Juror's Statement
To spend these sweltering days of summer immersed in photographs of trees and forests has been a gift—one I hope each of you will experience as you view the selected images for In Praise of Trees. Thanks to PhotoPlace Gallery for both hosting this exhibition and allowing me to make selections.
When photographers are passionate about a subject, it tends to show in their photographs. Clearly, there is a quite a passion for trees among those who submitted their work for In Praise of Trees. I was captivated, surprised, delighted and awed by the entries and could easily have put together another gallery or two of outstanding images. Narrowing down the finalists was no easy task.
These are the images that not only caught my eye in initial rounds of review, but repeatedly spoke to me in subsequent views. They were the images with staying power—not only beautifully composed and well executed, but with that “something extra” to hold my attention. Sometimes it was an element of surprise or a strong sense of gesture that conveyed a tree’s personality. Other times, it was mood conveyed through light, weather or photographic technique. Occasionally, it was an intriguing story or a unique, yet appropriate visual interpretation.
For the Juror’s Award, I was deeply drawn to the beauty and simplicity of Carmen Spitznagel’s image, “Winter Tree”. I was mesmerized by this gathering of trees and their somewhat misshapen stature, standing strong in a winter storm. Both despite and because of the weather (which greatly simplifies the surrounding landscape), there is an unexpected sense of tranquility in this photograph.
The Director’s Award goes to Lisa Aikenhead’s photograph, “Winter’s Portal”. The color, lines and sense of rhythm initially caught my attention, but the knobby trees and framed view of the woods beyond made me want to venture further into this image and the landscape. It’s the kind of photograph I can gaze at for long periods.
Those chosen for Honorable Mention are equally distinctive and deserving of recognition. Congratulations to everyone, and thank you for your participation.
Lee Anne White
Call for Entries
In this exhibit we honor trees in all their states: majestic specimens or struggling seedlings, in summer plumage or winter austerity, grown in nature or nurtured by man. Celebrate their contribution to the earth and their many benefits to humanity. All capture methods and processes are welcome.
We are very pleased that Lee Anne White will be jurying and curating this exhibition. She will select approximately 35 images for the Exhibition Gallery, and 40 more for our Online Gallery. All 75 selected images will be promoted on social media, reproduced in the exhibition print catalog, and remain permanently on our website, with links to photographer’s URL.
Information about our printing service and free matting and framing here.
Thumbnail image: Michael Bufis
Banner image: Libby Ye
About the Juror
“I create intimate portraits of place—the terrain, plants and indigenous elements that give a landscape character. I am drawn by a sense of mystery, quietude and emotional connection with place, and seek to reveal both the unexpected and overlooked in nature’s details.”
Lee Anne White is a fine art photographer whose work is rooted in the landscape. In addition to exhibiting and publishing her work, she teaches landscape, botanical and creativity workshops for Maine Media Workshops, Chicago Botanic Garden and Madeline Island School of the Arts, as well as on Amelia Island and in New Mexico. She has photographed and authored numerous books on landscape architecture and garden design, is the former editor-in-chief of Fine Gardening magazine, and has photographed feature stories for dozens of magazines including Garden Design, Better Homes and Gardens, Landscape Architecture and Sunset. Lee Anne earned a master’s degree in creative studies at the State University of New York/Buffalo State and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and commercial art at Brenau University.
www.leeannewhite.com
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