2 CommentsThe Buzz Magazines Annual Photo Contest celebrates art and creativity in our community. As expected, we had another great response this year, with more than 1,000 entries. Judging was tough.
Worth noting is the young age of many of this year’s winners. Of the 33 photos printed in this issue, 10 were taken by photographers younger than 21, including five of our six first-place winners. Caroline Spears, who won first place in the Landscapes category, is just 15 years old.
The challenge of judging photographs – or any type of art – is that the process is subjective. There are basic principles of art and photography that must be met, such as lighting, focus and exposure. And there are personal elements to consider as well – such as subject, emotion and storytelling.
We have tried to represent a wide range of photography, from professional-quality portraits to cool snapshots.
Thank you to our contest sponsors, Houston Camera Exchange and Canon, for their generous support. Thanks also to our judges, photographers Carol Andrews and Michael Hart. Carol and Michael have a combined 50 years of experience in professional photography, and their vastly different approaches to photography and art brought a well-balanced perspective to our judging.
Congratulations to each of our winners and thank you to everyone who took the time and energy to enter and make this year’s contest another success.
Grand Prize Winner
Christine Miller, age 63, Kiki
This is a powerful close-up image. The green color of the cat’s eye contrasts with the mostly monochromatic tones of the fur. The natural light and off-center composition add to the impact.
Category: People
First Place – Sue Goott, age 60 – Laotian Monk No Love
Nice use of selective color on saffron robe in black and white setting. Subject is nicely offset by the lighthearted background.
Second Place – E. Andrew Borne, age 28 – Not a Care in the World
A charming little face with light reflecting from below. The colorful towel frames the subject.
Third Place – Maryam Tabatabai, age 25 – Brother and Sister
A well-done black and white in an intriguing environment. The classic American literature tells the story.
Fourth Place – Katy Zieben, age 56 – Window Washer
A strong composition and graphic in the style of photographer Jay Maisel.
Category: Sports
First Place – Jin Niu, age 18 – The Final Push
A powerful black and white image. The viewer’s eye is directed to the sharply focused player in the foreground and the hands on his hips express powerful body language.
Second Place – Jack Carnegie, age 51 – Double Play
The fast shutter speed freezes the peak moment of action and look of sheer determination in the second baseman’s face.
Third Place – Rusty Shaw, age 55 – At the Big House
The low angle of this shot taken from the camera pen near the third-base dugout gives the viewer a unique perspective not seen from the stands. Strong use of primary colors.
Fourth Place – Caryn Cullinan, age 38 – Riding the Trails
The wide-angle lens and anthill view exaggerate the sense of attitude. Punctuated contrast adds crispness and grit.
Category: Animals
First Place – Kristin Holcomb, age 18 – Seal the Deal
The sharp focus on the animal contrasts with the silky smooth water, and the earth-tone reflections in the water complement the subject’s face. The tilt of the camera adds to the dynamic of the composition.
Second Place – Kerry Jarka, age 54 – Blue Yonder
We just laughed out loud when this came up on the screen. The flying ears and folded paws are priceless. Do not try this at home.
Third Place – Rachel Elaina Jones, Age 14 – Cat at Red Door
Strong composition and intense red color nicely offset the neutral foreground and subject. All topped off with the strong “cattitude.”
Fourth Place – Yuki Fujita, age 19 – 1, 2, 3, Smile!
A nice sharp focus on the animal and the golden coat contrasts well with the simple green background.
Category: Landscapes
First Place – Caroline Spears, age 15 – Perspective
An extremely strong, graphical composition. The sweeping lines lead your eye to the figure bordered by the two contrasting colors.
Second Place – Stacey Walker, age 29 – Uhlandstrasse Train Stop
A crisp, classic black and white captures a moment in time. The highlights on the track direct the viewer through the building and out into the landscape.
Third Place – Henry Han, age 18 – Goodbye Chicago
An atmospheric aerial. The late-afternoon light creates the highlight on the building in the center. The black and white creates a moodiness in the cityscape.
