Photographers receive top awards

OALIFE@OAOA.COM

ALPINE Three Alpine photographers, Bret Collier, Adam Holmes and Pam Clouse, received several top awards from the first Shooting West Texas Photography Symposium Sept. 24-26 at Sul Ross State University.

The event was attended by about 90 persons, almost all of whom were also professional or hobbyist photographers.

Participants enjoyed two days of top photographers showing and explaining their work, portfolio reviews, opportunity for hands-on digital camera instruction, books, autographs, food and a photo contest co-chaired by Jim Bob Salazar and Judith Parsons.

Thirty-two participated in the photo contest. Collier’s shot of Mattie Dunshee on horseback in a pen of cattle was chosen for two top awards. David Stoecklein, Canon Explorer of Light and Keynote speaker, chose Collier’s photo for his “Speaker’s Choice” award. Stoecklein said he admired the photo because the photographer seemed to disappear, allowing viewers to feel they were there.

The same photo was also chosen for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine award.

Holmes’s entry was chosen by Texas Parks and Wildlife’s chief photographer Earl Nottingham for his “Speaker’s Choice” award.

Clouse’s photograph of snow-covered Twin Peaks was chosen by Jason Hennington as his “Speaker’s Choice.”
Other winners included: David Smith, Woodsboro, Keith Bowden Speaker’s Choice; Macy Chionsini, San Angelo, Kathy Adams Clark Speaker’s Choice; Lori Horn, Midland, Jay Dusard Speaker’s Choice; Mari Lynne Johnson, Fort Stockton, Rocky and Monica McBride Speaker’s Choice; John Harmer, Houston, selected by Dennie Miller; and Vicki Wiste, Houston, selected by Terry Nathan. Vicki Mullins, Medina, received both the Diana Doan-Crider’s Speaker’s Choice and tied for the People’s Choice Award with Chionsini. That award was chosen by attendees.

For more the 2010 symposium information, visit at www.shootingwesttexas.com.