2009 Calendar

History

Originating in 1975, The Paducah Summer Festival Photo Competition has grown from a fledgling contest to the region's most prestigious annual photographic event. It is open to all without restrictions on size or content. It provides photographers with an outlet for their art, encouragement for growth in their vision and presentation and cash rewards for works of exceptional merit.

Each year from the hundreds of works submitted, 60 to 80 images are selected for exhibition by a highly qualified juror, with 8 to 10 of them receiving cash awards.

There is an opening reception for the annual show with free food and beverage, a juror's critique and awards presentation. There have been recent winners as young 8 and as old as 80.

Now's the time to submit your best recent photos and join in. Who knows... you might just be this year's $500 first place award winner!

2009 Juror- Antonio Martinez

Antonio Martinez received a BFA in painting at Creighton University in 2001 and a MFA in photography at East Carolina University in 2005. Currently, Antonio teaches photography at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He is a recent recipient of the 2009 Illinois Arts Council Fellowship for photography. Antonio has exhibited his photographic work nationally and is currently exhibiting his experimental, photo-based video art work, Near the Egress, in several national and international film and video art festivals.

Antonio has always been intrigued with the absurdity of life and how photography is used to enhance a mundane moment into an experience worth viewing. Antonio defines himself as an experimental film and digital-based photographer who utilizes digital and/or in-camera techniques to produce images that evoke emotions of splendor and critical thought.