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The principal winners from the Herkimer County Community College/Utica Camera Club competition are presented below. These three photographs were chosen from over 150 entries as the best in their individual classes.
Congratulations to all who entered and thanks to Herman van Ooijen for providing us with these images.
1st Place Color
Bart Carrig ” Quinalt Rainforest ”
First Place Black & White
Alison Sinnott ” Snow Sculpture ”
Best of Show
Mother Elisabeth Czwikla ” Feather ”
The April 2008 Utica Camera Club Competition was judged by Utica area photographer Steve Marsh. Steve is known in some circles as one of the area’s most winning photographers. He has countless first place wins and memorable photographs to his credit.
First Place • Open Color
Cheri Sassman
Steve Marsh’s Comment:
” I usually do not pick flowers, but this one is abstract. It contains rainbows and water glistening. It has swerve splash lines of movement. It’s a dramatic image; I like the lines that travel through the image the most. It has vibrancy, life-flow and a dreamlike feel. This image is different and unique. ”
First Place • Open Black and White
Jeanette Liddle
Steve Marsh’s Comment:
” In spite of being very dark with low light, the shot detail goes all the way back. The darks and lights are very nicely exposed. The composition is nicely done. This shot has a story. I would put it on my computer and stare at it.”
First Place Assigned Topic
Mary Hunt-Miller
Steve Marsh’s Comment:
” Can I buy this one? It’s incredible. I had to get up and look closely. I really like the way the detail is lost on top of the mountain. All lines point to the figure. It’s a very nice image.
Your comments and criticisms are always appreciated. Leave a reply below.
Here are the results from the monthly competition at the March meeting of the Utica Camera Club.
This month’s judge, Joshua Jenks, is a Boonville New York native. He graduated with a BFA degree from SUNY Purchase where he focused on Printmaking and Photography. His work has been displayed at the Jim Kempner Fine Art Gallery in Chelsea where the work of artists Chuck Close, Andy Warhol and Diane Arbus has also been exhibited.
Jenks recently received an internship with photographer Andrea Blanchwhose whose work has been featured in such magazines as Vogue and Rolling Stone. His show entitled ” Leche con Carne ” is available for viewing at http://joshua-jenks.com.
Joshua Jenks
The photograph below is from Joshua Jenks’s exhibit
” Leche con Carne ” © 2008
First Place Assigned Topic • Cheri E. Sassman • ” Illuminated ” © 2008
Comment by Joshua Jenks, ” This image stands out because it is very dark with a very little light coming in. I like the minimalist look. I also like the brightness of the yellow and red from the light as it leads the eye through out the picture. Very organic. Very much about colors and movement. ”
First Place Open Color • Janice Coffin • ” Left Out in the Cold ” © 2008
Comment by Joshua Jenks, ” This was a tough choice. I checked the focus, colors, printing, and mounting. I especially liked the idea of this photo. It reminds me of beautiful decay. The part that is jutting out of shadow leads you into the rest of the picture. The rust plays on the snow. This is a strong but subtle image. ”
First Place Open Black and White • Tim Fahey
” Girard at the CafĂ© ” © 2008
Comment by Joshua Jenks, ” This is different from a color image in the elements. A strong image has to have the deepest blacks with nice white highlights. This image is not flushed out. It has an interesting composition in that the portrait is not the main focus. What is around him is what describes him. The way the light worked with everything especially the door and the chair is really nice. ”
Your comments in agreement or disagreement are always appreciated.
This light enhancing combination incorporates your Nikon DSLR’s wireless remote flash capability ( D70, D70s, D80, D200, D300, D2x, D2xs, or D3 ) with your Nikon Speedlight ( SB-600 or SB-800 ). This equipment combination gives you a portable, versatile and economical opportunity to do studio work at home or on location.
The components may be purchased individually or as a package. The umbrella is $ 37.50. The bracket is $ 34.90. The light stand is $ 69.95. Stop in any time for a free demonstration.
This month’s competition was critiqued by Larry Pacilio.
Larry Pacilio began his photographic career in the 1960’s as an undergraduate photojournalism student at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. Graduate studies were pursued with Minor White at MIT’s Creative Photography Lab.
Pacilio’s career as a photojournalist began shooting for PBS News Boston working at WGBH-TV on a variety of local and nationally distributed news and documentary programs. He relocated to New York in the mid-70’s and began a lengthy freelance photojournalistic career with agency representation by Katherine Young, Black Star and Magnum Photos.
Over the course of 25 years his photos have appeared nationally and internationally in publications such as Newsweek, The New York Times, Paris Match, Stern, Geo, The Times of London, The International Herald Tribune, Architecture, Progressive Architecture, Home, The Sunday New York Times Magazine, and other notable publications. Throughout this period he exhibited widely at museums and galleries. Notably, his collection of documentary images funded by a New York State Council on the Arts grant, East Utica, 1973-1974 was the first one person show of photography hung at Utica’s Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute. His images are held in numerous public and private collections.
Pacilio currently resides in Utica and has been employed as the Director of Publications and Photography at Utica College since 2000.
1st Place • Assigned • ” A Mother’s Love ” • Jessica Eiss
I showed some prejudice toward black & white, and I chose images that expressed the issue of time and moment. Henri Cartier-Bresson said of the decisive moment, “…out of chaos things come together. There was the picture and then things go into chaos again.” This photo is telling in terms of personality. The more communicative a photos is, then the stronger it is. The photograph’s vantage point tipped the issue for me. People tend to see things at eye level. In this case, playing with vantage point strengthens the composition.
