2024 Great Nevada Picture Hunt Results
Winter 2024-2025
The Great Nevada Picture Hunt is our annual contest dedicated to finding photos that best represent the Silver State’s people, places, and landscapes. This year, we received hundreds of photographs across six categories. Nevada Magazine & Visitor Guide staff faced the daunting task of selecting a winner for each category—trust us when we say it wasn’t easy. But the results are finally in, and we are proud to announce this year’s winners!
ALEX STAFFEN, GRAND PRIZE
“I couldn’t believe my luck: Everything fell into place perfectly, and I managed to capture exactly what I was aiming for. I reached a spot where I had previously spotted numerous Great Basin rattlesnakes. I came across this one soaking up the final rays of the sun, overlooking Washoe Lake with the sunset as a stunning backdrop. Remarkably, it didn’t rattle or strike at me; it just remained still as if it understood what I was trying to achieve.”
Canon EOS 90d, 1/60s, f/8.0, ISO 100
CITIES & TOWNS, 1ST PLACE, LIZ HUNTINGTON
“This summer, Virginia City hosted a carnival to benefit our local schools. The juxtaposition of the bright carnival lights against the desert hills and St. Mary’s Art Center in the background was a photographer’s dream. I stayed until the last hues of the sunset colors left the clouds and was elated to have captured this shot!”
Canon 5Dmkiv, 1/125s, f/8, ISO 1250
CITIES & TOWNS, RUNNER-UP, RICK POTT
“As sunset approached, I looked out my window toward the north side of Carson City and saw this interesting cloud formation starting to develop. After a brief hike, I arrived at a vantage point where I had a grand view that extended well into Carson Valley.”
Sony ILCE-7RM5, 1.3s, F/8, ISO 100
BIRDS, 1ST PLACE, LEE MOLOF
“This is a gathering of yellow-headed blackbirds hanging out on what is left of an old outbuilding in Stillwater.”
Canon 5D Mark IV, 1/400s, f/7.1, ISO 100
BIRDS, RUNNER-UP, KEN HUYNH
“I have lived in Nevada since 1997 (straight from Vietnam) but wasn’t into photography then. As I got serious with wildlife photography, I’ve been wanting to get a decent photograph of our state bird to represent my skill set. Once I found a good spot to photograph them, I started practicing a lot. This shot was two years in the making.”
Sony Alpha 1, 1/3200s, f/4, ISO 800
LANDSCAPE, 1ST PLACE, EDWARD NASH
“Northern Lights over Tonopah Dunes. It is rare for the aurora to light up the sky this far south, but on this night, they graced the central Nevada desert.”
Canon R5, Samyang, 15s, f/2.4, ISO1600
LANDSCAPE, RUNNER-UP, DOREEN LAWRENCE
“Seeing snow around the Las Vegas area is a rarity, but in February 2024, Red Rock Canyon received several inches. The mixture of dark blue skies and the warm orange rock colors made the canyon a winter wonderland. I was delighted to capture
a beautiful scene as it unfolded.”
Canon R5, 1/400s, f/14, ISO 100
PEOPLE, 1ST PLACE, ERIN BERNIUS
“Charlie Wright branding at the Wright Ranch, located in Tuscarora. For the past couple years, I’ve been fortunate to be invited to photograph this incredible tradition: I want to thank all the Wright family members who always welcome me with open arms every single time I step foot on the ranch. This image not only shows a moment of action but also the deep-rooted traditions and camaraderie that define life on the ranch.”
Canon 6D, 1/1600s, f/3.5, ISO 160
PEOPLE, RUNNER-UP, ANTHONY CUPAIUOLO
“Will Brommelsiek takes flight above iconic Sand Harbor. There’s something special about being able to ski and snowboard above waters that give off as much of a Caribbean vibe as they do an alpine one. On days when conditions line up, experienced backcountry skiers and snowboarders can take advantage of terrain that is rivaled only by the views below.”
Sony ILCE-1, 1/3200s, f/6.3, ISO 500
WATERSCAPE, 1ST PLACE, JESSE BRADFORD
“The story behind this shot is part joy and part sadness. My daughter was born almost 3 months premature (she’s perfect now), so my wife and I had to temporarily move to Reno to spend as much time as we could in the NICU. One morning around Christmas, I came across this beautiful scene on my way to the hospital. It filled me with a joy and hope I had not felt in quite a while. I pulled over quickly to snap a shot and made my way to the hospital with a smile on my face.”
Fujifilm X-T4, 12s, f/11, ISO 160
WATERSCAPE, RUNNER-UP, KATIE CERNY
“Hoover Dam was one of our must-see locations when we first visited Las Vegas, and we were not disappointed! It was a stunning view with Nevada on one side and Arizona on the other. Seeing where the water level used to be was very intriguing.”
Canon Rebel T100, 1/400s, f/5.6, ISO 100
WILDLIFE, 1ST PLACE, PAUL HORSLEY
“This photo was taken in Lamoille Canyon outside of Elko. I owe part of this photo to a man watching the mountain goat with his spotting scope, who showed me where the goat was. It was close to a half mile up the side of the canyon.”
Canon 7D, 1/1000s, F/9, ISO 400
WILDLIFE, RUNNER-UP, KEN HUYNH
“These bighorn sheep near Pyramid Lake were the hardest species for me to photograph in 2024. They’re often high in the mountain or on almost-vertical cliffs. Not only do I have to be physically fit to climb as high as they do, but I also have to be discreet: One loud move and they disappear in a split second. Lots of planning and hard work, but the result is so satisfying.”
Sony A7R Mark 5, 1/1250s, F/2.8, ISO 100
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Roger Ports
Tule Peak
Canon R7, 1/400s, f/5.6, ISO 400
Anthony Cupaiuolo
Carson Valley
ILCE-1, 1/4000s, f/2.8, ISO 320
Andrew McDonald
Spring Valley
Sony DSC-RX100M6, 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 125
