This year's Photo Contest winners had an overriding quality: patience.

Whether it was spending a day in a Guatemalan marketplace or waiting for the light to hit just right, this year's winners knew their efforts would pay off. Children were captured in several winning shots, from a boy with a soccer ball to ballerinas. The natural world was also well-represented.

The four judges picked from 230 images entered by 140 people. There are 23 winning images printed here. The photos will be exhibited at the Palo Alto Art Center from May 28 through June 12, including 15 others selected just for the exhibition.

The winners will receive prizes from local businesses. First-place winners will receive $250 in cash and a $100 gift certificate from University Art Center. Second-place winners will receive $150 in cash and a $100 gift voucher from UCSC Extension Art + Design Department. Third-place winners get $100 in cash and a $100 gift certificate from PhotoTime. Co-winners in the youth category receive a $50 gift certificate from University Art Center.

Photo Contest Judges

Photos that were chosen for exhibition