Through Iowa’s lens
6/3/2026Beauty can be found among the landscape, wildlife, people, events and communities of Iowa. If anyone has doubts about that, they simply need to peruse the winning photographs of the 16th Annual Keep Iowa Beautiful photography contest, which invites photographers to showcase Iowa’s natural and environmental beauty through their lenses and capture the essence of their favorite seasons in a creative and engaging way.
With the blessing of Keep Iowa Beautiful and the permission of photographers, CITYVIEW again features the works of the talent behind the cameras.
“Keep Iowa Beautiful’s annual photo contest is a great opportunity for photographers to capture and share the essence of Iowa’s story,” Keep Iowa Beautiful Executive Director Andy Frantz said. “We were truly impressed by the incredible quality and creativity of this year’s submissions. This contest highlights the immense talent of photographers across our state.”
More than 500 photos were entered in six categories in this year’s photo contest, with first, second and third-place recipients in each category receiving $100, $75 and $50, respectively. Additionally, the prestigious Robert D. Ray Best of Show awards honor top photographers with prizes of $500 for first place, $250 for second place, and $100 for third place. The Public Favorite award winner also received a $100 prize. New this year, Keep Iowa Beautiful highlighted a Youth Winner, selected from submissions by photographers who are 18 and younger.
“As an avid photographer, my dad, Bob Ray, rarely went anywhere without his camera. Through his lens, he captured the faces and stories of Iowans he cared so deeply about. His passion for keeping Iowa beautiful extended far beyond its natural scenery; it was rooted in his love for the people who made this state so special,” Randi Ray, Robert D. Ray’s daughter and a panelist in the photo contest, said.
To ensure fairness and objectivity, all entries were judged blindly without the names of the submitters visible to the judges, emphasizing the quality and creativity of the photos themselves.
Iowa Cities
First place: “Glitter City,” by Scott Hoag of DeWitt. Photo reprinted with permission
Third place: “Madison County Courthouse,” by Morgan Weaver of Afton.
Photo reprinted with permission
Honorable mention: “Children Watch Fireworks in the Snow in Ankeny,” by Lee Navin of Ankeny. Photo reprinted with permission
Photo not available: Second place: “Davenport, Iowa,” by Brian Abeling of West Des Moines
Iowa Landscape
First place: “Juniper Tree Overlooking Fall Colors along the Mississippi,” by Suhaib Khan of Glendale, Illinois. Photo reprinted with permission
“Sunset over Farmland,” by Sharon Scarff of Wayland.
Photo reprinted with permission
“Wired for an Iowa Winter,” by Harlen Persinger of Grundy Center.
Photo reprinted with permission
“Gassing Up,” by Scott Hoag of DeWitt.
Photo reprinted with permission
Photo not available — Second place: “The Best Campsite in Iowa,” by Cody Davis of Grinnell
Iowa Water
First place: “Ice Fishing,” by Silas Clough of Zwingle. Photo reprinted with permission
Second place: “Lake Dreams,” by William Beardsley of Spirit Lake. Photo reprinted with permission
Third place: “Dock to Serenity,” by William Beardsley of Spirit Lake. Photo reprinted with permission
Photo not available — Honorable mention: “Pikes Peak State Park overlooking the Mississippi River,” by Brian Abeling of West Des Moines
Iowa Wildlife
First place: “Great Blue Heron Shakes off the Morning Dew,” by Peyton Renning of Des Moines.
Photo reprinted with permission
Second place: “Red Fox Kit Backlit,” by Jim Rose of Mason City. Photo reprinted with permission
Third place: “Screech,” by Sharon Scarff of Wayland. Photo reprinted with permission
Honorable mention: Young Buck, Late Summer,” by Justin Cox of Iowa City. Photo reprinted with permission
Iowans in Action
Dyersville, August 16, 2025 © Dave LaBelle
Ghost Players work their way through the tall corn, while moving into position to emerge and begin performing their final show of the summer at the Field of Dreams Movie Site in Dyersville, Iowa, August 16, 2025.
Second place: “On the Move!,”
by Sharon Scarff of Wayland.
Photo reprinted with permission
Third place: “The Agony of Defeat,” by Scott Hoag of DeWitt.
Photo reprinted with permission
Honorable mention: “Hoover Blacksmith,” by Jesse Streinz of West Branch. Photo reprinted with permission
Hometown Pride
First place: “Heaven with a Zip Code,” Scott Hoag of DeWitt (taken in Lost Nation).
Photo reprinted with permission
Second place: “Life at Your Own Pace,” by Scott Hoag of DeWitt (taken in Shellsburg). Photo reprinted with permission
Honorable mention: “Holly Learning how to Plow with a Team of Horses,” by Deb O’Brien of Jewell (taken in Albert City). Photo reprinted with permission
Photo not available — Third place: “Nite Glow in Indianola, Iowa,” Brian Abeling of West Des Moines (taken in Indianola)
The Robert D. Ray Best of Show winners:
First place: “Heaven With a Zip Code,” Scott Hoag of DeWitt
Second place: “Juniper Tree overlooking Fall Colors Along the Mississippi,” Suhaib Khan of Glendale, Illinois
Third place: “Great Blue Heron Shakes off the Morning Dew,” Peyton Renning of Des Moines
Youth winner: “Driftless Falls,” Zane Raza of West Des Moines
Public Favorite: “Glitter City,” Scott Hoag of DeWitt
Youth winner: “Driftless Falls,” Zane Raza of West Des Moines. Photo reprinted with permission
