Judges Kirk and Lesli Van Zandbergen were so impressed with the entries to the Bob Johnston Photography Competition that they found it hard to choose. So they awarded a Best of Show, 4 Judge’s Choice, and 19 Honorable Mentions. The winning photo is “Long Way Down” by Bill Baburchak. The two Judge’s Choice awards in Black & White go to “Notes on Hard Times” (pictured) by Nancy Basmann and “Southern Belle” by Sandra Kirker. Judge’s Choice awards in Color Photography go to “Tree of Life” by Mike Ricciardi and “Caught It” by Barry Biddle.
The Bob Johnston Photography Competition runs from January 3th to January 18th, 2014 when the People’s Choice Award will be announced at the Closing Reception. Visitors to the Show will be able to vote for their favorite photo among the 110 entries. Forty seven photographers entered this competition, “which is a sign of how many quality photographers there are in the area,” according to William Bay, of the Two Rivers Photo Club which is co-sponsoring the event with the Cooperative Gallery 213 State St in Binghamton.
The Honorable Mention Awards go to the following photos: “Awakening” by Fred Schum; “In the Eyes of Storm” by Scott Michael Anderson; “All Alone” by John Mullen; “Peaceful Bird” by Jeanne Van Buren; “Rooftops of Prague” by John Rehak; “Death of an Oak Leaf” by Dan Harendza; “Anxiety’s Sunrise” by Scott M. Anderson; “Stairwell of the Press Building” by Bill Bay; “Flaming Hair” by Karissa Salton; “In the Garden” by Mary Lou Shapinas; “Clarity” by Troy Townsend; “Golden” by Sandra Kirker; “White Birch Dreams” by John Mullen; “Untitled” by John Fabiano; “Hip Hop Man” by Nancy Basmann; “Park at Your Own Risk” by Debra Rockefeller; “The Gatekeeper” by Pete Kofira; “Eye of the Beholder” by Bernice Lewis; “The Wonder of the Sea” Fr. Jim Dutko.
Cash prizes will be awarded to Best of Show and the Judge’s Choices in Black and White and Color, as well as ribbons for Honorable Mentions and a People’s Choice Award. Winners will be announced at 7 pm of First Friday Jan. 3, 2014; the People’s Choice award will be announced at a closing reception at 3 pm Saturday January 18th, 2014.
The Cooperative Gallery 213 is a long standing established gallery of regional artists on Artists Row, State Street, the hub of the art renaissance in downtown Binghamton. The gallery, a popular stop on the First Friday Art Walk sponsored by Gorgeous Washington Assoc., is open Fridays from 3-6 pm and Saturdays from 12-4 pm. For more information go to www.cooperativegallery.com or email Info@cooperativegallery.com.
The Two Rivers Photography Club was founded and established in June of 2010 by former members of the Roberson Photo Club. The Club sponsors bi-monthly competitions, educational seminars, field trips, and a friendly environment for enhanced knowledge of photography. Contact them through their website at www.2rpc.com.