Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's 2008 Digital Photo Challenge:
Grand Prize Winner

Out of more than 1,000 entries from more than 100 photographers, Matthew Wilder of Atlanta, Ga., won the Grand Prize in RTC's 2008 Digital Photo Challenge with this shot (below) inside Brushy Mountain Tunnel on Georgia's Silver Comet Trail. His photo is featured in RTC's 2009 Poster Calendar and the Winter 2009 Rails to Trails magazine.

What Matthew has to say about his winning image:

Chosen perspective: The Brushy Mountain Tunnel is one of the most popular destinations along the Silver Comet Trail; it's a welcome blast of cold air on a hot summer ride. Since the tunnel originally served the Silver Comet train, I was looking for a way to create an exciting photo for this popular spot. By making the long exposure as my friend pedaled by, his blur accentuates the speed of the ride and evokes imagery of the Silver Comet train that once passed through this same tunnel.

How I took the shot: In order to capture the long exposure I sat my camera on some rocks just to the right of the entrance to the tunnel and got down low to frame the photo. After some test passes and tweaking of the settings to get the right exposure, this turned out to be the best of the shots.

Specs: Exposure 1.6 sec, Aperture f/9, Focal Length 55mm, Nikon D50

About me: I am a landscape architect in Atlanta, Ga., by day and an amateur photographer in my free time. I started shooting 35mm film about 15 years ago and more recently have focused on 35mm digital and medium format film mainly with antique box cameras such as the Kodak Brownies. In my day job I spend most of my time designing parks and trails, such as the Silver Comet. I enjoy architectural, nature and landscape photography. Bold colors and strong contrast tend to dominate the images I capture. Wherever I travel I go with camera in hand.

My Web site: www.matthewwilderphotography.com