Ah Haa Selects Photographers for First Photography Prize Exhibition

26 Jul Ah Haa Selects Photographers for First Photography Prize Exhibition

Ah Haa selects photographers for first Photography Prize Exhibition

After receiving 99 photo entries from 38 different photographers, the Ah Haa School for the Arts and Shot Images have announced the selection of 23 images for the first Telluride Photography Prize: “Capturing the Essence of Telluride Through Portraits of its People.” An exhibit of the 23 pieces selected will be showcased during an opening reception in the Daniel Tucker Gallery on Thursday, Aug. 1, 5-8 p.m. That same night, at 7 p.m., first- second- and third-place winners of this year’s prize will also be announced. Winning photographers receive cash prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250, respectively. There is also a People’s Choice Award.

The 23 photographers whose images were selected as contenders for the Telluride Photography Prize are Eric Adolphi, Ryan Bonneau, Mark Campbell, Merrick Chase, Luigi Chiarani, Mary Kenez, Peter Kenworthy, Ben Knight, Drew Ludwig, Ingrid Lundahl, Nori Lupfer Pepe, Tommy Pyatt, Joanie Schwarz, Joe Skalsky, Sherwood Smith, Johnnie Stevens, Shauna Tewksbury, and Sarah Welch. Their images have been printed in large format and framed specifically for the show, which will remain on display through Sept. 30. All pieces will be for sale, along with exhibition posters, which feature all of the portraits selected for the show.

During the jury process, photographers’ names were withheld from the jurors, which consisted of Telluride artist Julie McNair, Simon Perutz of Shot Images, and Will Thompson of Telluride Gallery of Fine Art. The contest was open to amateur and professional photographers alike, with the requirement that submitted images be taken within an hour’s drive of Telluride and within the last five years. The only other guideline was that the photograph be a portrait of a person who essentially captures the essence of Telluride.

“We really had no idea if people in town would be excited by the idea of the competition, how many entries we would receive, or the quality of the images that we would ultimately get,” said Perutz of the jury process. “I think I can say that we were all absolutely delighted with both the diversity and quality of the portraits that we received in a wide range of composition styles submitted by both professional and amateur photographers.”

The opening of the Telluride Photography Prize portraits show coincides with Telluride Arts’ First Thursday Art Walk. For those unable to attend, prize winners and their images will be displayed on the Ah Haa School’s website following the opening, and remain on display in the gallery through the month of September.

The Ah Haa School is located in Telluride’s historic Depot at 300 S. Townsend.

For more information, call 970/728-3886 or go to ahhaa.org.