Congratulations to the 2026 Keep It Dark Photo Contest Winners! With 91 photo submissions from 70 regional photographers we are thrilled to announce the winning images. Winning images are on display at the Truckee-Tahoe Airport through November 13, and will move to the CHAMP Gallery inside City Hall in Nevada City on November 16.
The Best Of
Best of the West: Jesse Bradford (selected by the City of Nevada City Mayor)
Best of the East: John Bahu (selected by the Town of Truckee Mayor)
Professional Category
1st Place / Eric West, “Manifest Nest (A place of peace)”
2nd Place / Jeremy Jensen, “Flow state”
3rd Place / Frank Bloksberg, “I’m still Here”
Amateur Category
1st Place / Freddie Malinis, “Unveiling The night sky”
2nd Place / Lori Thomas, “Watchtower”
3rd Place / Kenneth Swenson, “MilkyWay over South Yuba River”
Youth Category
1st Place / Oliver Brock, “The Milky Way vs. Human Engineering”
2nd Place / Willow Leabman, “Big bend selfie”
3rd Place / JP CHorey, “Cresting over the mountain”
Community Favorites
Community Favorite Professional / Colin Pope, “Lift to the Stars”
Community Favorite, Amateur / Stan Kolbus, “Milkyway and the Bridge”
Community Favorite Youth / Aylah Lyhne, “Night Hike”
