NVAL 2016 Regional Juried Photography Show Award Winners
JUROR – Michael Eichwald – Bio
Michael Eichwald is an award winning photographer living in Redding. While in Europe as a young student he was strongly influenced by an uncle who was a professional photographer in London, and also by a second uncle who was active in the academic study of art and visual perception. From these early experiences came a continuing interest in visual aesthetics. For many years his personal photography took a back seat to the practice of dermatology. With retirement, however, he was able once again to pursue his interest in what makes one image art and another simple craft, as well as to actively support the local appreciation of creative photography. He is an active member of the North Valley Art League, and for some years was the chairperson for the league’s Regional Juried Photography Show. His participation in the local visual art world includes membership in the North State Photography association, Artist’s Gathering, and the Salon Artists Group. Mike’s interest in judging comes, then, from a broad perspective that includes a continuing desire to recognize, define, and encourage photography as an art form. He has judged local competitions and was named a preliminary judge for the prestigious Michael Kellicutt Juried Competition of 2011.
JUROR’S STATEMENT
“Real art makes demands. Comfortable art is mediocre.” — Sister Wendy Beckett
Every passing year the quality of our regional photography gets better and better, which makes it that much harder to judge. All of the entries were good photographs, but the accepted ones had in common something that the others might have lacked: they clearly presented the subject as art, and not just documentation.
I am treading on dangerous ground when I reply to the question of just what I mean by art, but here goes anyway: art is for us an expression or impression of something that goes where words cannot. Music might be the clearest example of this.
As to “Photography as Art,” I rely heavily on the accepted nomenclature that can be classified under the basic headings of technique, form, and content.
Technique, it goes without saying, simply means a mastery of one’s tools in a manner appropriate for the content and meaning of the picture.
Form has several different definitions, but for our purposes it shall mean how the elements of design and technique are put together to create a visually balanced and harmonious Whole. It is this criterion that is, for me, a most important factor in judging artistic quality. I like to advise young artists that “how it looks” is more important than “what it is.”
Content refers to whatever impression or expression the artist intends to convey. This might, and probably should, include such elements as originality, imagination, evocation, impact….
All of the pictures on these walls fill my criteria admirably, but happily in widely individualistic and satisfying ways. The traditional landscapes you see here are uniquely original in their capture, particularly as to color (I see color as “color chords”)
and the subtleness of tonality. In addition we have examples of composite humor hanging next to an artistic capture of a natural object (more than “just another flower….”), and then even an extreme abstraction (think music again).
Finally, it is evident that we as photographers have definitively entered the digital era full force. It is my firm belief that we as artists and appreciators are the better for it.
Editing and manipulating photographs as art is nothing new, but now we have the additional power of modern digital cameras and the incomparable versatility of computerized scanning and editing (read Photoshop). This incredible capability is
simply a new artistic palate with which to exercise our creativity, and here there are many fine examples of what might be called the New Frontier.
Enjoy,
Michael Eichwald
First Place
“The Matriarch”
Tom Thomas, Redding, CA
JUROR STATEMENT Travel photographs risk being over-appreciated (from an artistic point of view) because they are simply a picture of something exotic. This picture however, deserves accolades because it is more than mere documentation. Even while ignoring what the picture is about one can still appreciate the controlled beauty of the muted colors and the composition which is consciously accented by the divergent whites (forehead, waistband), the metallic reflection from the darker lower left corner, and the texture in all parts of the image. The framing nicely holds it all together in dynamic balance. Beautiful.
Second Place
“Sand Patterns”
Gary Wagner, Paradise, CA
JUROR STATEMENT The subject here is straight-forward: rushing tidal waters on sand. What is strikingly superior here is the marvelous togetherness of all technical and design elements in this beautiful tonal study. It is some trick to capture moving water as our mind’s eye sees it and yet include the foreground and background in the field of focus. The tonal values are gorgeous; the eye moves effortlessly from front to back, and then back again with the flow of water. The subtle central brightening helps to “center” one’s travels. It is a complete and lovely picture.
Third Place
“The Ring Bearer”
Linda Kay Isbell, Burney, CA
JUROR STATEMENT I don’t know what to make of this work of art, but art it is. Indeed, it is that enigma factor, so directly and appropriately rendered in an old film style, that makes the picture special and engaging. The conversation is opened, and where it will lead us no one knows. A very sophisticated photograph.
