The First Annual NWC Photography Competition and Exhibition concluded with winners announced in three categories covering high school, amateur and professional entries. A total of 159 individuals from those separate divisions submitted entries, with first, second and third-place awards given in each, along several honorable mention selections as well.
鈥淭he idea for the event arose organically as the program worked to facilitate the recent stewardship of the SinClair Gallery alongside the annual High School Photography Contest, which the program has sponsored for the last seven years,鈥� said NWC Associate Professor of Photography Christine Garceau.
Entries for the High School section of the contest included 144 students from 23 schools spanning 14 states. Students entered up to three images in five categories that included people, nature, sports, human interest, and commercial food and product photography. From these categories, the top five images were selected by the Photographic Communications faculty and staff to go on to the semifinal judging.
The top ten were then selected for printing, matting, and framing for final judging in the SinClair Gallery, of which three were given awards by international renowned wildlife photographer Meg Sommers during the exhibition opening. Photo prizes were provided by Roberts Camera of Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Amateur and Professional categories represented thirty-seven images submitted by fifteen photographers from Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. To create continuity for the judging process, entrants were required to use common museum framing practices by utilizing black metal or black wood frames with white mats in two specific sizes. As with the high school photographs, the top three images in each category were selected for awards by Sommers.
鈥淭his photographic exhibition celebrates the coming together of both young and mature photography enthusiasts and professionals,鈥� said Garceau. 鈥淚t goes without saying that the Mountain West provides a multitude of photographic opportunities to engage with. This exhibition testifies to the creative voice photography provides for those who have the courage and passion to share their experiences with audiences eager to celebrate their efforts.鈥�
For inquiries about purchasing any of the photographs exhibited, please contact the Photographic Communications program, which is located in the Fagerberg building on the NWC campus, at 307-754-6497 or Christine.Garceau@nwc.edu. The photographs will remain on display in the SinClair Gallery through March 27. The gallery is located inside the Orendorff Building at 皇家华人, and is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.