The November 2023 competition theme was: Open. The judge was Ron Peiffer.
Advanced Projected
First Prize
Maude Svensson ~ All Onboard Cripple Creek Mine Train
I took this picture onboard the Cripple Creek steam train in Colorado last year. My imagination was running a little wild with many thoughts of what had happened in this stunningly beautiful area at the time when one of the richest gold strikes was discovered in the late 1800s. Almost overnight, about 50,000 settlers from all over the US sold everything they owned and made the trip to this remote and isolated area seeking their fortunes. Some got rich, while others were not so lucky – I fantasized about their spirits lurking around each bend of the railway. When an elderly gentleman took a firm grip on the train’s rod, I thought this could be one of those hardworking miner’s calloused and wrinkled hands scattered with lines and sunspots. Click!
Second Prize
David Blass ~ Northern Lights, Greenland
This was taken from outside my cabin on a small cruise ship last September. I was very fortunate to get the image, as there was only one night during the cruise when atmospheric conditions allowed an attempt. Also lucky that the lights occurred on my side of the ship, which gave me the luxury of a private setting in which to shoot. Canon R6, ISO 3200, 14mm lens @ f/2.8, 1 second exposure.
Third Prize
Catherine Honigsberg ~ The Dove and Milky Way
This was taken in Southern Maryland with a swipe of a flashlight to pull the boat details out.
Honorable Mention
David Blass ~ Jumping to Warp Speed
I shot this from the back seat of my wife’s Mini Cooper as she drove up and down nearby streets. The image is a composite of 5 exposures of 10 seconds. The hardest part of the shoot was keeping my tripod in one place as we drove over the uneven and potholed streets. Canon R6, ISO 100, 14mm lens @ f/8, 10 seconds.
Honorable Mention
Beth Koller ~ Not Toy 3
This is a studio shot of a jumping spider. These animals are small—the body length is about an inch including hair. They move quickly—hence the need for flash—to stop motion. The recycling needs of the flash unit limit the time between images—including those used for focus-stacking.
Honorable Mention
Renee Schaefer ~ After the Rain
Visiting the beach towns in New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland after Labor Day has become a tradition. The crowds are gone, the beaches are empty and the boardwalks still have neon signs lit up, but not much else happening. The pouring rain the night before almost kept us in bed, but determined to see sunrise, we got out early. The only thing that was rising off of the ocean was the morning mist, but as we walked the boardwalk looking for the morning cup of joe, I noticed the reflections of the neon lights on the boards. Some were of sharks from the miniature golf courses and others were simple signage. This sign caught my eye. I liked the way the slats of the boardwalk formed leading lines pointing to it and how one side was in the shadows and the other side in the hazy light. We hope to see you again next fall, Wildwood.
Novice Projected
First Prize
Charlie Farmer ~ Botanical
Second Prize
Bruce Schaefer ~ Long Pier
This picture was taken a day after the surfing shot, this time in Ocean City NJ. Beaches are fantastic in September- October. This afternoon the breeze was strong (note the wind sock) and clouds were flying by. Turning the picture into b&w was an easy choice, as the conversion drew out all the whisps that were barely visible in the color original. That sky was real; no photoshopping. And the pier and sand stood out strongly in the low afternoon light. I just added some contrast and vignetting.
Third Prize
Bruce Schaefer ~ Surf is up
We were at a state beach in NJ in October when the surf came up very well for East Coast. I saw 2 surfers paddle like hell to catch one large wave and brought up my camera. The sun was behind them so I couldn’t see a thing in the viewfinder; I just held the button down on burst mode. Later I found the 2 surfers went opposite directions – something I’d never seen before in surfing pictures. The final image resulted from cropping the sky off the top and adding more wave to the left side to give that surfer room to wipe out.
Advanced Printed
First Prize
Sherm Edwards – Dawn Shoot
Taken at Blackwater Falls State Park in West Virginia. Pure luck that the photographer was set up just as the goose swam by . . .
Second Prize
2nd Place: Larry Gold ~ There’s a Person in There
I was amused that within the expanse depicted in the scene is a person walking along a path. Only a close examination of the pic will reveal them.
Third Prize
Beth Koller ~ Frog on Bromeliad
This red-eyed tree frog appears compact, but its leg length is the same as or greater than the main body length. Its foot pads are also sticky. This means the frog can easily jump right out of your intended frame. Flash can help stop motion. A standard flash atop the camera may not deliver light evenly to the subject. A version of a ring flash may be helpful with macro-photography. With some systems there may be one or more light sections on a ring and the lighting intensity of each may be controlled. Also the light directionality may be controlled further by removing the ring from the camera. Although this can be done with one hand on the camera and the other on the light, this would be the time to enlist help from another photographer.
Novice Printed
First Prize
Jim Riley ~ Beggar Woman
The “Beggar Woman” photograph was taken in October 2004 while I waited in a museum entry line in Seville Spain. The woman was very still and obviously waiting for some donation to be placed into her small bag. Luckily my one shot was enough for a good image because I did not want to take many intrusive pictures. The camera was in auto-exposure mode without flash, settings became F2.2 at 1/60 second.
Second Prize
2nd Place: Renee Schaeffer ~ Ready to Deliver
This image was from an Amish Auction, Mud Sale, that was held this summer. The proceeds from the sale of everything from buggies to old toys go to fund the local fire department. We didn’t buy anything at the auction, other than food, but came away with this image of these two boys whose job it was to deliver the purchased items to the exit so people can pick up their goods as they left.