Fourth Place – Dora McMillan, age 62 – A Backyard in Wharton
The fence leads your eye into the photo, and the mist creates a peaceful mood.
Category: Nature
First Place – Katy Broesche, age 17 – Baby Mockingbirds
A bird’s-eye view of these baby birds. A special moment that most people will never see in person. The bright yellow on the open mouths contrasts with the monochromatic background of the nest. The precise focus and subject placement add to this strong image.
Second Place – Gene Wong, age 57 – White Sands Yucca
The single branch creates impact and is the only source of color. The branch’s strong leading line from left to right and the low horizon support the subject.
Third Place – Bob Jump, age 73 – Golden Mushrooms
The golden hue and extremely sharp focus of the mushrooms against the stark black background create a strong image.
Fourth Place – Edie Stavinoha, age 51 – Vancouver Jellyfish
Saturated color, motion and simplicity of the subject all make for a dynamic photo.
Category: Miscellaneous
First Place – Teri Mills, age 19 – It’s a Brand New Day
A completely unique viewpoint. The combination of the foot, flower and water makes for a fun and interesting image.
Second Place – Monique Lizarzaburu, age 42 – Eyes
A creative story about a creative person. The use of black and white simplifies and strengthens the artist’s story.
Third Place – Mary Vanderbloemen, age 13 – Before the Song
A dynamic camera angle and shallow depth of field allow you to hear the music in the strings. A very creative interpretation.
Fourth Place – Ben Gillen, age 26 – Ferris Wheel
Good use of time exposure at night to give a strong sense of motion, providing impact with color and light.
Category: Judges’ Choice
Judge’s Choice – Michael Hart – Katy Broesche, age 17 – Central Park Music
Once again, I’m drawn to an image of a guitar. This is a strong black and white composition, and the raised leg and tip of the head of the street musician give a sense of movement to his performance.
Michael Hart is a photographer who utilizes state-of-the-art digital photography and techniques for corporations, design firms and ad agencies. He is a past vice president and board member of The Art Director’s Club of Houston and the Houston Chapter of The American Society of Media Photographers.
His images of people and places have graced the pages of the Communication Arts Photography Annual and Print’s Regional Design Annual, and his work has been honored by The Dallas Society of Visual Communications, The Houston Addy awards and The Art Director’s Club of Houston shows.
Michael is represented in The World’s Greatest Black and White Photography, a retrospective of the first three years of award-winning images from London’s Spyder Awards competition. His photographic essay, “Biggio: The Final Game,” was published by Bright Sky Press in August 2008 and has been selected for the permanent library at The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
Michael Hart, Michael Hart Photography
www.hartphoto.com, (mhart@hartphoto.com) mhart (at) hartphoto (dot) com
Judge’s Choice – Carol Andrews – Arlette Orlander, age 59 – Rooster in Paris
After viewing more than a thousand images, this one stuck in my mind. It made me ask more questions about the irony of a rooster in a traditional city setting. The story is open to anyone’s imagination.
Master Craftsman photographer Carol Andrews loves to create the magic of a photograph. Over the last 20 years, her award–winning photographs have included exhibitions at Photokina in Cologne, Germany; Disney’s EPCOT theme park and the International Masters Loan Collection of the Professional Photographers of America.
Her work has been acquired by the Sherman Hines Museum in Nova Scotia, Canada. She was inducted into Cameracraftsmen of America, an international photographic society of which there are only 40 members, and was only the fourth woman in the society’s 95-year history to be admitted. She teaches and judges photography and art internationally and has taught as a creative-uses consultant for Polaroid. Currently on the board of directors of the Professional Photographers of America, Carol is also a photography consultant.
“I enjoy expressing beauty and my love for life through a camera and sharing the images and stories with others. I show people what love looks like,” Carol says.
Carol Andrews, Carol Andrews Fine Art
www.carolandrewsfineart.com, (carol@carolandrewsfineart.com) carol (at) carolandrewsfineart (dot) com
The Buzz Magazines 2010 Photo Contest sponsored by Canon and Houston Camera Exchange
