Visitors check out the contest photographs on display Friday evening in the Arts & Crafts Center at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Nearly 300 entries adorned the display, which was suspended from the ceiling. (Mark Allen / Courtesy of USAF)
Visitors check out the contest photographs on display Friday evening in the Arts & Crafts Center at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Nearly 300 entries adorned the display, which was suspended from the ceiling. (Mark Allen / Courtesy of USAF)
Mary Labdon, second from left, photographs the contest entries of her daughter, Alisha, left, on display Friday evening in the Arts & Crafts Center at Yokota. Alisha, 17, a senior at Yokota High School, won first place in the Scenic Nature category. (Mark Allen / Courtesy of USAF)
Stephan Gurian, who won the People's Choice award, checks out the contest photographs. Nearly 300 submissions will remain on display through October. (Mark Allen / Courtesy of USAF)
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Judges pored over a record number of entries in the 2008 Yokota Arts & Crafts Center Photo Contest.
The fifth annual competition drew 295 submissions from active-duty military, U.S. civilians, retirees and family members. That’s up from 85 a year ago.
The top finishers were revealed Friday evening at an event that showcased the work of each photographer in a large, elaborate display marked by "floating" images suspended from the ceiling.
"It’s like taking a trip around the world," Mark Allen, a photojournalism instructor at the Arts & Crafts Center, said of the exhibit.
Three judges selected the best photographs within three categories. The contest was limited to digital entries only.
Unlike past years, there were no age groups. The contestant pool included a 4-year-old.
"We wanted different perspectives in judging," said Marco Nazario, the Arts & Crafts Center’s photo studio manager. "Photos were judged technically, but also by the sheer artistic value of the photo.
"There was some talent this year. It was not easy on the judges. There wasn’t that one photo that stands out. They had to ponder a bit."
He said the display can be viewed at the Arts & Crafts Center through the end of October.
The best ...The top three finishers in each category of the 2008 Yokota Arts & Crafts Center Photo Contest
Scenic Nature 1. Alisha Labdon (Tasteful Beauty)2. Corey Bennett (Boys Will Be Boys)3. Donald Cruz (Emerald Forest)
People 1. Corey Bennett (Japanese Blues)2. Jarod Hodge (Sound Of Music)3. Samantha Mindel (Sweet Innocence)
Abstract/Conceptual 1. Corey Bennett (Infrared Dream World)2. Patty Jimenez (Looking Back)3. Nancy Edwards (Emblazoned Tower)
