In celebration of Vista Branding’s 15 year Anniversary on July 4, 2012, we launched the “What is America?” Photography Contest to uncover, analyze, and share the patterns, themes, trials, and triumphs of America. This initiative tapped into the collective wisdom and diversity of Americans, the proliferation of mobile and social sharing, and the power of photography to connect and communicate. For one-month, we invited citizens to answer the question, “What is America?” with digital photographs and one-word title submissions through Twitter and e-mail. Vista received over

1,400 entries from participants whose provided images spanned diverse interpretations of America. As expected, the results were fascinating.

The winners were curated in two ways – by professional judges and the public at large. Judges Stephanie Calabrese Roberts, award-winning photographer and best-selling author of “The Art of iPhoneography” and Steve Beshara, founder of Vista Branding, selected 50 finalist images from the 1,400+ submissions. Judged by an esteemed panel of judges, the 50 final images

comprised of the “Judge’s Choice” Awards. In tandem with the juried portion of the contest, Vista shared the 50 final images with the general public on the Vista Branding Facebook page. During a one-week voting period, Facebook users from across America determined the “People’s Choice” winners by casting a total of 6,293 “likes”. Vista Branding awarded a total of $7,000 in cash prizes to our winners.

2012 Judges’ Choice Winners

First Place: “Dogdaze” by Amelia Merrick
Second Place: “Family” by Max Berkowitz
Third Place: “Distracted” by Angie Dornier

2012 People’s Choice Winners

First Place: “Tradition” by Austin Shrum
Second Place: “NaturalBeauty” by Inna Malostovker
Third Place: “Dogdaze” by Amelia Merrick

2012 Judges

Jerry Burns, award-winning photographer and the founder of Studio Burns, Inc., one of Atlanta’s most renowned and long-standing commercial photography studios.

Tracey Clark, photographer, author of Elevate the Everyday: A Photographic Guide to Picturing Motherhood, and founder of Shutter Sisters, the most popular women’s photography community online.

Clement Mok, award-winning creative director and President emeritus of AIGA, digital entrepreneur and advisor to numerous Silicon Valley start-ups, and author.

Rick Smolan, former Time, Life, and National Geographic photographer, creator of the Day in the Life book series, and CEO of Against All Odds Productions leading global storytelling projects.

Karen Walrond, writer, photographer, creator of the award-winning site Chookooloonks.com, and author of The Beauty of Different.

Keith Weaver, mobile photography pioneer, award-winning Creative Director at Razorfish, and former adjunct professor of interactive design and advertising at Savannah College of Art & Design.