These are the winning photos and written reflections from the 2024 Ripple Effects photo contest in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. This is the fourth year of the contest in Louisville. If you want to know more about the contest, you can find information on the Louisville Free Public Library site.
Black Swan
By Rihaan
High School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
I took this photo of a black swan in the lake in Cave Hill Cemetery. My father is an avid photographer, and he took to Cave Hill so he could teach me as well. During the trip, I was fortunate enough to take this picture of the swan as it approached me. This photo reflects the theme because it shows the importance of water and its role in the symbiosis of life. Water sustains the lives of thousands of different, diverse organisms in our city alone. It allows the distinct characteristics of our city to flourish and gives our city life. This means that preserving our waters and maintaining clean, healthy waters are extremely important to the thousands of different living beings. Water pollution kills species, destroys ecosystems, and strips our beautiful city of the wonderful synergy that makes it grow.
The Beauty of Rain
By Viviana
High School Division, Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA
What really inspired me to take this photo was seeing how the rain droplets enhanced the beauty of the leaf. This represents the contest because it shows how the rain aids plants in their growth which amplifies nature’s natural beauty.
The Little Guys
By Sequoia
High School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
This photo of a duck depicts the life and stories floating through our waterways. Rivers, creeks, and lakes are vibrant ecosystems full of biodiversity, that depend on waterways for survival. Sadly pollution threatens this delicate environment; poisoning resources, destroying habitats, and disrupting food supplies. By respecting there natural environments we can create a world where beautiful creatures can thrive. We can look out for the little guys.
Reflection
By Lily
High School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
My favorite thing about water is its ability to reflect. It produces mirror images of everything around it. In this picture, the biggest reflection is of the sun; however, if you look closely, it’s also reflecting a bird and some logs on the water. Water will reflect anything near it: the good, the bad, and the ugly. That’s why it’s so important that we take care of Earth’s water: it will reflect our decisions.
Big Four Over the Ohio
By Jingbo
High School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
This photo was taken after sunset to display the beauty of the Ohio River and the community around it after dark. It represents the theme of the contest by showing the interaction and the connection between downtown Louisville and the Ohio River especially through the Big Four Bridge.
Beauty in the Water
By Cali
Middle School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
My photo was taken after a big storm that broke a lot of branches and left some debris but afterwards there was a rainbow and it brought hope. It represents the theme because even though the storm was harsh and destructive beauty lies in the destruction.
What inspired me to take this photo was the thought of how all living things need to have water to thrive. This picture demonstrates the beauty of flowers something I have always loved and how water effects our natural world. When i was taking this photo I noticed three small drops of water hanging from the pistol of the flower. I wanted to highlight that in my photo to show just how water effects our life to show that those three water drops are going to soon be apart of the flower. It fits the theme of the contest because it shows how flowers need water to be seen as the colorful unique plants they are.
Main Pluvia
By Theralyn
Middle School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
What inspired me to take this photo was the thought of how all living things need to have water to thrive. This picture demonstrates the beauty of flowers something I have always loved and how water effects our natural world. When i was taking this photo I noticed three small drops of water hanging from the pistol of the flower. I wanted to highlight that in my photo to show just how water effects our life to show that those three water drops are going to soon be apart of the flower. It fits the theme of the contest because it shows how flowers need water to be seen as the colorful unique plants they are.
Nature’s Reflection
Green River Lake, Cambellsville KY | July 18, 2024
By Amelie
Middle School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
I took this photo because the lake looked so beautiful at sunset that night and I wanted to try my best to capture the waters full beauty.
Wet Feet
By Hannah
Middle School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
In this photo, I was playing in the backyard with my sister and my neighbor friend. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day; we were playing in my little sister’s wading pool. My sister and my friend were jumping up and down and I rushed into the house because I had the idea to take a picture of the water splashing onto us. Water means to me, playing outside with my friends in the summer heat.
Water, Grass, and Graffiti
By Arin
Middle School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Water is essential for life from carrying goods (shown as the barge) to life (shown as the grass and trees). We should not trash the water but care for it. The graffiti was shown as a caution not to pollute the water.
Ducks on Long Run Lake
By Jane
3rd-5th Grade Primary School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Long Run Lake helps our local ducks and gives them a place to live, eat, and have baby ducks. It is important to a lot of wildlife and a fun place to go, kayak, picnic, and enjoy the ducks and geese.
A Girl and Her Ball
By Lilly
3rd-5th Grade Primary School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
This photo is a reflection of how I love to play basketball after it rains.
Mushroom Morning Dew
By Marley
3rd-5th Grade Primary School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
What inspired me to take this photo is that these mushrooms might look small but they are beautiful things that are a lot like us. They can communicate with each other and other living organisms like trees. They tell each other about danger and where to find food.
Riverbank
By Sia
3rd-5th Grade Primary School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
What inspired me to take this picture was because of the cleanliness of the water high up on the mountains. Far away from civilization, the water was very pure and beautiful. It represents the theme of the contest because it’s important that we get all of the clean water down to the ground so we can survive.
Evening Reflections: The Essence of Water
By Vihaan
3rd-5th Grade Primary School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
What inspired me to take this photo was the essential vitality importance and beauty that water brings to our lives, especially as seen during a sunset. Standing by the river, I was captivated by the way the amazing setting sun cast such a beautiful reflection on the water’s surface, creating a calm and reflective atmosphere. This moment made me realize the essential role water plays in our daily existence and how beautiful it can be too – not just as a resource, but as a source of peace, inspiration, and life.
Water, in its essence, reflects our emotions and experiences. As the sun sets, it symbolizes the closing of a day, a time for reflection and gratitude. The gentle ripples on the river mirrored the ebb and flow of life, reminding me of the calm and resilience that water embodies. This photo captures a fleeting moment of harmony between nature and humanity, showcasing the endless beauty and importance of water in our world.
Amazing Water
By Reya
K-2nd Grade Primary School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
What inspired me to take this photo was it looked cool, pretty.
The Water Droplet
By Stella
K-2nd Grade Primary School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
It goes along with the title of the contest Ripple Effects because of the leaf floating on the water, and the water floating on the leaf.
The Closeup
By Franklin
K-2nd Grade Primary School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Because the background has water in it and the seagull is the main picture. People interact with water by drinking it and not littering.
Raindrops Hitting the Water
By Sawyer
K-2nd Grade Primary School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
It was raining that day and I like to watch the raindrops splash in the pool. Each drop made circles in the water. Those circles are called ripples.
Sunshine
By Booker
K-2nd Grade Primary School Division, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
The sun made a good glare on the water. The sun’s glare on the water is my favorite thing about water. There will be a pretty lake, a year or two later there will be trash in it and people don’t care about it. I want to help clean it up because I like to swim in it and people like to fish in it.
Ripple Effects International 