1st Place • Open Color • ” Irish Horizon ” Janice Coffin
When an observer looks at color photos, he/she wants to feel the strength of the colors. In spite of that fact, I chose this image with the subtle colors because of the elegance of the composition. It is simple & elegant.
1st Place • Open Black & White • ” Joy ” • Mary Hunt-Miller
I was looking for print quality, and this image is extremely well made. This picture is a decisive moment in time. The strength of moment really shows the personality of these two guys. The photograph depicts a wonderful moment.
Special thanks to Larry Pacilio for his insightful comments. Please feel free to add your own observations via the reply area below.
One of the most overlooked aspects of good photography involves the use of flash, and no manufacturer makes a better flash enhancing product than Lumiquest. We have recently received a large shipment of the newest Lumiquest gear that was introduced at the Las Vegas Photo Markting Association Show this month.
If you would like a diffusion dome for your Nikon SB600 Speedlight, we have the Ultra Bounce ( $ 17.95 ) which is pictured above. This will give you soft shadowed illumination that was not possible before. The Pocket Bouncer( $ 26.95 ) also shown mounted on the Nikon SB800 has set the standard for the social event photographer and serious amateur since it was introduced. These units work well with any 430 series or 580 series Canon flashes as well. Actually they work perfectly with any flash that has a tilt head.
Even if you only use you pop up flash, the Lumiquest Soft Screen Display ( $ 14.95 ) will dramatically improve your flash photography with any camera brand. We also have Lumiquest Soft Boxes, Mini Soft Boxes and Snoots for your camera mounted flash units.
The beauty of owning a digital SLR ( which we also have in stock ) is your ability to try before you buy. Come in with your equipment and try these simple and inexpensive flash accessories. If you’ve read this far, mention this email and get 10% discount on any Lumiquest product in stock.
The January 2008 Utica Camera Club competition was judged by Connie Bocko.
Ms. Bocko is the head of the Visual and Performing Arts Dept at Waterville CSD She has taught art, and both digital and film photography on the high school level. She has conducted workshops in Photoshop, graphic design and web design for Model Schools, the Leather Stocking Conference and the New York State School Board Association. Her undergraduate degree is in teaching art with a concentration in Photography.
Class website address: http://www.watervilleschools.org/digitalphoto
When asked about the photography offered to her for criticism, Ms. Bocko responded,
” I am impressed with the high caliber of work, design and creativity evidenced in the work your group is doing. I could have spent more time easily fully enjoying the wonderful work! It was a treat, and a challenge to critique such photographs. ”
Following are the winning photographs in the three major categories and Connie Bocko’s critique:
Assigned Topic Prints- Tell Me a Story
1st place–Field of Patriotism by Janice Coffin
The judge said that she knew this photograph had a good chance of being picked when she first saw it. She thought it was a powerful image with a lot of mystery. It has a strong contrast between the sky and dark trees but both retain their details. She liked the golden look of the crosses and the timeliness of the message.
Open Color Prints
1st place–Lambs Ear by Alison Sinnott
The judge said that this photo brings out the painter in her. The print is technically correct with multiple details and textures. She liked the “gazillion” colors in the leaf, and called the photo different and unusual.
Black & White Prints
1st place–A Void Remains by Mary Hunt-Miller
The judge said that this photo has everything. It’s technically perfect. It exhibits great design and contrast. The details are great. There is no loss of details in the shadows or highlights. Ms Bocko pointed out the three tiers of tone. Everything causes the rotation of the eye around the outside of the photo. It is a complex visual statement.
Your comments are always appreciated. Add comments and criticisms below in the reply box.
Photo by Joe Mezz and NL Ford
Do you know about the Mezz ? Find out at:
http://www.joemezz.com/entry/peeping-in-danella-s
Nancy Ford ? Go to:
http://NLFord.com
http://MohawkValleyPhotos.com
Well….gentle reader….whether you’ve been waiting for this or not, here’s the second annual Awesome Annie Nikon calendar review. Generally, Awesome Annie was not impressed with this year’s calendar scoring it a 4 out of a possible 10.
Her favorite months were March, May and June.
Her least favorite months were October and November.
Feel free to add your comments and reactions below. If you’re feeling left out in 2008, this is your chance to voice your opinion.
JANUARY
“Eech ( sounds a little like yick ) I can’t say anything about this one.”
FEBRUARY
” Oh dear..look at that. Where do they get these ? Oh - India ”
MARCH
” Oh…hmm well - Versace. Actually I like this one. It might be a little obscene. ”
APRIL
” No thrill ”
MAY
“Oh wow ! I like that. The fish……”
JUNE
“Awesome. I like this one too. I feel sorry for the horses. Look at the mud. Isn’t it great ? Look at the muscles.”
JULY
” This looks fake to me.”
AUGUST
” No thrill. I don’t understand why people take pictures like this.”
SEPTEMBER
” Oh my God. Bird flu - that’s all I can think. Where did they find these colors ? The sky colors don’t look real. ”
OCTOBER
” Looks like a fever dream. Look at those trees ! ”
NOVEMBER
” For pity’s sake. I’m glad I didn’t open this calendar up at home. I might have taken the gas pipe ! ”
DECEMBER
” I really can’t say anything about this one. Part of the problem I have with these photos is that I try to make sense out of each picture. Why do they think someone wants to see that trumpet ?”
COVER PHOTO
“It looks like a Salvador Dali painting.”