Grand-Prize Winning Photo: Times reader Gloria Zmuda Nagler shot this photo Nov. 1 at Seattle's Matthews Beach Park, on Lake Washington. She dubbed it "Seagull Channeling Swan." Nagler shot the photo with a Canon 5D Mark III camera and a 400mm lens. Read our profile of Gloria here.

What we like about the photo

“I love the ethereal quality of this photograph. When I first saw it I had to do a double take. It’s so simple yet so captivating. While striking light and beautiful colors often enhance the visual appeal of similar photos, the soft gray and white tones of this one set it apart along with the photographer’s perfect timing. Had this picture been taken a split second earlier or later it would lack the incredible symmetry of the bird’s wings that makes it so special. Publishing images that surprise and delight our audience is a regular goal for photo editors here at The Seattle Times. Kudos to photographer Gloria Zmuda Nagler for providing a photo that we couldn’t resist.”

— Angela Gottschalk, Seattle Times photo editor

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These days we have 3D everything — from TVs to printers. State-of-the-art motion-picture effects make “Star Wars” look like a Bullwinkle cartoon. Modern visual overload can be akin to squinting into the sun.

Yet nothing has eclipsed our enduring fascination with still photography.

Seattle Times readers proved that by submitting hundreds of entries throughout the year to our Reader’s Lens feature. At year’s end, we’ve chosen 10 favorites to be our Seattle Times Reader Photos of the Year.

The grand prize — a $250 gift card from Glazer’s Camera — goes to Gloria Zmuda Nagler, of Lake Forest Park, for her simple yet visually striking photo, above, of a gull stretching its wings on Lake Washington.

Judging was by Angela Gottschalk, Seattle Times photo editor; photo specialist Katie G. Cotterill, who critiques the weekly choices; and Brian J. Cantwell, Seattle Times Outdoors editor.

Thanks to all who sent in so many memorable images reflecting places to see and things to do around the Northwest. Please keep sharing your best recent photos at seattletimes.com/northwestphotos. Maybe you’ll be our winner next December.

— Brian J. Cantwell

Honorable Mentions: Northwest scenics

Photographer: Frank Melchior, Edmonds

Photo taken: May 3, Steptoe Butte, Whitman County

Photographer's description: “Spent the night in Colfax, took the short 10-mile trip up to Steptoe Butte with my Nikon D800 and 300 F/2,8 lens on a tripod. Shot this at 1/800, F/3.5, ISO 800 around sunset.”

Judge’s comment: “The rainbow of colors in this photo is gorgeous and the lovely light creates a painting-like look. I think the key to this beautiful photo is the time it was taken. We wouldn’t get those shadows, the number of varying colors or the golden light if it wasn’t taken during the golden hour.”

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Photographer: Melody Leung, Seattle

Photo taken: Jan. 19, Tiger Mountain

Photographer's description: “Sunday hike on a beautiful foggy afternoon. Silence and peace under the cathedral of trees in the mist. Photo was taken around 2:30 p.m. with my iPhone 5.”

Judge’s comment: “What’s so great about technology today is that we can just pull out our phone to document what we see and experience. I love the lines of the trees and how some are silhouetted and others are faded because of the fog.”

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Photographer: Craig Goodwin, Black Diamond

Photo taken: Nov. 16, Tipsoo Lake, Chinook Pass

Photographer's description: “Taken about 8-8:30 p.m. using a Canon 6D camera with 16mm wide-angle lens. Milky Way can be seen as it passes over Mount Rainier. Lights of Seattle and Olympia are also visible.”

Judge’s comment: “This is a lovely capture of the great outdoors. The wide-angle lens makes it look as if we’re about to jump into hyperspace, like in ‘Star Wars.’ The balance between the stars and the city lights is nicely done.”

Honorable Mentions: Flora and Fauna

Photographer: Kym Ahrens, Seattle

Photo taken: Dec. 21, 2013, in photographer’s yard. (Published in The Seattle Times in 2014)

Photographer's description: “I was trying to capture different portrayals of water (in an effort to stay inspired during the wet season). Taken with Nikon D5100, f/20, 200mm, ISO 280.”

Judge’s comment: “This is a beautiful picture of great repetition and aesthetics. I love the contrast of the pointy leaves with the delicate rain droplets, which look like bubbles ready to be popped.”

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Photographer: Renick Woods, Seattle

Photo taken: March 22, Shilshole Bay, Seattle

Photographer's description: “A harbor seal investigates my camera and me. Around this time of year seal pups show up and are always very curious about things. This one swam right up and smelled the camera. Camera used was the GoPro.”

Judge’s comment: “What a fun photo! I love how the seal’s whiskers stand out because of the contrast against the green water as well as the depth of field and slight murkiness that causes the pup’s body to fade. GoPros have made it possible for us to capture scenes we don’t see every day and this one is spot on.”

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Photographer: Shun Takano, Renton

Photo taken: Aug. 24, Renton Highlands

Photographer's description: “Went for my evening walk with my long lens (when) a golden dragonfly landed on a fence with the afternoon sun backlighting it. Taken with a Sony a99 with Sony 70-400 mm lens.”

Judge’s comment: “I love the square crop because it accentuates the symmetry of the fence within the frame. The long lens cleans up the background and makes this photo so clean and crisp. And then there’s the light — that gorgeous light! It’s like the heavens opened up in a dark alley and shined light on just this one dragonfly.”

Honorable Mentions: Northwest fun and adventure

Photographer: Yoshiki Nakamura, Seattle

Photo taken: July 4, Gas Works Park, Seattle

Photographer's description: “As always, Gas Works Park was super-crowded and it was difficult to find a good shooting spot to attain the best composition. I decided to (shoot) from the back side of Kite Hill as I could capture sparks of fireworks with the silhouette of spectators cleanly. Camera setting: 70-200mm at 120 mm, ISO100, 5.7 seconds, f/9.0”

Judge’s comment: “The color from the fireworks is beautiful and the streaks caused by the slow shutter are on point and create a lovely texture. I love the foreground of people on Kite Hill adding a layer within the frame. Great job planning and executing this photo.”

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Photographer: Dale Johnson, Seattle

Photo taken: March 21, Fremont

Photographer's description: ““I was trying out a technique that I had read about and had seen some amazing shots taken with the sparks flying. I thought that the Fremont Troll would be the perfect spot to try this out, since it is all concrete and not a fire hazard. Burning steel wool is used to create the sparks. Camera: Nikon D800E, Nikon 16-35 lens at 16mm, f22, 10 seconds at ISO 100.”

Judge’s comment: “The photographer did a great job experimenting with a creative use of a long shutter speed and light/fire/sparks that brings out the character of the Fremont Troll in a unique photo. Props to him for getting out there and trying something new.”

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Photographer: Nick Heminger, Everett

Photo taken: Sept. 14, Lowell Riverfront Park, Everett

Photographer's description: “This stretch of the Snohomish River is often misty early in the morning and provides peaceful views for photographers and fishermen alike. Photo taken with a Canon Rebel T3, 1/500 sec at f9, ISO 100.”

Judge’s comment: “I love that the water looks like it is on fire from the combo of early-morning light and mist. The silhouette of the fisherman is really nice against that bright yellow, and I like how the trees fade into the light. The sunbeams through the fog also add a softness to the photo. This is a really great find.”

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Judge’s comments by Katie G. Cotterill of The Seattle Times photo staff.