With more than 500 entries for 2018, we’re excited to announce that after combing through the most captivating photos in our annual competition, we have chosen our 20 favorites.

GRAND PRIZE

Tom Welge is a self-described “novice” photographer, but that didn’t stop him from bringing home our highest honor for this image of his two sons riding on the Tunnel Hill State Trail in southern Illinois. “We had just emerged from the main tunnel of the trail south of Carbondale. It was a cold, rainy day, and I was struck by the fog, the bleakness of the scene, contrasted with the mischief and adventure the kids and the dog suggested. Kind of a ‘Goonies’ meets ‘Stranger Things’ shot,” Welge said. “I’ve taken a lot of pics of my kids, but I’m pretty sure this will remain one of my favorites.” Perhaps even more so now that it has netted him our grand prize package and a two-year subscription to Terrain!

SPORTS

First Place

Tina Grutsch Murtha takes home a custom performance short-sleeve shirt from Bike Rags plus a two-year subscription to Terrain for her picture of mountain biking through a sea of grass at Council Bluff Recreation Area in southern Missouri.

Second Place

Philip Kurrus caught this picture of a fisherman catching a trout at Meramec Spring near St. James, Missouri. He wins a QIKCOVER vehicle seat protector and a one-year subscription to Terrain.

Third Place

This picture of a cyclocross racer at the Pumpkin Hop Cross in Beardstown, Illinois, earns Eli Molloy a $25 gift card good for any service/labor with Velofix St. Louis.

NATURE

First Place

For the late-day glimmer of sunlight over the Devil’s Honeycomb in southern Washington County, Missouri, Jon Franklin wins a custom performance short-sleeve shirt from Bike Rags plus a two-year subscription.

Second Place

Dan Zarlenga expresses amazing color in this multilayered image taken just after sunset from Hughes Mountain. He gets a QIKCOVER vehicle seat protector and a one-year subscription to Terrain.

Third Place

Her striking shot of a skeletal tree in the Salem, Missouri, along Highway 19 earns Sharon Potts a $25 gift card good for any service/labor with Velofix St. Louis.

PEOPLE

First Place

A laser focus on this lone stargazer at Hughes Mountain Natural Area wins Dan Zarlenga a custom performance short-sleeve shirt from Bike Rags plus a two-year subscription.

Second Place

Dan Johanning snapped his wife gazing over an unnamed waterfall on the Lower Rock Creek Trail near Fredericktown, Missouri. The image wins the couple a QIKCOVER vehicle seat protector and a one-year subscription to Terrain.

Third Place

The shimmering light and silhouettes of splashing kids at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis held the eye of Danielle Ridolfi. See takes home a $25 gift card good for any service/labor with Velofix St. Louis.

WILDLIFE

First Place

Kathy Duncan didn’t disturb this fox kit, who was transfixed by a wasp that flew in and landed right in from of it. Her discretion gets her a custom performance short-sleeve shirt from Bike Rags plus a two-year subscription.

Second Place

This picture capturing the statuesque majesty of a lone elk at Lone Elk Park in Valley Park, Missouri, wins Jon Franklin a QIKCOVER vehicle seat protector and a one-year subscription.

Third Place

John Gilbert landed a $25 gift card good for any service/labor with Velofix St. Louis for this image of a bald eagle touching down at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area in Columbia, Missouri.

ANYTHING GOES

First Place

Rawan Abusaid snapped this retouched image of a climber on the “Treemonisha” sculpture in Lafayette Square in St. Louis and wins a custom performance short-sleeve shirt from Bike Rags plus a two-year subscription.

Second Place

This filtered image of multicolored leaves taken at Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park gets Alane Wolins a QIKCOVER vehicle seat protector and a one-year subscription.

Third Place

Tom Drennan was logging some miles on the trails in Creve Coeur when he snapped this photo of the misty path ahead. He gets a $25 gift card good for any service/labor with Velofix St. Louis.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Shake It Off by Patricia Ott

Peekaboo by Danielle Ridolfi

Bike and Blooms by Steve Albrecht

We Believe We Can Fly by Will Scherff

ABOUT OUR PRIZES

The grand prize finisher in the Terrain Photo Contest 2018 will receive a package consisting of a Terrain Magazine hat, socks, sunglasses and custom performance short-sleeve shirt from Bike Rags, as well as a QIKCOVER and $25 gift card good for any service/labor with Velofix St. Louis.

First-place winners will receive a custom performance short-sleeve shirt from Bike Rags. Located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Bike Rags is your source for all things custom apparel: from cycling jerseys, to patch hats, to T-shirts and everything in between. The company’s focus is on making you look your best! bikeragsapparel.com

Second-place winners will receive a QIKCOVER vehicle seat protector — a triple-layer, 100-percent waterproof, machine-washable, universal-size seat cover. Geared toward outdoor enthusiasts looking for a convenient way to keep their interior seats clean from all the elements. Everyone can use a QIKCOVER! qikcover.com

Third-place winners will receive a $25 gift card good for any service/labor with Velofix St. Louis. A mobile bike maintenance and repair service with 30 franchises in North America, Velofix allows you to book a reservation online and have its “rolling bike shop” come to you. velofix.com/locations/st-louis/