LIFESTYLE
Stunning vacation photos captured by our readers
Clifford OtoThe Stockton Record
Aug. 25, 2026, 2:30 a.m. PT
Everyone likes to take photos of while on vacation. They document the places we went to, things we did, people we met and all the fun we had while on holiday
Travel photography does all this while also infusing an artistic quality to the photographic technique
For the Readers Photo Challenge “vacation,” nine readers sent in a total of 47 photos. Here are the top picks
Tom La Bounty of Stockton traveled with friend Richard Rios all the way to Tucson, Arizona to see a band of which Rios is a huge fan. The band, Dengue Fever, played at the La Rosas Theater in Tucson
While it was a blistering 106-degrees outside, it was much cooler at the indoor venue
With a Google Pixel 9 Pro Cellphone, LaBounty photographed the band performed their Cambodian, pop and rock fusion styled tunes while bathed in cool blue light. While spotlights in the background stream down diagonally. A warm-colored spotlight illuminates lead singer Chhom Nimol at center stage, emphasizing her by making her stand out from the rest of the group.
Tom Gruzas of Stockton and his family have been vacationing in Capitola on the Central Coast for the last 20 years
This year they did a family project of building a sand castle on the beach
Gruzas used an Apple iPhone SE to photograph the fruits of their labors. From the grey/beige of the sand to the pale blue of the sea and sky, the entire scene has an overall neutral tone in color. Footprints from fellow beachcombers give some interesting texture to the sand on the beach. Just the two red and yellow sand pails and single plastic shovel as an accent of vibrant color. Two people and the Capitola Wharf being them at the top right corner of the frame adds some visual interest and balance. The whole thing has an end of summer vacation vibe to it.
Cynthia Barker of Stockton describes her vacation as a trip of a lifetime. She and her family went on a safari vacation to South Africa, visiting national parks and game preserves
She got to experience the lush landscapes and exotic wildlife on her trip
On one of Barker’s excursions to the Timbavati Game Reserve she got a closeup shot with a Canon EOS Rebel T3 DSLR camera of a lioness yawning, its gaping mouth wide open, as it awoke from a nap to as it rose to hunt.
With her photo, Carolyn Silva of Jackson reminds us to keep aware of small details even while on vacation
While visiting her brother in Olympia, Washington, she took a trip to the Nisqually River at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge between Olympia and Tacoma. With a Nikon D7500 DSLR camera to photograph a large yellow leaf in the river’s waters floating amongst the smaller bright green duckweed. The two contrasting colors make for a vibrant image
On a trip to Normandy, France, Jennifer Lewis of Linden visited the Notre-Dame de Bayeux cathedral in the small town of Bayeux
Though not as famous at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the Bayeux church is just as imposing. Lewis used a Samsung Galaxy S23+ smartphone to photograph its gothic spires as they reach into the sky. The jagged stone towers contrast boldly against the deep blue sky
For first place, LaBounty gets a 16×20 photo printed by Ulmerphoto and a gift card to a local restaurant. Second place goes to Gruzas for which he receives an 11×14 print. Third place goes to Barker and with it goes an 8×10 print. The challenge is going on a bit of hiatus and won’t be back until Oct. 13
