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See the winner of our 2023 Picture of the Year contest

Cast your vote on your favorite 2023 photos submitted by readers.

January 22, 2024 • 
Emily Shea-Owen, London Gibson
A close up of a 3d-printed stage, made out of layers of a tan "lavacrete" curving toward the right-hand side of the image. In the background, the Austin skyline looms and the setup for live music is being constructed.

Icon’s 3D-printed Stage

Photo submitted by Courtney O.

Table of Contents
Winner: "Flight of the bats" by Devon A.
Finalist: "Pan statue at the Commodore Perry Estate" by Aubrey D.
Finalist: "Beau @ Montopolis Bridge" by Celina G.
Finalist: "Eye on Austin" by John D.
Finalist: "Austin from Jester Hill" by Uwe B.
Finalist: "The Freeze" by Chris P.
Finalist: "Icon's 3D-printed Stage" by Courtney O.

The votes are in for the ATXtoday 2023 Picture of the Year contest. Check out the finalists below, including the winner that you, our readers, voted for.

A crowd of people standing on the Congress Avenue Bridge are silhouetted, with the sunset behind them, as the outline of hundreds of bats fly overhead.

Flight of the bats from the Congress [Ave.] Bridge.

Photo submitted by Devon A.

Winner: “Flight of the bats” by Devon A.

Austin’s colony of urban bats is one of the largest in the world, drawing thousands of visitors each year. Devon’s depiction of the local phenomenon earned 38.6% of votes to clinch the top spot in our contest.

A stone statue of pan holding a flute is bathed in golden light, with a glowing golden building in the background behind a large garden and tall trees.

Pan statue at the Commodore Perry Estate.

Photo submitted by Aubrey D.

Finalist: “Pan statue at the Commodore Perry Estate” by Aubrey D.

A portrait of a statue of the ancient Greek god of the wild seems fitting in a city with so much beautiful green space.

ATX_POYCelinaG

Beau @ Montopolis Bridge

Photo submitted by Celina G

Finalist: “Beau @ Montopolis Bridge” by Celina G.

We love how happy this pup looks on a walk through East Austin.

A black and white image of Lady Bird Lake, with the Austin skyline in the background. Above, a bridge looms in an ark shape, framing the image.

Eye on Austin.

Photo submitted by John D.

Finalist: “Eye on Austin” by John D.

Lady Bird Lake looks stunning in this black and white image.

The Austin skyline as seen from a great distance, nestled in hills with trees framing the image.

Downtown Austin, taken from Jester Hill on December 9, 2023.

Photo submitted by Uwe B.

Finalist: “Austin from Jester Hill” by Uwe B.

The Austin skyline is beautiful from every angle, but we thought this angle found by reader Uwe B. was especially enchanting.

Ice is laden on a bridge in this black and white image that has the Austin skyline in the background.

The Freeze.

Photo submitted by Chris P.

Finalist: “The Freeze” by Chris P.

This black-and-white shot perfectly captures the eeriness of last winter’s ice storm.

A close up of a 3d-printed stage, made out of layers of a tan "lavacrete" curving toward the right-hand side of the image. In the background, the Austin skyline looms and the setup for live music is being constructed.

Icon’s 3D-printed Stage

Photo submitted by Courtney O.

Finalist: “Icon’s 3D-printed Stage” by Courtney O.

Icon debuted the world’s first 3D-printed stage at SXSW in 2023.

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