Will fences direct bears away from becoming roadkill? [8] N O V E M B E R
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Leaving the court [17]
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Natural beauty
See the world through the 16th annual Winning Images contest [18]
FILM Margin divides [44]
Nipomo’s New Tech High raises questions [10] MacHomer: Shakespeare’s in Springfield [33] No one rocks the harvest like these guys [54]
Winning!
New Times’ 16th annual photography competition yields stunning results BY NEW TIMES STAFF
T
he purpose of a photography competition is not to wax lyrical on the importance of the art form. Space is precious when you’ve got nine categories—sports, animals, flora, open, people, land/seascape, travel, youth, and high school—garnering more than 500 entries. Instead, we’ll tell you, briefly, that you hold in your hands the three winning photographs from each category, along with a series of judges’ picks that didn’t necessarily win any awards, but nonetheless captured the judges’ imaginations. On New Times’ cover is the Best of Show winner, Nancy Koren’s Our Favorite Treat, which also won first place in the flora category. Serving as judges for New Times’ 16th annual Winning Images competition were staff photographer Steve E. Miller, who coordinated the competition; painter Joanne Beaule Ruggles; gallery director Jeff Van Kleeck; and Photo Shop owner Peggy Mesler. And though he wasn’t technically a judge, New Times’ marketing coordinator, Colby Courter, contributed so significantly to the effort, he too selected a favorite picture. Happy viewing! Send comments to staff photographer Steve E. Miller at semiller@ newtimesslo.com. A word from the judges (explaining their picks) Peggy Mesler: This macro photo has a lot going for it, especially nice lighting and a pleasing composition. The photo manipulation has added a nice dimension to it, without looking unnatural. Very painterly, very appealing. Nice job. (Mimi Ditchie, Red Flowers and Texture).
Jeff Van Kleeck: Photography is an excuse to explore. It’s a reason to get off the path and really see what’s going on. From the piercing eyes to the odd debris scattered about, this photo asks more questions than it answers. (Roy Gough, Bangkok). Joanne Ruggles: What I found memorable about this photograph was its singular dedication toward the goal of providing a good chuckle for its viewers. Within the image, ordinary architectural elements have been transformed into a series of angles askew. The structure—itself quite bland—has been painted in an unfathomably madcap fashion. Top the scene off with a street-savvy dog who appears to have just piloted a stunt plane, or may have momentarily stepped from behind the wheel of a Ashala Tylor, A Song for a Stranded Whale, F irst P lace , A dult, T r av el doggie go-cart, or perhaps was recently propelled out of a Ringling Bros. Circus cannon. All I can say is that each time I looked at the image I smiled Colby Courter: I remember, as a kid, splashing around the Avila Beach tide ... and you will too. (Jonathan Shapiro, Dog in Window). pools searching for sea anemones with my fists full of hermit crabs. Once I located one, I would drop the unsuspecting crabs into the writhing mass of Steve E. Miller: We’ve all seen photographs of cats—perhaps too many photos tentacles and watch as the anemone slowly engulfed the tiny crustaceans. of cats—but in this case I was so fascinated and enamored not only with the cat itself but also the precise composition that relegated all color only to its eyes While this shot has a certain nostalgic significance for me, it also possesses an otherworldly distinctiveness that caught my eye. The crisp image quality and while the rest of the image was a perfectly exposed and printed dark gray and black. This is a cat photo, but it’s a regal cat photo that I kept going back to look close-up perspective make the slimy green tentacles look more like the brains of some alien creature than sea life. (Steven Larson, Sea Anemone). at. It’s an artistic photo, but also a perfect example of the technical aspect of photography. (Mike Schmiechen, Churchie).
Judges’ bios
San Luis Obispo native Peggy Mesler is a photographer and owner of the Photo Shop in SLO. She shares her PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER appreciation and knowledge of photography with customers, clients, and friends. Peggy graduated with a journalism degree from Cal Poly, and opened the Photo Shop in 1995. Her interests include gardening, hiking, and birding, and her favorite photographic subject is people. Jeff Van Kleeck runs Cal Poly’s University Art Gallery. He received a master of fine arts degree in
photography and has studied photography under Jerry Uelsmann, Robert Glenn Ketchum, Keith Carter, John Sexton, Jerry Spagnoli, Jim Stone, PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER Christopher Burkett, William Neill, and Bruce Barnbaum. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, in such locations as New York, Madison, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Brazil. His work can also be seen in the soon-to-be-released book, Exploring Color Photography: From Film to Pixels, fifth edition, by Robert Hirsch of Focal Press.
