VIDEO: Listen to the secret of how this photo was captured

Judging has been completed for UW-Washington County’s fourth annual photography competition, “Give us your Best Shot”. The top three contest winners will receive cash prizes and their photos will remain on permanent display at the campus. The top winners include:

1. Gail Lousier, Random Lake (“Reflection of Falls at Ridge Run”) – $100 prize
2. Naomi Shelvik, Grafton (“A Furry Blast”) – $75 prize
3. Kandy Lindgren, Kewaskum (“Light Show”) – $50 prize

Remaining top 12 winning photos in alphabetical order:

• Joe Arpke, Fond du Lac (“Barren & Bleak”)
• Amy Breitenstein, Cedarburg (“Abstract in Nature”)
• Rebeca Brown, West Bend (“Beyond the Condensation”)
• Mae Dricken, West Bend (“Suspended in Vivid Color”)
• Carl Holter, Jackson (“Bird in Mirror)
• Mech Johnson, Hubertus (“Rainy Day Slanted Window View”)
• Joe Kaehny, West Bend (“poolside sunrise in the Dominican”)
• Rich Mayer, Oshkosh (“Foggy Sunrise at Horicon Marsh”
• Otto Pena, Germantown (“Autumn Moon”)
• Swapnil Tripathi, West Bend (“Northern Lights”)
• Rachel Uecker, Slinger (“What is Your Story?)
• Colleen Zahn, Coloma (“Pink Straws”)

Over 70 entries were received for the contest and they can be viewed in the campus library. The top 15 entries will be framed and will be on display in the Art Gallery during the Festival of Arts on Saturday, April 9 (10am-4pm). Top winners will be recognized in a ceremony at the Festival, beginning at noon in the theatre. A Power Point presentation of the winning photographs will also be presented.

After the festival, the top 15 photos will be displayed in the main lobby. The contest was open to amateur Wisconsin photographers over the age of 13, with this year’s entries accepted between October 1 and January 5, 2016.  Judging was completed by Josh Lesniak, Art Professor at UW-WC; Graeme Reid, Assistant Director at Wisconsin Museum of Art;  Lynn Molenda, a local art educator and coordinator of Wisconsin’s Student Centered Learning in the Arts; and Shawn Graff, Washington County Campus Foundation board member who also serves as the Executive Director of the West Bend Friends of Sculpture. Judges looked for striking digital images that include all the components of good photography with an emphasis on creativity, composition, and originality.

UW-Washington County is slowly building a collection of photography that is adding visual interest and beauty to the campus and is enjoyed by students and the community. UW-WC’s Student Government Association has helped with funding of this project.