First-ever “You oughta be in pictures” contest draws 140 entries
The Washington Island Observer thanks all of the many subscribers who entered our first annual photo contest. You captured the beauty and mystique of being on and around our unique islands!
There were so many fine photographs among the 140 entries that the judges had a difficult time choosing winners for the three categories (People, Wildlife, Landscapes). Therefore, in addition to publishing the winners in this issue, we will be featuring other notable photo submissions throughout the coming year.
We appreciate everyone who took the time to enter. If you didn’t win this year, please start taking photos for 2019 as you enjoy the islands’ fall season.
Congratulations to the Washington Island Observer’s 2018 Photo Contest winners:
PEOPLE CATEGORY
First place: Kate Griffin
Judges’ comments: “The mood, sense and tone speaks loudly. Composition of this photo is near perfect. The strongest part of the sunset intersects the boy’s head. If his head was placed anywhere else, it would have taken away from the photo. We like how the photographer “anchored’’ the photo with foreground shoreline on the lower right. This portion could have been cropped off, giving an illusion the subject was standing on water. Too unrealistic. The shoreline also balances the white clouds on the opposite corner. We like his stance, too. There is no doubt he is very interested in the setting sun. The colors are believable with no visible enhancement. The bonus is the glistening colors off the calm waters. Another minute or two later, this would not have been an entry for the contest.”
Second place: Haley Buckmaster
Judges’ comments: “Love the gutsy “portrait’’ of this fearless girl on the edge of a bluff with her carefree focus on the dandelion. The water on the upper left balances out the subject on the lower right. The position of the head fills the dead space of the bluff. Beautifully proportioned.”
Honorable mention: Amy Lesnjik
Judges’ comments: “We kept coming back to the baby photo. It is an unusual and a creative people pic. All the curves of the background material replicate the baby’s curvy legs. The sand on the feet is the reward. It tells a story.”
WILDLIFE CATEGORY
First place: Jean Francois Pipereau
Judges’ comments: “We really liked this photograph the moment it arrived. The chance formation of seagulls, yes seagulls, is unusual. Symmetry is commonly associated with larger waterfowl like geese. We don’t think this photo can be improved. Head positions are aligned, wings are perfectly feathered. It simulates a photo sequence of a seagull taking off. No doubt the photographer is pinching himself about this one.”
Second place: Duncan Petrie
Judges’ comments: “Another shot where timing is everything. Squirrels are busy bodies that do not stay put in one spot long enough to pose. See how its body is framed in the open white spot between the trees? Nice. The image carries the viewer’s eyes even farther up. Considering the backlighting of the photograph, it was well salvaged.”
Honorable mention: Dennis McDonald
Judges’ comments: “There’s lack of color and quality in this print, but it doesn’t matter. The parade of hungry seagulls guiding the fishing tug into harbor screams Washington Island. A meaningful pic for anybody’s wall. The name of the vessel is barely visible — Seediver.”
LANDSCAPE CATEGORY
First place: Jean Francois Pipereau
Judges’ comments: “WOW. What a beautiful night. Jean Francois Pipereau captured summer. With great camera equipment, a tripod and a longer exposure, the photographer was able to present the viewer an amazing panorama of the sky above Sailor’s Pub in Detroit Harbor. The photo carries a diminishing afterglow of the sunset and some clouds in the night sky. A bit of over exposure on the lower left is nearly impossible to correct. Well done. Hope it inspires hobbyists to toss iPhones and invest in a DSLR.”
Second place: Tim Sweet
Judges’ comments: “Creative composition lending the observer “eyes’’ from inside the Thordarson Boathouse on Rock Island. The photographer teaches us to see from the unexpected view. A medley of thick dark clouds, a peak of the sun and layers of snow-covered ice give it a solid perspective of the distant Jackson Harbor. The bonus is the bright white ice illuminating the inside of the arches.”
Honorable mention: Vicki Rupiper
Judges’ comments: “If you’re an Islander, a winter shot warms the heart. Another view of the fishing tug Seediver by a different photographer during a different season. The gentle gouache-like hoar frost in the trees truly boosts this image. It could be cropped a tad more on the right giving the vessel an illusion of “forward’’ progression. Couple of seagulls in tow is better than none.”
