Ripple Effects – Louisville, Kentucky, USA 2025

These are the winning photos and written reflections from the 2025 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.

Jingbo, Flooded Streetlamps
Waterfront Park, Louisville, Kentucky

This photo was taken after the flooding of the Ohio River. The street lamps were originally above water but as a result of all the rain, became partially submerged. I was inspired to take this photo after witnessing the aftermath of the rise in the water level of the river. This relates to the contest’s theme because it not only shows a problem that needs to be addressed in the flooding of the river but it also represents the relationship and interaction we have with the water around us.

  

Theodore, Beauty in Destruction
A car at my house in Corydon, Indiana 

I was inspired to take this picture because the drops looked interesting. The drops show how beautiful water can be even in the midst of the destruction of the flooding.      

Avery, A Muddy Splash
The Ohio River, Falls of the Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky

I wanted to take a photo of water in motion. I decided to take my photo at the Falls of the Ohio because the water is really muddy and gross. I wanted to take a photo that showed that even muddy water can be beautiful if you give it a chance to splash. I feel like I did a good job capturing the beauty of the splash, even though the water was gross.

Sarah, Floating on Life’s Source
Waterfront Park, Louisville, Kentucky 

This photo is of a duck swimming across the water at sunset as it searches for food. I was inspired to take this photo because I wanted to highlight the vital role that Kentucky waters play in, not only human life through drinking water, but also in supporting the wildlife that depends on these water’s daily. This moment between the duck and the water serves as a reminder that these waters are more than just a pretty view. These waters are an essential lifeline for all forms of life. Through this image, I hoped to show the  powerful importance of preserving Kentucky’s natural water sources, for both ourselves and for the animals that call it home. 

Kathryn, Sign of the Times
The New Albany Amphitheater, Indiana 

This photo brings awareness to the flooding that recently took place in downtown New Albany, Indiana. “Sign of the Times” demonstrates the capabilities of the Ohio River and how flooding can negatively impact people’s daily lives by the river, by making daily travel more challenging or even impossible.   

Theralyn, Flight of Life
Clifton, Louisville, Kentucky 

Water is essential in the creation and sustainment of all life. The name, “Flight of Life,” represents the journey the seed and pappus (the white feathery tufts of the dandelion) of the dandelion have to take in order to create new life, or a new dandelion. This picture represents the struggles and challenges one might face in order to become their true self like the blooming of a dandelion. While some see the dandelion as a weed, this image captures its beauty and determination to flourish.

Sam, Happy Ducks
Phoenix, Arizona     

The ducks where playing and having fun and two of the ducks went under water and when they came up they looked happy. 

Arin, Sunsets and Bubbles
Land Between the Lakes, Sugar Bay, Kentucky 

Sunsets and Bubbles was taken at Sugar Bay, Kentucky. I took it because the sun was shining on the water making it sparkle and shine. We can watch animals thrive on water and future generations play and splash in water. Water is a privilege. We should protect and preserve the purity and beauty of the water by keeping litter and chemicals away and out of water. If water suddenly disappeared how would we survive? We wouldn’t which is why all humans should do their part in taking care of water. How can you preserve near you?   

Calissa, Rivers Visit My Home
Glenview, Kentucky 

Around early April 2025, when the flooding was severely high, my parents drove my sisters and me as close as we could to the Ohio River, but we barely had to drive far. The Ohio River met us on the trail, and I remember looking across the river, trying and failing to see the other side. My sisters walked ahead of me with my dog, and when they got to the water’s edge, they stopped and took in the scene silently.  I took the picture as a marker to show one point in time when the river reached my home, and to emphasize the aftereffects of natural disaster. 

Abigail, Behind the Streams
Gatlinburg, Tennessee  

My family and I were taking a hike in the Smoky Mountains to this waterfall. The waterfall was really cool because you could walk underneath the rock ledge it was spilling off of. The waterfall was an impressive example of the power and beauty of water. Getting to stand so near to the waterfall and see it up close was incredible. Even though I was sheltered from the waterfall under the ledge, I could still feel the mist spraying up from it. It caused me to really think about how powerful the waterfall was.

