Second place went to Lorenzo Kristov, Davis, California, and third to Alex Ramos, Berkeley, California. Kristov says: “If I had to sum up the primary goal of my photography in a single sentence, I’d say I want to lead viewers to find exceptional beauty and fascination in places and materials they would normally tend to overlook.” Ramos, who is finishing his last year of high school, has been taking photographs for the last four years. “I mainly focus on photographing trains or anything related to the subject of railroads. I really enjoy photographing the human aspect of railroading,” he says.
Runner-ups were Steve Crise, Pomona, California; John W. Coniglio, Hixson, Tennessee; and Kevin Scanlon, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Forty-eight photographers submitted entries. The Center announced the winners at the conclusion of its fifth “Conversations about Photography” conference March 24.
The 2007 theme, fascination with railroad machines, was wide ranging. It could include machines in the environment, machines at work, railroaders working with machines, or anything as simple as a tie or switch stand or as complex a high horse-power locomotive. Photographers were judged on their ability to demonstrate creative, technical, and interpretative excellence in new and unusual ways. We want to encourage the caliber of work that is suitable for gallery and museum display. Railfan & Railroad magazine published the top winners in its July 2007 issue. The California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento, displayed an exhibition of the the winning photos.