2026 Dorothy Ralph Essay Competition
This annual competition began in 1997 and is held in honor and memory of Dorothy Ralph. Dorothy was a longtime member of the Science Museum Camera Club who bequeathed a Hummel figurine of a photographer to the club. The figurine was mounted on the trophy that is awarded to the competition winner to keep for one year. All of the winners’ names, and year awarded, are engraved on the trophy base. When the trophy is returned, a keeper award is given. Learn more about the entry rules for the Dorothy Ralph Essay Competition.
And the 2026 Winner is... “Forest Bathing: Connecting with Nature”
Comments from the Judge Gerald Mead
This was by all accounts a masterful essay that I believe idealized the intent of the Dorothy Ralph Essay Competition to reward excellence. The individual images were excellent — in both composition and clarity — and each captured so well the unique textural elegance of nature. The connection between the well-conceived statement and the sequence of images was seamless and highly effective in communicating a spirit of reverence and reflection on nature. I was particularly impressed by the carefully chosen order of the images which created a wonderful visual narrative that further related back to the statement of purpose. The superb variety of the chosen images supported this aim and made this a thoroughly enjoyable essay to view and experience. It is worth noting that they final image was a perfect ending to this exceptional photographic essay. I heartily congratulate the photographer for their exceptional efforts.
Forest Bathing: Connecting with Nature by Anne Johnston Fera
Nature tells a connected story. Through mindful presence, we learn not just to see it, but to express it.
Minor White said, “When you approach something to photograph, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave until you have captured its essence.”
Likewise, forest bathing, a Japanese practice, invites us to immerse ourselves in nature through all five senses. Quiet your mind. Walk slowly. Listen to the birds harmonize with the stream murmuring over stones rounded by time. Notice roots in soil, spongy moss on softened boulders, forest floor cushioned by decaying leaves—each part connected, enduring. Accept that you belong here. Linger.
In this hushed ritual, our photography changes. The camera becomes a medium for giving attention rather than a tool for taking. Images are not captured but received—created with a reverence for nature’s cathedral.