Images of Charleston 2026 Photo Contest

Readers' Choice winner

Olivia Myers' Folly Fowl

Our 2026 Readers' Choice winner, chosen by you.

Thank you to all of the talented photographers who participated, and to everyone who voted. Olivia receives the $200 Readers' Choice prize.

2026

The Top 12

Select any photo to see it larger.

Tradd Street Under Snow by Alexandra Visconti de Ron — **Tradd Street Under Snow**Alexandra Visconti de Ron

Drying Off by Amy Hill — **Drying Off**Amy Hill

Midnight at the Boat Library by Andrew Stewart — **Midnight at the Boat Library**Andrew Stewart

Holy City by Bert Kraus — **Holy City**Bert Kraus

Astro Alignment by Davis Hartley — **Astro Alignment**Davis Hartley

Twilight Tide by Doug Barnard — **Twilight Tide**Doug Barnard

Coffin Land by Dustin Morrow — **Coffin Land**Dustin Morrow

Pink Tears by Heather Volpe — **Pink Tears**Heather Volpe

Beach Paths by Jackie Levesque — **Beach Paths**Jackie Levesque

Get Lost by Jamison Smith — **Get Lost**Jamison Smith

Afterglow by Peter Aragone — **Afterglow**Peter Aragone

In print

The August 2026 “Images of Charleston” feature

Page through the winners and finalists exactly as they appeared in the magazine.

View this year's Honorable Mentions

The contest

How it works

From May 1 to May 31, 2026, photographers submitted up to five images in the Amateur or Professional categories. A panel of judges selected the top picks, including one winner in each category, to be featured in the August 2026 issue.

The top images were then posted here for the Readers' Choice vote.

Cash prizes: Amateur $400 · Professional $400 · Readers' Choice $200

Voting rounds

Round 1 · July 23–August 5. The Top 12 moved on to Round 2.

Round 2 · August 6–August 19. The Readers' Choice winner was selected from the Top 12 and announced at our August awards party, on social media and on the October 2026 “Talk of the Town” page.

Official rules

This contest is for amateur and professional photographers. Entrants could submit up to five photographs in one category, not both.

Each category was judged separately by a panel of publishing and photography experts, and the finalists were featured in the August 2026 issue of Charleston magazine. Each category winner receives a $400 prize, paid 90 days after publication of the August 2026 issue. The Readers' Choice winner receives $200.

All submissions were digital JPEGs of 6 MB or smaller, at least 1,600 pixels on the long side. Finalists were asked to provide the RAW or original camera file (minimum 3,000 pixels wide).

Entrants grant Charleston magazine the right to use and publish their name and photograph in print and online, including websites and social media for @charlestonmag and @verycharleston, for up to three years with no additional consideration. Photographers waive any liability or claims against Charleston Magazine, Dez Inc. or related parties/officers/employees for entry into the contest, including photo usage by Dez Inc. Entrants agree to abide by these rules and by the decisions of the contest administrators.

The contest and all related pages, contents and code are copyright of Charleston magazine. Unauthorized use of copyrighted materials is prohibited.

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