Picture Perfect: SHMM’s 4th Annual Amateur Photo Contest

The Sam Houston Memorial Museum hosted its 4^th Annual Amateur Photography Contest last week, attracting approximately 200 visitors to the Walker Educator Center.  The record number of guests were able to peruse a record number of submissions—more than 300 in all—while also enjoying the opportunity to win prizes offered by Museum staff.

The event was the brainchild of Museum Curator of Exhibits Casey Roon, who initiated the contest in 2010. The goal was to showcase community talent, while bringing the community together.

Among the many individuals brought together included students from the Center for Law, Engagement, And Politics (LEAP), who volunteered to help at this wonderful community-building project. “The Museum hosts various exhibits throughout the year, but my favorite is the Amateur Photo Contest,” observed Ariel Traub, “and the photographs were stunning!”

As with previous years, the photographs were grouped into multiple categories but, as Marketing Coordinator Megan Buro notes, “Casey has done a great job of keeping the contest fresh and different. This year included new categories and the photographs were fantastic.”  In all, there were eight categories: (1) Faces, (2) B&W, (3) Old, (4) Action, (5) Flora & Fauna, (6) Travel, (7) New, and (8) Food.  There were also the “Curator’s Choice” selections and, of course, the big prize: “Best in Show.”

The winners included:

Faces

1. Denise Camp               Kya
2. Cari McGown             Whatcha Sayin?
3. Sarah Lane                  Jane

B&W

1. Ashley Dobos             American Poverty
2. Scott McCarley           School Dance

Cari McGown             I See the Moon, the Moon Sees Me

Old

1. Steven Mateo              V8 Soft
2. Sam Beard                  In Eliza’s Kitchen
3. Ramses Leon               Cuban Butterfly

Action

1. Erin Rogers                 Nature’s Grace
2. Keenan Jones              Untitled
3. Sam Beard                  Going for the Steer

Flora & Fauna

1. Anne King                  Green
2. (tie) Cari Mc Gown     Good Morning Lady
3. (tie) Sarah Lane           Lone
4. (tie) Elisabeth Williams           Frog’s New Home
5. (tie) David Knuth       Low Tide

Travel

1. Beth Gray                   Tickets Please
2. Lori Sanders                Stone Soldiers
3. Scott McCarley           Train to Bandra

New

1. Anne King                  Charlotte
2. Mike Whatley             New Day
3. Sam Beard                  Spring Flowers

Food   

1. Denise Camp               Yellow Peppers
2. Lori Sanders                Sweet Tea
3. Jacqueline Davis         For the Love of Caffeine

Selected for the top two photographs in the exhibit were:

Reserve: Beth Gray                Tickets Please
Best in Show: Denise Camp   Kya

Among the many submissions—and winners!—was the Chair of the Friends of the SHMM, Scott McCarley.  His “Train to Bandra” and “School Dance” both placed in the top three in the “Travel” and “B&W” categories.

“It’s great to be able to participate in one of the Museum’s many fine exhibits and programs that are open to the public,” noted McCarley. “We hope that the Museum gets this level of support for all of its exhibits.”

For more information about the Museum, its collections, upcoming exhibits, or to become a “Friend of the Museum,” visit www.samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com.