SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - CBS 8, along with Instagram photography collective San Diego Photos and the Grand Hyatt San Diego, announced a contest with the topic "iconic San Diego".
The contest offered a grand prize to the winning photographer - a one-night stay and complimentary breakfast at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.
Over twelve-hundred photo submissions were received and all could have been considered finalists. It was a tough choice and, unfortunately, only one can represent “iconic San Diego”.
Congratulations to Instagram user @autumntrees2 for the winning photo of a silhouetted surfer walking along the sand during sunset near the Imperial Beach pier.
Why was this photo considered “iconic San Diego”?
We received a lot of outstanding photos of San Diego beaches. From the magnificent sunset photos to beach goers just enjoying time out in the sand, it’s a testament to what most San Diegans truly value about America’s Finest City - the connection to the ocean.
We also received several photos of prominent San Diego landmarks such as the Coronado Bridge, the downtown skyline, Balboa Park, Petco Park, the Mt. Soledad cross and, yes, a few images of fish tacos. But we asked, “These are all great representations of San Diego taken as a whole but can they singularly evoke THE San Diego ’feeling’?”
If you are or have been a San Diego resident, you know the ‘feeling’.
When you’re stuck at work in an office cubicle and think, “I wish I can just up and leave to go to the beach today,” you long for it.
When you’ve moved away to another city and say to yourself, “I miss those hazy, lazy San Diego days,” you want it back.
It’s when all the goings-on in the world are filtered out just from your tiny toe touching the cool San Diego shoreline on a sunset stroll…that’s the ‘feeling’ and it’s as iconic San Diego as any and is the reason why @autumntrees2’s photo resonated with the judges.
Do you think the judges made the right call? Let us know in the comments!