Weather Effects: 2022 John E. Gruber Creative Photography Awards

1st Prize, Color: Ray Lewis
Two Jordan spreaders and two “snow-fighter” equipped GP38-2s battle to clear the snow off of the Lower Cascade Bridge near Troy, California, on February 11, 2009.

1st Prize, Black-and-White: Christopher J. May
Commuters await the arrival of an inbound Metra train at the Elmhurst, Illinois, train station on December 14, 2019.

THE 2022 JOHN E. GRUBER Creative Photography Awards Program received 542 submissions from 208 photographers representing thirty-seven states and twelve countries. The judges were blown away from by this year’s extraordinary number of submissions for the contest’s theme: Weather Effects.

The rotating panel of judges worked hard to narrow down the selections to photographs that effectively and creatively represented the contest’s theme while also exhibited captivating compositional storytelling. As in past years, the judges felt the quantity of high-quality submissions warranted separate color and black-and-white categories for the winners.

Everyone at the CRP&A congratulates the winners and extends our thanks to all who entered the 2022 John E. Gruber Creative Photography Awards Program. Those who placed in this year’s program will have their photographs displayed at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden this fall and winter. The first-, second-, and third-prize winners in each category will receive cash prizes of $750, $500, and $250, respectively. Each photographer recognized in the “Judges Also Liked” category will receive a free one-year subscription to Railroad Heritage.

Sleet turns to snow as the Zig Zag Railway’s AC16 Mikado no. 218 shunts at Clarence Station in South Australia, on October 16, 2010.

Judges’ comments: The judges remarked on this image’s artful combination of snow and train in motion, beautifully capturing the drama of railroading in winter. A fantastic take on a tried-and-true elevational concept embracing this year’s theme.

Two Jordan spreaders and two “snow-fighter” equipped GP38-2s battle to clear the snow off of the Lower Cascade Bridge near Troy, California, on February 11, 2009.

Judges’ comments: One of the judge’s favorite images, where the convergence of natural beauty, spectacular light, color and the movement of snow combine to create a dramatic portrait of winter railroading. A powerful yet traditional image with a straight forward composition sets the stage for this year’s first prize winner. The overnight storm has subsided for the moment, and the railroad’s never-ending effort to clear the tracks has begun.

With the storm waning at Broad Street Station in Newark, New Jersey, a transit crew rushes to clear snow off the platforms to make them safe for commuters on the evening of January 26, 2015.

Judges’ comments: The judges were captivated by the story-telling and human side of railroading this image conveys. The subtlety of composition, a ballet of movement, where each person is pushing snow in a different direction and each are in a different part of the shoveling process adds to the sophistication of this image. Similarly, the judges admired the ambiguity of time—is it dusk going to night or the first light followed by dawn—gives the image strength and mystery.

The first frost of October paints all the edges of spikes and screws salvaged from recent track work in East Brookfield, Massachusetts, on October 25, 2018.

Judges’ comments: The judges felt this close-up image is a superb, well-lit study in texture and form and is also a great interpretation of this year’s theme. Weather is fully evident in this strongly composed image: the icy surfaces of the spikes and bolts convey a strong image of winter’s kiss.