It’s official: Shubha Tirumale’s photo overlooking Lake Sammamish on a February evening is the new Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter masthead image.
“It was fun to participate,” Tirumale said. “I’m just lucky because the place itself is beautiful.”
Tirumale’s photo, one of more than 100 submissions to the month-long #WeAreTheReporter contest, printed for the first time June 3.
Tirumale, her husband and 5-year-old son have lived in Issaquah for four years, but she’s been “clicking” for many more.
Professionally, she’s been a photographer for the last two years but it’s been a hobby for a decade. She worked in human resources before she was a photographer.
“When I became a mother, I thought this was a better career for me,” she said.
She’s always loved taking photos of landscapes, much like the masthead selection, but has recently gotten into taking portraits.
Many of her clients are local residents and her work has been featured in various news outlets. It’s to the community and her husband for whom she is thankful.
“All the people here are the ones giving me a chance,” she said.
Her family spends a lot of time traveling; all the while she’s taking photos.
The winning photo received high praise alongside the other finalists. Facebook users mostly referred to it as a “beautiful” capture of the area.
“That’s our community,” Tirumale said.
She said her photos are mostly about waiting for the right moment. And when she saw the response this one received she said she was overwhelmed. It’s good to know others find her work pleasing, she said.
“I love what I do.”
As the winner of the Reporter’s masthead contest, she also received a $100 gift card to Palomino, a Mediterranean restaurant located in Bellevue, as well as having her art displayed on the front page, with credit.
The Reporter had long been looking for a photo that best represents the cities and communities of Issaquah and Sammamish. It opened up that search to the public on Earth Day, April 22.
“It is so fun when we do it as a community,” Tirumale said.
During the submission process, the public weighed in to help narrow the options to four photos, two of which were Tirumale’s.
Stanley Yuan, a Sammamish resident, was the other finalist. His photos received similar positive feedback.
The other finalists include Sue Campau, John Bissell, Bob Scola, Daniel Gomez, Erin Walters, Heather Francisco, Jean Husemoller, Kathryn Terry, Krystal Velasquez, Mardie Rhodes, Niharika Brahmbhatt, Nirav Gosalia, Rachel McClary, Ranjan Paul, Tami Thompson, Camille Adamson, Daniel Velasquez Ruano, Eva Philpot, Mariana Gilbert, Kathy Aye, Rick Perry, Min-Hua Lin, Jeff Greene, Heather Aften and John Moffatt.
All submissions are posted on the Reporter Flickr account.
