March 2025 Juror Comments

Jason Fong - Juror

I wish to express my thanks to the Newport Photo Guild for giving me the opportunity to jury this exhibit. This was a much more difficult task than I initially anticipated. Though I have looked at and appreciated a lot of photographic work in my role as Exhibitions Director at the SCAA, my knowledge of the more technical aspects of the medium is limited. I therefore decided that I would evaluate the work entirely by what moved me and what I personally found interesting. The truth is, this is a great collection of work produced by a group of experienced artists committed to their craft, and I was able to find something interesting in every piece. Eventually, after much pondering, I had to make some decisions, and I hope my interpretations are somewhat aligned with the artist’s intent.—Jason Fong

The Balance of Inner and Outer Focus

by Lisa Bergeron

First Place

This piece worked for me. The piece seems well thought out and conveys the feeling of being in a trance-like or meditative state. The figure seems to vibrate. Rather than portraying the external world this piece draws the viewer inward. The decision to use metallic paper or ink (if I’m not mistaken) makes the image shimmer, heightening the sense of being in a higher state of consciousness

Bayou by Frank Leith

Second Place

This photograph really created a sense of place for me. The forest that looks wild and untouched feels like a majestic cathedral. The massive tree trunks have the presence of stone columns, I feel like I am in a sacred space. The use of color is nice, and the piece is well composed with the tiny pop of white from the bird providing a focal point that ties the whole image together.

Evening Travel in Osaka

by Andy Lowen

Third Place

At first glance I saw this as a rather frenetic scene with bright lightsand the hustle and bustle of a big city. But upon closer inspection this contrasts with seemingly deserted streets devoid of people. I found this juxtaposition intriguing, making me wonder, where are the people? I feel as though the work depicts the city as being its own autonomous entity operating independently of its inhabitants..

  • Honorable Mention: Photo Finish by George Lowell

    A unique piece in this grouping. The artist seems to be using the photographic process more as a paintbrush, creating a completely abstract work. This type of work can be somewhat hit or miss. This image nicely conveys a sense of speed and motion, but the way the colors dance on the surface and create a three-dimensional illusion, as though the colors are coming out of and off of the surface, made the piece come alive for me. In this work you are not looking at an image of an object in motion, instead the piece is the object in motion.

  • Honorable Mention: 2 Women in Monastiraki by Stephen Mamas

    It’s all about the woman’s face. I don’t know what’s happening beyond the picture frame, but I want to.