Be it the serenity of the Japanese garden, the delicate beauty of roses or the boldness of a sculpture, City of Hope’s Duarte campus holds myriad subjects to stimulate a photographer’s creative eye. Recently, faculty and staff members answered the call to highlight the campus’ splendor while showcasing their photographic talents in the first-ever Hope News photo contest.

From left, Flower with Golter Gate by Kasie Uyeno, Window view of the Japanese garden by Amanda Flores McMichael, Clasping hands sculpture by Alfonso Lam. View full size slide show >>

Judges from the Communications Department reviewed nearly 130 entries from 35 contestants to choose the final three winning entries.

Kasie Uyeno, directed donor coordinator in the Blood Donor Center, took top honors with her photo of a brilliant flower juxtaposed against a background that included the Golter Gate. Amanda Flores McMichael, senior secretary in Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, claimed second place with her window view of the Japanese garden. Third place went to Alfonso Lam, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Immunology, for his image of a sculpture of clasping hands near the Center for Biomedicine & Genetics.

First-, second- and third-place winners will receive $50, $25 and $10 Target gift cards, respectively.

Five judges independently rated each photo from one to 10, with 10 being best, in three categories: creativity, photographic quality and how well the photo conveyed City of Hope’s unique beauty and character. All scores were added, and the three highest-scoring entries won.

“There were many stunning images that showed some real photographic and creative skill,” said one photo contest judge. “We felt the top three hit the mark in all three criteria.”

Photos from each entrant are available in a slide show below.