The September 2024 competition theme was open
Paul Biederman was our judge.
Novice Projected
First Prize
Maurice Belanger ~ Boys Who Recycle
I was with a friend, birdwatching in Point Pelee National Park in Ontario. The park juts out into Lake Erie, and is a jumping off point for migratory birds and Monarch butterflies before they head out into the open waters of Lake Erie. We came upon this pair of boots as we hiked on a path in the park. There was no one else around. We were amused by this scene, and by the writing on the boots, “We love boys who recycle.” I liked the colors—of the boots and the fallen leaves on the path.
Second Prize
Phil Boyer ~ Reflections
Third Prize
Tom McLaughlin ~ Dragon
Intermediate Projected
First Prize
Kay Carkhuff ~ Main Street in the Rain
Our van has a large side mirror. On a rainy day, I was sitting in the van, along the curb of Main Street in Laurel, Md. The mirror looked like an impressionist painting, so I rolled the window down and took the picture.
Second Prize
Lisa Auerbach ~ Space Needle Seattle 2
This is a wall taken from a lower stairwell.
Third Prize
Anne Golfer ~ White on White
“White on White” was shot with a Canon R7, 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 lens at 115mm, ISO 100, f/8, 1/160 sec.
Honorable Mention
Will Rabinovich ~ The Vessel
This image was taken at the New York waterfront in the Hudson yards area. It is of The Vessel, an architectural sculpture.
Advanced Projected
First Prize
Larry Gold ~ Richmond Bridge
Second Prize
Karen Finkelman ~ Birdman of Washington Square Park
Larry the Birdman, also known as the “pigeon whisperer” has become a beloved figure in Washington Square Park. After a tragic turn of events in his life, he moved to NYC where he found solace in caring for the park’s pigeons. His connection with the birds brings him peace, joy and purpose. This particular photograph stands out from the many I captured. I feel it illustrates the hardship Larry has faced and the deep love he shares with the pigeons, a bond that seems to heal his wounded spirit.
Third Prize
Sherm Edwards ~ Cherry Blossom Sunrise
Honorable Mention
Karen Finkelman ~ Timeworn Gears
This photo was taken at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, AZ. The park features an array of railroad cars and train memorabilia going as far back as 1894. This image is one of the many historic artifacts on display. The unique arrangement of the Roman numeral clock and the gears caught my eye.
Novice Print
First Prize
Ilona Linnoila ~ Bearded Man with Gun
Intermediate and Advanced Print
First Prize
Tanya Riseman ~ Boston’s North End
Boston’s North End has transformed remarkably in the past 50 years, Tenements and warehouses are now condos. The streets full of Italian delis, bakeries, pastry shops, greengrocers, wine stores, and fishmongers are now wall-to-wall Italian restaurants catering to a crush of tourists in the summer. Back in the 1970’s, I remember a large wooden barrel of escargot, with the more brazen ones escaping down the sides. This shot is of one of the few, tiny delis left.
Second Prize
Renee Schaefer ~ In the Rice Paddy
While in Japan, we visited an old farming village. The main crop in Japan is rice. The rice paddy looked great as I captured the image, but it needed something more. There was a farmer working in the paddy, but he was too far away to capture his image in that photo. I took a second photograph of him zoomed in. When I got home I combined the two images to make a multiple exposure image of the rice paddy and the man working in it.
Third Prize
Renee Schaefer ~ Good Morning Tokyo
We landed in Tokyo two weeks ago. Time change and jet lag had me up at 4 AM. I wondered what the city would look like at sunrise. I jumped out of bed and was delighted with the view from our hotel room window. The sunrise was framed by two buildings on either side of the hotel. The foreground was a busy city. The middle ground was a lovely sunrise and as I looked up the sky a relaxing view. I quickly grabbed my camera and took the shot before anything changed.
Honorable Mention
Sherm Edwards ~ Mevagissey Wet Fish
Mevagissey is a town in Cornwall. I was attracted to the curve and colors of the boats and how the texture in the water was repeated in the walls and roof. “Wet fish” means fresh, not frozen or dried. It’s also a “malaphor,” a blend of “wet blanket” and “cold fish.” Not that I found any such in Cornwall.