Joanne Beaule Ruggles has taught studio art since the ’70s. In 2004 she was named one of two faculty members PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER winning Cal Poly’s Annual Distinguished Research Award for her Stone of Hope painting series that documented her reaction to the 9/11 tragedy. Her subsequent creative projects have garnered grant support from the James Irvine, Puffin, and Capelli d’Angeli foundations. Now an emeritus faculty member at Cal Poly, Ruggles continues to offer studio workshops around the United States and Canada. Ruggles’ artwork can be viewed at beaulerugglesgraphics.com.
Mike Schmiechen , The Smaller Things, t hird P lace , a dult, oPen
Spencer Caserio , Heron Liftoff, t hird P lace , Youth Alice Cahill , Heart of Gold, honorable m ention, a dult, Flora
WINNING IMAGES Mimi Ditchie , Wave Swingers, honorable m ention, a dult, oPen
Scott Fugate , Warmth, t hird P lace , a dult, P eoPle
WINNING IMAGES
Lauren Mattina , Fierce Determination, second P lace , a dult, sPorts
Roy Gough , Bangkok, Judge’s P ick , a dult, t ravel
Shyiel Arad , Traveler honorable m ention, h igh s chool
Donna Johnson , Letting Go, second P lace , a dult, P eoPle
Sharaya Olmeda , Five O’Clock Seating, second P lace , a dult, oPen
Spencer Caserio , Who’s Watching Who?, Heather Craig , The Lookout, First P lace , a dult, a nimals
WINNING IMAGES Ashala Tylor, Pismo Airplane, t hird P lace , a dult, l and /seascaPe
second P lace , Youth
WINNING IMAGES
Alan Hsu , Old Truck, F irst P lace , a dult, l and /seascaPe
Brian J. Matis , Raindrops on Red Leaves, t hird P lace , a dult, Flora
Lauren Mattina , Tip Toes, second P lace , a dult, a nimals
Steven Larson , Sea Anemone, Judge’s P ick , a dult, a nimals
Natosha Hoover, Skate, Honorable M ention, A dult, Sports
Brian Caserio , Double Dip, T hird P lace , A dult, Sports
Michael V. Myers , Twilight Reunion, T hird P lace , A dult, A nimals
Mimi Ditchie , Red Flowers and Texture, Judge’s P ick , A dult, Flora
Jonathan Shapiro , Arcade of Piazza San Marco, Venice, T hird P lace , A dult, T ravel
Riley Pall , The Eye, First P lace , H igh S chool
Z oe M arkham, Weedflower,
Jonathan Shapiro, Dog in Window, Judge’s Pick, A dult, A nimals
Second Place, Youth
Sage Friedman, Satellite Shanty, Honorable Mention, Youth, L and /Seascape
Mike Schmiechen , Churchie, Judge’s P ick , A dult, A nimals
Jenn Lawrence , The Other Side, Second P lace , A dult, Flora
Spencer Caserio , Forster’s Tern,
FIRST P LACE , YOUTH
Skip Moss , Bishop Peak Sunset, San Luis Obispo,
SECOND P LACE , A DULT, L AND /SEASCAPE
WINNING IMAGES
Bill Findley, Sunday Morning in Jietou, Yunnan, China, SECOND P LACE , A DULT, T RAVEL
Heather Craig , Blue Moon, HONORABLE M ENTION, A DULT, L AND /SEASCAPE
CINDY FraNkLIN,
3 Day Old Love, Third Place, Adult, People
Alison Watt Jackson , Summer Solstice, First P lace , a dult, P eoPle
WINNING IMAGES
Brian J. Matis , A Frog in the Hand, honorable m ention, a dult, a nimals
Dave Coronel , The Hooded Man, honorable m ention, a dult, t ravel
WINNING IMAGES
Joseph Arndt , Under the Sea, t hird P lace , h igh school
Jack Irwin , Reflections + Shadows, First P lace , a dult, oPen
Shyiel Arad , Bath Time, Second P lace , H igh School
Steve Corey, Zoom Zoom Zoom, First P lace , A dult, Sports
Theresa Stanton , Black and White Portrait in Avila, Honorable M ention, A dult, P eople