NCCA-Artsplace Statewide Photography Exhibit

The award winners of the 2021 NCCA-Artsplace Statewide Photography Competition were announced on Friday, August 6.

The competition is an annual event that exhibits and acknowledges some of the finest photographers in the state of Michigan.  The exhibit and awards this year were selected by Dianne Carroll Burdick, a free-lance photographer in Grand Rapids.  Her juror statement and the award winners are listed below.

This interesting exhibit is a must-see and everyone is encouraged to stop in and take a stroll around the photographs on display through September 8.  NCCA-Artsplace is located at 13 E. Main Street in downtown Fremont.  Gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

NCCA Statewide Photography Competition 2021

Juror’s Statement by Dianne Carroll Burdick

Of the many qualities one might want in an image-beauty, originality, skillfulness and personal vision among them-I found myself looking for one more in particular: Is the picture memorable?

The quality and range of this year’s submissions made the job choosing which ones to award quite a challenge, albeit a delightful one. There were many sensitively seen and made photographs.

1st Place

Narrative and surreal, Gail Howorth’s “Then She Walked Away” black and white photograph of someone walking away, and  not toward, gives meaning and questions with sun, sand , water and story. The viewer wants more and the imagination can walk or run with this one.

2nd Place

Plucked from a slice of life, Henry L. Droski’s “Blue Swallow” black and white photograph is elegant with black, white and silver tones, richly outlining the essence of evening. The urban structure with it’s neon lights and old car brings story and the image is technically mastered with taut, clear-eyed vision.

3rd Place

The owl’s eyes are staring right at you as Lori Rivera’s color image “Just Winging It” soars with technical perfection to capture this bird in flight. Her use of shutter and aperture and the device of a diagonal line brought this image to the definition of the decisive moment.

Honorable Mention

Richard Hinton’s “Produce” is a fresh , textured still life with an artistic palette of color. A wonderful example of contemporary photography with the popular theme of Food, coupled with the traditional genre of still life.

Honorable Mention

Lisa Medendorp’s “ I Will If You Won’t”  photograph explores contrast and tension with the combination of color and black and white, different points of view of the two subjects, and even the title playing with I Will/You Won’t. The eyes force you to lock your stare and hold your gaze.