Honorable Mention
“Afternoon Light”
Steven Arrison, Red Bluff, CA
JUROR STATEMENT When looking at pictures, there is a constant fight between content and form (the visual whole). In this image form is the undisputed winner. The fine construct of tones, lines, and angles is more than enough to afford a very pleasing visual experience.
“Cuyucos”
Denise Criss, Redding, CA
JUROR STATEMENT Another example of form as a reward in itself. The tonality (differing shades between black and white) is right on, and there is eye movement from front to back which ends comfortably with a satisfying “coming together” in the center (anchored by the small but essential lamp post!).
“Stairway”
Michelle Domondon, Redding, CA
JUROR STATEMENT A sweet photograph that has it all: nice lines, movement, tonality — and that desirable people-touch provided by the pleasingly placed female figure. The potentially negative space (empty space) of the upper left corner is treated successfully with shadow lines that work well.
“No One Home Today”
John Gehl, Brookings, OR
JUROR STATEMENT This piece exemplifies my favorite axiom: that, in art, what something looks like is infinitely more important than what it is. Here the ordinary subject matter (iconography) becomes a source of pleasure from the fine geometry of lines along with the subtle convexity of the curtains leading you towards “The Power of the Center.”
“Ballet”
Irina Hays, Viola, CA
JUROR STATEMENT This is an example of documentation (birds in flight) that goes much further. I was immediately struck by the resemblance of this picture to the masterful techniques of historic Japanese painters. It’s as if the artist is intentionally leaving a lot unsaid, inviting us to engage that much more with the scene. It is easy to criticize “negative space” in the visual arts, but here it is truly and artistically complementary.
“Bodie”
Jack Kirchert, Red Bluff, CA
JUROR STATEMENT Just saying “I like it” is not a sufficient criterion for judging. I knew I liked this picture, and I judged it by applying my ace-in-the-hole Rembrandt Rule: would Rembrandt have created this composition so? Would he have agreed to this color palate? Well, pretty close….
“Coastal Moonset Sunrise”
Douglas Parks, Cameron Park, CA
JUROR STATEMENT Three things strike me about this entry. Primo, the successful color chord. Secundo, the comfortable positioning of the horizon and the moon that reflect the historic Greek value of “the golden ratio” (3/5, 5/8, 8/13, etc.). And lastly, the skillful blending of color and tone that brings to mind the beautiful sfumato (smokey, hazy) style of earlier Italian masters.
“Ruby Schoolroom”
Kathleen Peters, Shingletown, CA
JUROR STATEMENT A photograph wherein, as is so often the case, the artist saw beauty in his/her everyday surroundings and moments. Visually we see wonderful lines holding together nicely and centered by the small but critical wall fixture. Note also the interesting counterpoint (known technically as an “anomaly”) of the circular form aimed at by the converging borders of the blackboard.
“Teenager Texting”
Sandy Putnam, Redding, CA
JUROR STATEMENT This image is irresistible, and it’s all about what it says. Painters are familiar with the concept of gesture (and photographers should be) — it is the capture of that most typical characteristic of …something. Here we have in spades that oh-so-familiar image of today’s teenager!
“Memories”
Joel Reinhard, Red Bluff, CA
JUROR STATEMENT Here it is so much about the message (the content; the iconography): an instant impression that one is sharing an intimate moment and experience. The moderate lighting and tonality beautifully complements the low-key subject. The composition is truly artistic. It all holds together nicely and appropriately.
“Forgotten”
David Sulpice, Igo, CA
JUROR STATEMENT This is an example of successful contrivance. Admittedly, every bit of editing we do is a contrivance, but it can be distractingly or inappropriately excessive sometimes. Here it works nicely with the colored rose on the purposely desaturated background —except for maybe a hint of pink in the person’s arms to pick up the foreground color. Charming.
“Calm Before the Chaos”
Tom Thomas, Redding, CA
JUROR STATEMENT It is a good photograph to be sure, but there is a little something special in it that cannot be missed: the tautness (a term I use for lack of better) created by the perfectly placed proximity of the two hose ends. The classic example of tautness being the placement of the hands in Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, seen in his Sistine Chapel ceiling masterpiece. The reaching fingers are placed perfectly: not too far apart, not too closely. There is tension that is yet to be resolved — to be continued, as it were.
“Kacey Composite”
Adam Wyman, Red Bluff, CA
JUROR STATEMENT This photo shows the ultimate in “wow!” factor. It catches instantly one’s attention and speaks its message loudly and clearly. No obfuscation here. It does it with expert clarity and balance, skilled compositing, and an engaging depth that just seems to go on and on.
