First Place 2008
“Pasonanca Water Park,
Zamboanga City, Phillipines”
Sarah Paz Hyde
Carbondale, IL
2006
Silver Gelatin Print

Winners Announced

The 33rd Annual 2008 Paducah Summer Festival Photo Competition generated widespread area interest receiving 400 entries from 132 photographers in 5 states. Juror, Chris Walker, selected 54 pictures for inclusion in this year’s show. Eight entries received cash awards totaling a record $1800.00

The $500 First Place cash prize was awarded to Sarah Paz Hyde of Carbondale, IL for her large format silver gelatin print entitled, “Pasonanca Water Park, Zamboanga City, Phillipines.” Second Place, $400 was awarded to Aaron Kleidon of Ava, IL for his digital black and white print entitled “America, IL.”
Second Place 2008
“America, IL "
Aaron Kleidon
Ava, IL
2008
Black and White Digital Print

Third Place, $300 award went to Sarah Lathrop of Makanda, IL for her enigamatic color print entitled “Night Sky Over Lake Michigan” and Fourth Place, $200 honors went to Sandy Rosencrans of St. Charles IL for her elegant silver gelatin print “Loch of Harray.” $100 honorable mention winners include Leah Busch of Paducah, KY for “Dear Mommy,” Russ Gruber of Carterville, IL for “Serenity,” David Hammond of Goreville, IL for “Blackbird Café” and J. T. Crawford of Kevil, KY for “Family.”

“One of the most rewarding aspects of jurying a photography show,” observes Walker, “is being confronted by the host of well-executed images submitted by various artists who had the confidence in their works to enter them into a juried contest. With 400 images submitted, it seems clear that the Paducah Summer Festival Photo Competition has evolved into a premiere regional photographic event.”

Chris Walker examining one of this year’s 400 entries

“The most objective decision I make when jurying is to eliminate work with technical problems; now that everyone has an inkjet in their den, poor prints are running amuck – however, I’m glad to say that digital prints that were so well crafted that they rivaled film prints were pleasantly on the rise. Next, images that said more about the maker’s political or social agenda than they did about his/her interest in photography were eliminated.”

“In the end, there remained an engaging selection of photography filled with metaphor, visual exploration, and a host of human experiences captured on film or chip. Whether through digital manipulation in the work of Leah Busch, the selectively skewed large format landscapes of Sarah Hyde, or the fine art documentary work by Aaron Kleidon, this year’s show is laden with solid images from home and away, by artists genuinely interested in life, real or imagined.”

The exhibition may be viewed through August 30 at Tribeca Mexican Cuisine Gallery, 127 South Second Street on Market House Square in downtown Paducah. Gallery hours are Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. & 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday, 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. The public is invited, admission to the show is free.

Show Dates: July 18 - August 30, 2008

Tribeca Restaurant Gallery <click>
127 South Second Street • Paducah, KY 42001

2008 Accepted Entries: