LIVERMORE FALLS — Two teenagers won honorable mention in a photo contest when they captured a strawberry falling into a cup of heavy cream.

Gavin Jones, 18, of Livermore Falls, and Tommy Lee, 17, of Livermore, found it was no easy task, but once they got the rhythm down, their timing was spot on.

The duo took turns dropping the strawberry and snapping a digital photo of the action. The cream is shown splashing as the strawberry hits it.

The boys’ effort was recognized in Photographer’s Forum magazine’s 32nd annual College & High School Photography Contest, co-sponsored by Nikon.

“Congratulations on your superior work,” Publisher Glen R. Servin wrote in a letter to the teens in February.

Photography teacher Ken Landry assigned the project to students in his class at Spruce Mountain High School South Campus in Livermore Falls.

When the two seniors arrived at school that day, fresh strawberries, heavy cream and small cups were there to shoot.

“It took quite a few times (to time the picture),” Jones said.

About eight to 10, Lee said.

Jones kept trying for the perfect shot but kept missing the exact timing of the splash of the cream.

A friend told him to hold the shutter release button halfway down, and he got the photo the first time, he said. “I finally got the rhythm down.”

Lee said dropping the strawberry into the cup was no easy task, either. Several attempts missed the cup; others landed on the rim. He, too, had to get the rhythm right.

The photo has been blown up into a large picture and is framed. It will be published in a hardcover book, “Best of College & High School Photography 2012,” which is expected to come out in July, Jones said.

Lee and Jones said it wasn’t talent or love of photography that got them to this point.

“It was just a lot of luck,” they both said, to drop the strawberry into the cup and get the picture just right.

“I’m no photographer,” Jones said.

In all, it took about 20 minutes to get it right, Lee said.

About 18,000 photos were submitted to the contest, with only 100 spots to win awards and be published, Jones said.

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