Local Shutterbugs’ Artful Entries As Mother Nature Provides The Lighting
Mother nature didn’t make things easy for avid local photographers to take up the challenge of shooting Thompson Avenue’s holiday light and decoration extravaganza during the daytime before electricity enhanced their allure.
Gray skies, punctuated by sometimes heavy rains, minimized the supply of Winter’s golden light that often enriches the festive eye candy of yards, windows and rooftops before the electricity powers on at dusk to light up the scene.
But, those who walk around with photos in their mind’s eye and then try the lens and capabilities of the camera to capture them for the rest of us, are a dauntless bunch.
The basic contest “shot challenge” was to use natural lighting with no other source, including camera flash enhancements and capture the illusions of decorations being lit up by the grid , and to capture the holiday decorations in frozen moments of time.
As all who take photos know, ‘pictures don’t wait’, even when it comes to shooting static subjects. Daylight is constantly in flux as highlights and shadows come and go, sometimes before the camera is ready and in the right place at the right moment.
Given the conditions, and rather short time frame for this first incarnation of the contest, this year’s entrants showed resolve and determination, along with their art centered passion, to ‘take a shot’ (or up to six, actually) at bringing to the rest of us, their handiwork, and give us one last look at Thompson Avenue, 2023 and perhaps, provide a new perspective on the beauty and allure of the street’s renowned spirit of festivity and joy.
ANN hopes you enjoy these special works of art and that we can sponsor the contest again next year.
You can help make that happen by SUBSCRIBING today and by volunteering to contribute your talents content for the betterment of the community by submitting your photo essays and news shots around town! Just use the “COMMUNICATE” button in the nav bar to send your ideas or to inquire further.
(For more background on the parameters facing the photographers and on the contest, visit this link.)
THE WINNERS
FIRST PLACE
“Santa’s Watching” by Eddy Lehrer
Photo Notes:
The ever vigilant eye with Kris Kringle as the backdrop in this multi level, composition piece, featuring a well-placed juxtaposition of a green, gleaming, side-lit ornament on a complementary red branch which helps this photo impact on many levels.
SECOND PLACE
Photo by Jeff Heyman
Photo Notes: A trained, fine arts photographer, Mr. Heyman’s special fancy is black and white photography, and he took a bold step to share with us a view that shapes and repackages the elemental aesthetic of Santa’s Mailbox in a non-conventional way. Some of his works showcasing Oak Tree bark ‘scars’ are currently on display at The De Young museum through January 7th.
THIRD PLACE
Editor’s Note: Five of us judges could not pick our favorite of the following two, which are very different and both very powerful, so we took the ‘tie’ route.
Photo by Susan Hillyard (TIE)
Photo Notes: This one accentuates natural light with a deep blue and cotton white upper atmospheric backdrop as the heavens brought a brief respite from the days of cloud cover. The lights appear to be electrified, but in this case, they give off a truly natural glow. Note also the subtle touch of ginko leaves complementing the ‘bulbs in the blue’ (see honorable mention by Cyrena Hillyard that gives this shot a different twist)
Photo by Michele Bock (TIE)
Photo Notes In a most fundamental way, this photo speaks as the best of the batch of entries in providing the powerful illusion of natural light creating , in this case, a kaleidoscopic blend of hues, while hitting the exposure and color saturation aspects on the head. A piece to truly envy, based on a magical eye.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Editor’s Note: These are in no particular order and are offered to let us see what other cool creations and views our shooters for this year were kind enough to bring us. Many thanks to all who participated!
Photo note: This photo gives the appearance of a two dimensional image with the lollipops and tree branch decorations in the foreground appearing to all be affixed to the stucco and wood framing of the house behind them. Cool illusion.
Photo note: Here is the ‘alternative view’ of almost the same sky as in the Third Place entry.
Photo note: This deep, rich neon colored work gives color power to even the yellow, neon glow of ginko tree leaves adorning the lawn. This one is really quite a technical feat and a photo that speaks to the essence of the shoot concept. I ended up being far more impressed than the other judges so all I could negotiate was honorable mention. Ahhh, eye of the beholder…
Photo note: With a twist of imagination, this curious puddle and cloud reflection bears the resemblance of Santa’s head, whiskers, eyebrows and the like, as his stocking cap flows upward left. It is also testament to the watery conditions which immersed and challenged our photogs.
THE ORGINALS & GENESIS OF THE SHOOT
The notion to create a series of photos themed “Thompson By Daylight” came to me one day as I strolled down the showcase block one late afternoon in 2013, and the declining sunlight peering just over the rooftops , backlighting a decoration, caught my eye.
“Wow”, I thought, “that looks like it’s lit up by electricity, but I don’t think the power is on yet .”
A closer inspection confirmed my suspicions, and I hurried back home, racing Old Sol, who doesn’t hew to our clocks.
Returning with my camera, I shot away like a kid in a Christmas Candy store.
Below are the first three (not presuming to be the best by any means) of what is now a collection of many hundreds. For reasons beyond my ken, the many shots I have taken since that day of inspiration, just don’t seem to be as good across the board.
Such are the many elusive wonders and intangibles of photography, and ANN invites those who love the art and hobby, to join us and contribute works of Alameda centered Photojournalism (detailed in one of our Free Journalism Education Lessons)
Thanks for looking at the contest winners! Also, special thanks to Yvonne Estrada of The Frank Bette Center For The Arts for her help in reaching out to some of the contestants.
-Larry Freeman
