'Take your best shot' photo winners
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Gale Caldwell
Chris Naftel posing with his photos.
Tehachapi area photographers were challenged by Tehachapi Valley Arts Association to a photo contest this month and once again far exceeded expectations. The biannual contest (also held in August) began on a whim 12 years ago and has become a popular and highly anticipated event in the community since then. "As soon as one contest is over, the photographers are contacting Gallery 'N" Gifts to find out the specifics for the next contest. I love that we can give them this opportunity to be creative and show off their work." Contest chairperson Gale Caldwell said with a note of pride.
With images of prickly hedgehogs to amazing deep sea critters and photos from all over the world, fifty seven photographers bombarded the judges with 165 photo entries. "It's so fun to organize this event." Caldwell commented with a smirk, "I get the fun part: Talking with the photographers, getting first peek at the entries and setting up the exhibit. When the hard part starts, you know, the actual judging, I get to sit back and watch. The judges had a tough time figuring out where to place the winning ribbons, I'm so glad picking the winners is not part of my job."
Animals:
1st: Jessica Martin
2nd: Adrian Walter
3rd: Susan Miles
HM: Anne McLean, Susan Neiman,
and Mikailey Judkins
Black & White:
1st: Vincent Hernandez
2nd: Heather Tingley
3rd: Jennifer Selbrede
HM: Caleb Weston and
Thomas Medaris
People:
1st: Adrian Walter
2nd: Thomas Medaris
3rd: Heather Tingley
HM: Jim Carmichael
Details & Macros:
1st: Chris Naftel
2nd: Vincent Hernandez
3rd: Dennis Cowden
HM: Chris Naftel
Flowers:
1st: Joanne Hays
2nd: Mikailey Judkins
3rd: Ashley Coles
HM: Chris Naftel
Landscape & Nature:
1st: Susan Neiman
2nd: Susan Neiman
3rd: Jean Reisen
HM: Christine Odom and
Jennifer Selbrede
Travel & Architecture:
1st: Adrian Walter
Gale Caldwell
First place winner Jessica Martin in the Animal category.
2nd: Jim Carmichael
3rd: Hillorie Thomas
HM: Jan Skaggs and
Thomas Medaris
Youth Photography:
1st: Kiera Judkins
2nd: Rachel Stillman
3rd: Grace Miller
HM: Diana Partridge and
Jeremy Cable
Best of show winner
Gale Caldwell
Best of show winner Susan Neiman.
Her first camera was a Kodak Instamatic and Susan Neiman has been taking pictures ever since. Neiman said as a teenager, she always enjoyed the photos in the National Geographic. Those pictures instilled in her a desire to capture special moments on film. Today Susan continues to create “Kodak moments” but now she does it with her Nikon 3100.
Neiman said on New Years morning she looked out the window from her back porch and it was so beautiful and the lighting so perfect, she had to take a picture. That photo won Neiman Best of Show and a First Place Ribbon in the recent Tehachapi Valley Arts Association exhibit. Susan said, “This is the first time I’ve ever entered a contest. I was stunned and grateful when I saw I won. I want to thank TVAA for recognizing my picture. It is really an honor.”
The Neiman’s moved from New Jersey to Bear Valley last June. Susan said, “I love it here. I like the change of seasons, the amazing sunsets and the sunrises are glorious. I just do photography as a hobby but I try to keep my camera with me as much as possible. The scenery and lighting is so wonderful in Tehachapi. I’ll be taking lots of pictures.”
When asked if she had any advice for other upcoming photographers Susan said, “Look around. Your camera sees what your eye sees. Sometimes when you take a picture it doesn’t come out quite right. If you really pay attention to the lighting and the shadows it probably is what your eye saw but your mind made it different. Pay close attention to the way the light makes the scene look. Notice your everyday places and what is special about them. See if you can capture that.”
