Tucson student Damian Galasso won the 6th annual "Adventures in Nature" photo contest.
1,140 students ages 13 through 18 submitted entries into the statewide photography competition.
Galasso received $5,000 in prize money, plus gift certificates and passes to Nature Conservancy preserves in Arizona.
Galasso created his winning photograph, entitled "Dragonfly," by using a microscope to zoom his camera in on the subject, giving viewers a close-up look at the head of a dragonfly with morning dew water droplets on it.
"My goal in photography is to make viewers experience what I saw and felt the moment I took the photo," said Tucson freshman Galasso.
Sean Stubben of Gilbert won second place with his entry, "Harris's Antelope Squirrel," and $2,500 in prize money.
Justin Martinez of Gilbert won third place with his entry, "Arizona Beauty," and $1,000 in prize money.
Honorable mentions received $250. Those winners are:
- Jacqueline Maldonado, Tucson, for “Hummingbird”
- Jonathan Auh, Scottsdale, for “Superstition Glow”
- Zach Schlamowitz, Tucson, for “Color Rained Out”
- Abelardo Garcia, Phoenix, for “Focused”
- Julian Pimienta, Tucson, for “Tanque Verde Canyon”
- Marissa Lasso, Sedona, for “Red Rock Air”
- Mary Kayser, Prescott, for “Sunset in Grass”
Winners will have their photos published by the sponsors: Arizona Highways, The Nature Conservancy in Arizona, and Cox Communications. Plus, winners will receive a photography workshop from Arizona Highways Photo Workshops.
