Congratulations to the winners, and to every high school student who entered the Palos Verdes Magazine’s Back-to-School photo contest. The diverse range of photos submitted was truly impressive, reflecting the unique perspectives of each participant. The artistry and vision on display inspired awe.
A very special thank you to Mr. James Stiles and Ms. Kristy Jimenez, the Peninsula High and PV High photography teachers, for their incredible support in making this year’s photo contest a success. Thanks to the guidance and encouragement of these two amazing educators, the talent and creativity of local high school students shined bright, making this contest a true celebration of artistic talent. PV Magazine could never have pulled off this contest, without their dedication and enthusiasm.
First Place: Summer Time Shadows, Alessandra Lo Lacono, 9th Grade, Palos Verdes High School
Second Place: Bluff Cove, Dawson Stocke, 9th Grade, Palos Verdes High School
Tie for Third Place: Late Night Beach Fireworks, Diego Thomas Hollerbach, 11th Grade, Palos Verdes Peninsula Highschool
Tie for Third Place: Sailing into the Sunset, Sviatoslav Chalenko, 12th Grade, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School
Honorable Mentions
This photo displays the unbothered state of a dolphin in the summertime. There is a calmness in the waves as the dolphin swims by, peaking out of the water to get a glimpse of the sun.
This photograph was taken on the Palos Verdes Bluff Trail. The inspiration behind this photo is that many people often walk this trail during the summer and spend time taking in this view. When I think of summer on the Peninsula I think of the many times I have walked these trails along the bluffs and seen this view. I also think of all the memories I made during the summer associated with it.
My friends and I explored Palos Verdes during our whole weekend, we had a sleepover and decided to explore our city.
So, we went to rat beach, Luanda bay, golden cove, and then rocket ship park which is where the picture had been taken. I thought this picture would
Be very nice for memories because he’s looking off to the view like how movies do like we were hiking or in an apocalypse because of his backpack.
I was taking my dogs on a walk down the trail near my house when I remembered that not many people have the luxury of just having a hiking path in their bath yard. I realized how one of a kind PV was, so I took a picture to remember how lucky I am to live in PV.
The reason why I took this photo is due the unique look that the fog wall with the sunset made almost like it was fading into the unknown almost like it was fading into something that was mysterious. The reason why it means so much to me is due to the beauty of a sunset disappearing into the unknown and hoping to see its beauty again. This photo also is so beautiful with the beauty of the sun, the sea and the clouds all coming together to make this photo.
To me the theme “Summer on the Peninsula” makes me nostalgic of my childhood summers spent on the beach. I learned how to swim at the Palos Verdes Beach Club when I was a kid. Summer on the peninsula was always characterized by swimming in blue waters on sunny days, whether it be at the beach or in the pool.
This looks like it can be an old photo. It is grainy and the lack of color seems to transport us
to the past. But in fact, this is a recent photo of the New Beach that has now formed due to
the landslide movement in the Portuguese Bend. The rocks you see were for years covered
by water but the landslide has pushed the sea floor forward. While I find all beaches to be
beautiful this New Beach can’t help but make me feel sad when I know the reason behind it
has impacted so many families in our community. This is the reason I chose to submit the
photo in black and white, to reflect the emotional impact the New Beach evokes on me.
For me, coming from Japan, the sky symbolizes PV. The strong sunlight, which I never felt in Japan, the green trees that have absorbed that energy, and the beautiful, majestic clouds. This photo, which represents life in PV, is a precious one to me.
When I came to Los Angeles, to the PV Peninsula. The first impression is blue. Blue sea, blue sky. It all exudes incomparable beauty, and I love it here.
