In designing our third photo contest, we decided to suggest - but not require - a spring theme. While it wasn't a criterion in our judging, several of the winners did indeed follow our advice - most clearly seen in Linda Ortiz's second-place-winning photograph in the "people" category, showing a young girl in field rich with green and accented by violet and a small dab of yellow.
The picture is simply, effectively composed but still looks natural - much like a good garden.
Daniel James Hulsing invokes the rejuvenation and resurrection of spring in his digitally altered photograph Easter Sunday, which our judges affectionately dubbed Midnight in the Garden of Skittles. Elly Gerdts' Swing shows nature working to envelop a long-forgotten swing, and A.J. Wacaser's untitled photograph of ice on the river suggests the end of winter if not exactly spring.
As for the rest of the field, Roger Cline offers a classic Native American portrait, while Tucker Gritton turned a Chicago rooftop shot into something approaching an abstract painting. Also working in abstractions was Andy Ellison, using perspective to transform something familiar (the Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre) into something different and striking.
We received nearly 60 entries in this year's contest, and we appreciate our readers' participation. Look for the next contest this fall, with three entirely different categories.
Our thanks to freelance photographers Brian Barkley and Scott McMeekan, and freelance arts critic Johanna Welzenbach-Hilliard for their assistance in judging this contest.
People
First Place
Preston Duncan, by Roger Cline
Second Place
Untitled, by Linda Ortiz
Third Place
Untitled, by Ken Musgrove
Places
First Place
Imaxsky, by Andy Ellison
Second Place
A Train in the Distance, by Carolyn Krueger
Third Place
Untitled, by Zach Hayes
Honorable Mention
Swing, by Elly Gerdts
Honorable Mention
Untitled, by A.J. Wacaser
Digitally Altered
First Place
If Walls Could Talk, by Tucker Gritton
Second Place
Easter Sunday, by Daniel James Hulsing
Third Place
Someday, by Rick Haney
Daniel James Hulsing invokes the rejuvenation and resurrection of spring in his digitally altered photograph Easter Sunday, which our judges affectionately dubbed Midnight in the Garden of Skittles. Elly Gerdts' Swing shows nature working to envelop a long-forgotten swing, and A.J. Wacaser's untitled photograph of ice on the river suggests the end of winter if not exactly spring.
As for the rest of the field, Roger Cline offers a classic Native American portrait, while Tucker Gritton turned a Chicago rooftop shot into something approaching an abstract painting. Also working in abstractions was Andy Ellison, using perspective to transform something familiar (the Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre) into something different and striking.
We received nearly 60 entries in this year's contest, and we appreciate our readers' participation. Look for the next contest this fall, with three entirely different categories.
Our thanks to freelance photographers Brian Barkley and Scott McMeekan, and freelance arts critic Johanna Welzenbach-Hilliard for their assistance in judging this contest.
People
First Place
Preston Duncan, by Roger Cline
Second Place
Untitled, by Linda Ortiz
Third Place
Untitled, by Ken Musgrove
Places
First Place
Imaxsky, by Andy Ellison
Second Place
A Train in the Distance, by Carolyn Krueger
Third Place
Untitled, by Zach Hayes
Honorable Mention
Swing, by Elly Gerdts
Honorable Mention
Untitled, by A.J. Wacaser
Digitally Altered
First Place
If Walls Could Talk, by Tucker Gritton
Second Place
Easter Sunday, by Daniel James Hulsing
Third Place
Someday, by Rick Haney
