Grads photo contest winners captured great moments
After vigorous debate and agonizing consideration, 5 editors chose the winner in tampabay.com's Grads Photo Contest. We asked Tampa Bay readers to share their creative graduation photos and we received more than 60 fun, touching, emotional pictures.
Two winners will get $200 gift cards for Tampa's new IKEA store.
On the right is the winner chosen by St. Petersburg Times editors. Stacie Selover submitted her photo with this caption: Daniel Selover is all smiles as he shares a hug with his big sister, Stephanie, after the ceremony at Springstead High School on June 4. For a large format view of the winner, go to our All Eyes photo blog.
In choosing this photo, education editor Marilyn Garateix said:
"They bring you into their world in that moment. And they both have great smiles!"
Our readers' choice winner is Devon Pryor, above, who graduated from Northeast High School. Pryor's picture scored 553 votes on her photo.
Pryor's sister Melissa McMinn submitted Devon's photo for the contest, and both of them spread the word to friends via e-mail and MySpace pages.
Pryor, who plans to start at St. Petersburg College in the fall, said "It's cool just to win. And it will be cool to shop at IKEA."
The judges had such a tough time choosing the winner, we decided to choose a runner-up -- Jumping for Joy -- and IKEA was generous enough to offer a goodie bag for this entry. In the photo, St. Petersburg Catholic High School graduates Megan Swaine, David Babb and Lyndsey McKenna celebrate outside St. Jude Cathedral in St. Petersburg. Tracey Swaine submitted the photo.
"The lighting is good in the photo and they got it at just the right moment," said senior photo editor Sherman Zent. "There's a real feeling of exuberance."
*The five Times judges were Zent; Garateix; photo/multimedia coordinator Ted McLaren; T. Allan Smith, a tampabay.com editor and myself, Karen McAllister.
All you people need to grow up! She won and you all didn't. Get over it. She deserved what she won.
Posted by: Grow up people | June 15, 2009 at 06:56 PM
Hey all -- Please don't knock the winners. The Readers' Pick really was about spreading the word to friends and family, allowing them to celebrate the occasion.
We'll have more photo contests, so stay tuned.
Posted by: Karen McAllister | June 14, 2009 at 11:19 AM
who cares about any of this? really!
Posted by: anny | June 14, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Actually. Anyone who entered the contest was told when their picture was accepted that they were to tell all friends and family. Obviously Devon is very popular. Always has been. Not our problem that the other people did not have more family and friends to tell or who were not willing to vote for them. Also to be honest both my mom and I voted on other peoples pictures that we thought were good. So how is it rigged? We did what we were told to do and that was to spread the word. Everyone else told their friends and family so what we are not allowed to? Thats pretty messed up. Grow up! Also maybe you should go back to school to learn how to properly punctuate and CAPITALIZE. Yes she will enjoy her giftcard and be getting the new computer desk she wanted.
Posted by: Melissa | June 13, 2009 at 06:16 PM
melissa, it's not a matter of having poor sportsmanship. i don't know anyone who entered the contest. the truth of the matter is that the picture is BORING! you admit yourself "spreading the word" and "having as many family and friends like we do." so THERE YOU GO, you admit it was rigged! whatever, she can enjoy her giftcard i'm sure, but the truth of the matter is that it's a boring picture that should not have won.
Posted by: kc | June 13, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Although,I think the picture of Devon is quite boring, she is far from ugly,actually a very nice looking young women, and I believe that diploma she earned is far from worthless. Get a life!!!
Posted by: Joe | June 13, 2009 at 10:35 AM
UMMM excuse me! Devon is my little sister thank you. And you can only vote once from any IP address period. Maybe if you had the family and friends like we do then you would have won. Its called spreading the word. Learn how to do it. My sister is FAR from ugly. You dont have to be nasty just because you didn't win. You wave some serious poor sportsmanship issues. What are you 10?
Posted by: melissa | June 13, 2009 at 08:21 AM
Awww..that's a shame..I bet this is the last time they do a contest like this - or last time they do it by viewer's choice for 1st. The winner is clearly just a snapshot anyone could have taken. There's no composition, and it's not even great quality. I like the second one much better. I'm glad the "runner up" got a little something for a price.
Posted by: Christy | June 12, 2009 at 11:03 PM
I'm not gonna lie, I'm thinking this was rigged. LOOK AT THE AIR MY BEST FRIENDS AND I GOT! :)
Posted by: Lyndsey | June 12, 2009 at 09:30 PM
seriously.. devon's picture was obviously voted just because of the sheer number of family/friends who repeatedly voted. who cares about that picture? it's about the most boring, staged pic ever! the jumping for joy pic should have won.
Posted by: kristen | June 12, 2009 at 09:00 PM