Smithsonian.com

I love that every line is a curve of similar degree. Someone said 'spiritual and comforting'; I agree. It is like a womb, with warmth and soft filtered light.

thats really cool... but whats even cooler is i was just in this room less than a week ago!! amazing place!!

This is my favorite! It feels both spiritual and comforting at the same time.

WOW! it looks like the sun's rays are coming from two different directions and meeting in the middle! Captivating. Thank You

"Check out the face in the smoke/dust."

Thanks for pointing that out! Mesa Verde feels like it was just vacated yesterday. Seeing that, perhaps not at all.

Love it, Love the different textures in the walls and ceiling and how the light was captured. Causes one to envision the life it may have held many years ago.

Simply Awesome!!!!!

Living in Durango, Colorado, I have been to Mesa Verde many times...this photo really captures the essence of a kiva and the wonderful light of southern Colorado ...

Simply superb! Very warm and rich. Wonderful interest and composition.

steve, I wish i had your talent. keep up the good work.

great egret

In my opinion, this is the best picture in this contest!

You've made a potentially claustrophic shot at once warm, inviting, spacious, inviting, and unique. The light seems almost to spring up from the wall instead of the other way around.

Wow! The atmosphere on this picture is magical... it's like I could walk right into it... This is superb and deserves to be on the spotlight! You got my vote, Stephen! :)

So unique, I can see this on a Magazine cover! Good luck to you Stephen I hope you win!

Check out the face in the smoke/dust. Its about 1/3 of the way up the column from the small square. Great pic.

Successful blending of multiple resonances, here - the incredible architectonic craftsmanship of the pueblo builders; the wonderment of an austere, spiritually purposeful space, whose functions are opaque to us, yet palpable; the sense of material "presence" that transports the viewer into convincing containment within this intimate space; the technologic tensions of wide-angle optics pushing their limits to embrace all characteristic features typical of kiva configuration, making even WARPED sunbeams feel mysteriously appropriate! Mr. Oachs can be justifiably PROUD of this one. Let's hope that prints will be made available. SEVERAL close contenders should be included in the offering!

I voted for this good luck Stephan!

I don't know what this is (a kiva?) but I agree that I feel like I am standing in the room. something about the way the image feels like it wraps around me. I hope it wins because it is my favorite of them all.

I saw this photo first on stumbled upon and it got my vote then as much as it gets my vote now. Stephen, where can I get a print?

Stephen Oachs is a wonderful photographer and this photo gives the sense of a 3-Dimensional feeling! Great shot Stephen!

THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS AMAZING!! I FEEL LIKE I AM IN THE ROOM!

Just amazing.

Beautifully composed with exquisite detail. I used this image with permission as an outstanding example of photographic composition.

He captured the beam of light perfectly. The photo makes you feel like you are there. Awesome!!!!