International Longshoremen's Association Local 1588

The image of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 369 apprentice Sam Simms climbing to the top of an electrical pole, as a cloud-breaking sun provides a ragged pink halo above, was the top vote-getter in the 2009 IBEW Photo Contest.

Nearly 4,000 online votes were cast for the 15 finalists—out of more than 300 submissions.

The first place winner—shot with an iPhone by Danny Doss of IBEW Local 317 in Huntington, W.Va.—captures the Louisville, Ky., apprentice as he is earning his Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) wood pole certification. Says Doss, who trains new workers:

“I was in the right place at the right time. I never expected to win.”

Dave Gable of IBEW Local 160 in Minneapolis nabbed second place with his colorful shot of windmills at sunrise on the Minnesota-South Dakota border. Voters awarded third place to Vacaville, Calif., Local 1245 member Don Porter for his photo of the Fort Churchill power plant in Mason Valley, Nev., at sunset.

Tyron Daum of IBEW Local 47 in Diamond Bar, Calif., won honorable mention for a photo of four workers balanced atop two power poles directing a helicopter delivery of a large crossbeam. The other honorable mention went to Jonathan Pytka of IBEW Local 532 in Billings, Mont., for his shot of members ascending a 150-foot wind turbine.

Click here to see all the winners and here for all the 15 finalists.