognition also have significant visual impact. Through light and color and composition, each Honorable Mention photo evokes joy-filled memories, contentment or an appreciation of nature. All this adds to a sense of awe the St. Lawrence River so frequently delivers to anyone who spends time on it, in it or by it. We present them in no particular ranking, but we feel each deserves to be seen and enjoyed by the ThousandIslandsLife.com audience. We hope you enjoy them as well.

Honorable Mention: Tom King

Honorable Mention: James R. Miller

Honorable Mention: Todd Rojecki

Honorable Mention: Karen Schaack

Honorable Mention: Gordon Stencell

Honorable Mention: Erik Swanson

By Larry Asam and Erin McCarthy Greene

Larry Asam has lived in and around Stowe, VT, since 1974, where he taught skiing, then spent several winters at Snowbird, UT, continuing to teach skiing. In the 1990s, he started photographing Vermont weddings. By 1997, wedding photography became his full-time occupation, and this continued for almost 15 years. Now his photography is mainly focused on nature, old boats and the people he encounters. Since 2014, Larry and his wife, Kym, have been part of the Grenell Island community. He is also the current vice president for the Thousand Islands Chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society. His photo gallery can be viewed at www.RiverGloss.com. Larry can reached at Larry@LarryAsam.com for those who have questions about their submitted photos.

Erin McCarthy Greene is a documentary and fine art photographer who explores and captures the Thousand Islands of northern New York State and any other place she travels. She is a former English teacher, and in January 2025, she retired from the Thousand Islands Sun newspaper, Alexandria Bay, after more than a decade there as an editor. She is an affiliate photographer with The Tilly Project (https://thetillyproject.org/), which offers end-of-life portrait sessions for family pets, including large animals and exotics. Erin and her husband, Richard, live year-round in Thousand Island Park on Wellesley Island. She can be reached at emccarthygreene@gmail.com. Her work can be viewed at www.erinmccarthygreenephotography.com and on Instagram at @emccarthygreene1.

Sarah Ditterline is a graphic designer from Syracuse, NY. Sarah designed our medals and winning certificates. She has been doing this year, after year, and it is greatly appreciated.

[Editor's Note: From the first email to the very last, each day was like opening Christmas Gifts as a young girl. I remember the anticipation and the excitement as I registered them and designated a number for a blind file sent to the judges. Therefore, I asked our illustrator, Marie-Anne Erki, to sneak in Santa and his reindeer so I too can thank everyone for entering.]

Comments:

Lyne Roberge wrote: Congratulations to the new judges and 2025 photo contests participants. What great images that have been submitted. Very happy and proud that Ian Coristine’s Annual Photo Contest is still going strong with lots of interest and participation. Thank you Erin and Larry for taking the judging over from Chris and I. It’s always difficult to make these tough decisions but I love your final choices. Bravo! [Editor's note: Lyne as you were married to our Ian, and you kindly stepped in to fill the void for several years, we do appreciate this comment and all you still do to TI Life!]