Vihaan, Reflection of Love
Boulder Pond, Turkey Run Park, Louisville, Kentucky    

This photo was taken in inspiration of my mom’s love for my brother, and how water added to the elegance of it. Not only does water enhances the beauty, but also plays an essential role in the raising of a new life. This photo shows how the grace and affection of water intertwines with the care and warmth of a mother, creating the blueprint for a new life to sprout. For me, water means more than just survival, but also the groundwork for a young infant’s and mother’s life, and their never ending endearment. 

Henry, Turtle Beach
Beargrass Creek, Cherokee Park, Louisville, Kentucky 

My relationship to this place is because I bike by it all the time and it’s a beautiful creek and has a lot of turtles and animals. This place inspired me because sadly there’s pollution like trash and litter and sometimes the trail is closed because of flooding, but it is still beautiful.        

Charlie, Ripple Debris
Ohio River Waterfront, Louisville, Kentucky

I took this photo because it shows the beautiful ripples in the water but also the trash that has landed in the water because of flooding. It serves as a reminder of how we have an effect on the river and it has an effect on us. Recent flooding has made it apparent to me that being mindful of how we contain our trash is important to keeping the river beautiful and clean so that humans and wildlife can continue to enjoy it.      

Ali, Reflections of Water
Waterfront Park, Louisville, Kentucky 

I took this photo because I really liked how the light reflected against the water to show how water can be a type of beauty as well. A lot of people find sunsets to be beautiful and in this photo with the sunset reflecting on the water it also gives it that beauty and shows its importance.

Anika, Pure Waters, Simple Joys
The Outlet Shoppes of Bluegrass, Simpsonville, Kentucky 

My brother happily playing with his Hot Wheels toy car in clean waters. Gentle ripples and reflections highlight the purity of the waters, capturing a playful moment. This quietly speaks the importance of clean water, not just for health and survival, but also for safe recreation, childhood joy, and the simple pleasures of life.

Adalynn, Siblings in the Rivulet
Roberson Run Park, Louisville, Kentucky 

We took a family walk around the park. I saw the area of water that I enjoy to be around and I thought about the pollution in the water, but then I saw that there wasn’t much. I like to play in water. I thought that the picture was sweet because me and my brother’s feet were in it. We could not live without water, it is a beautiful substance. It can clean things and keeps people, plants, and other living things alive. One of the most beautiful things about water in our community is spending time in it with my family (and it’s fun to play in).

Lena, Sun Shine Down
Tom Sawyer Park, Louisville, Kentucky 

We were hiking in Tom Sawyer Park and saw Goose Creek. I liked the sun shining through the trees on to the water surface and rocks in the water. Sun and water keep us alive. We would not live without them.

Aashi, Turtle Enjoying the Sun
The lake behind my house in Indian Springs, Louisville, Kentucky

Look at this turtle soaking up the sun! I took this picture because turtles need both sun and water to stay happy and healthy, just like us. The sun warms them up, and the water is where they swim and live. Water is super important. Water is life!  

Onyah, A Ripple at Riverview
Riverview Park, Louisville, Kentucky 

The picture was taken during the severe weather in April. It’s a water park under water from the flood. It shows a ripple in the water but also a ripple effect of what happens after bad storms.

Liza, Creek Leaf and Stone Reflection
Beckley Creek Park, Louisville, Kentucky 

I enjoy spending time with my family at Beckley Creek and I love the feeling that the streaming water gives me. I love the reflection of leaves in the creek and how trees bend over the water. I guess that’s what inspired me to take the pictures. 
Me, my sister, and friends, we love throwing stones in the creek and making wishes. I like the circular waves that form after we throw the stones in water. We also put leaves in water and see whose leave will win the race. Sometimes we try to spot tiny fish and pretend to catch them with our fish sticks. When the weather is hot we love to put our feet in the water and splash everywhere. Our parents are not very happy when we do that. My pictures represent the theme of how we interact and recreate in water.