The 31st Annual Photography Exhibition (February 6 – March 6, 2011) featured color and black and white images, both film and digital, by photographers from towns throughout Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.
This year’s juror was Susan G. Hammond, Executive Director of the National Association of Women Artists and an award-winning photographer. Ms. Hammond selected 78 images by 67 professionals, amateurs and students. In her general comments Ms. Hammond stated, “I was very impressed with the quality of photography and the variety of images. Photographs capture a moment in time and each of the exhibiting photographers were able to capture that moment using their own vision with landscapes, portraiture, and still lives.”
The New Canaan Society for the Arts sponsored prizes for the photographs. The $500 Best in Show Grand Prize was awarded to Libby Collins of Riverside, CT for her color image “Iridescence”. Referring to the piece Ms. Hammond said, “The deteriorating leaves with holes against the iridescence and perfection of the shell reminds me of beauty and the beast. The old against the new are contradictory elements and this photograph evokes the work of Edward Weston and Wynn Bullock.”
In the Color category, the $200 First Prize went to Norwalk resident Juliana Post for “Cuba 1”. Ms. Hammond remarked, “So beautiful…her expression…her smile, the light on her face…her hands, and his hands. He is standing in the background – so humble.’ Hedi Minow-Pike of Milford, CT received the $100 Second Prize for “Night Lights of Chicago”. The juror commented on “the movement of the water and the reflection that enhance the subdued colors of the background. The people in the image give it a sense of scale.” Fairfield resident Janine Brown received an Honorable Mention for “Rain, Rain, Go Away” and Ms. Hammond said the “little bear jumping out of the photograph gives a wonderful sense of depth of field. It is a unique photograph and composition.”
Diana Angstadt from Port Chester, NY won the $200 First Prize in the Black & White category for her photograph “White Out”. In viewing this image the juror said, “Photography is about capturing light and the ray of light on the figure and the tones from black to white in this image are what every photographer strives for.” The $100 Second Prize went to Stamford resident Brad Shwidock for “1st Ave”. Ms. Hammond said the photograph “reminds me of photographs from days gone by. There is humor here with the reader and the newspaper image. It is sharp and graphic and I enjoyed seeing the use of text.” R. Stamford Lake received an Honorable Mention for “Jazz Moment.” The juror referred to “the beautiful light on the instrument and the face. The tonality and mood of this image is very appealing to the viewer.”
In the Student Category, the $100 First Prize went to New Canaan High School senior Zack Zannini’s “Gabe Meets Wall.” Ms. Hammond commended the picture for its “good depiction of movement without blurring – a sharp image with a wonderful sense of color.”
In her further comments about the work submitted, Ms. Hammond said, “I was pleasantly surprised that most of the artwork in the student category was traditional black and white and/or color images rather than manipulated digital images. There are future professional photographers in that group.” She added, “To all of the Photographers: Keep up the good work, and keep entering exhibitions.”