Steve of Italy, Our Italy is back to writing articles on Italy travel, eating, drinking, and more. It’s been a bit over two years and he has lots to offer from a recent trip.
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The Results Are In: Part 20
“My goodness gracious, me sakes alive!”
That’s what my dear mother would say when something happened that surprised her in a pleasant way. And, that’s what I uttered when I opened the latest issue of Black & White Magazine. This is the premier publication for black and white photography. You’ve seen recognition related to this publication in some of the past articles beginning with the words, “The Results Are In:”. However, the honor of today’s award is greater than just having a photo recognized amongst all of the others in a particular issue. Read on to see why.
2021 BLACK & WHITE SINGLE IMAGE CONTEST
This is the contest for which I a submitted photos. Six months from now, you would see awardees for the “portfolio” contest, where several photos with similar theme are grouped into a portfolio of more than just one image. I’ve garnered recognition for portfolio submissions, also…like here, where you see a portfolio of 5 images in New Orleans.
The awardees for the 2021 Single Image Contest were recognized in the January, 2022, issue of Black & White Magazine…the cover of which you see here. Note the words at the top of the cover, “SPECIAL ISSUE 2021 CONTEST WINNERS”.
But alas, my winning photo was not in the issue with the rest of the awardees.
It turns out that it was set aside for special recognition in the now published April 2022 issue (I know, strange how these magazine issues work, isn’t it? It's the first day of March, yet the April issue is out).
So, why was my winning photo held back for publication in the April 2022 issue?
2021 SPOTLIGHT AWARD
When my latest issue of Black & White Magazine came, Ellen was the first to open it and was surprised to see this photo on page 35…a mug shot of me.
[I’ve published this photo twice before within my articles. 5 points if you can identify an article with this photo…that would be 10 points if you get both!!! Well, to be honest, which is a trait for which I strive, the previous versions showed a glass of wine that I was enjoying in my hand…that is not to say that I was enjoying the fact that it was in my hand, but that I had the glass of wine to enjoy, and it happened to be in my hand. I think you get the drift.]
And, there was the write-up, which you can see here, that I had submitted explaining my winning photo.
“Many photographers are aware of the beautiful Upper Antelope Canyon on the Navajo reservation of Arizona, with beautiful light rays streaming through. But there are other slot canyons in the same Antelope Canyon wash. ‘Never’ was captured in the seldom accessed Rattlesnake Canyon. On my fifth Antelope Canyon trip, the formation of ‘Never’ immediately captured my attention. Though the two walls of sandstone were obviously fused together as one for millennia, that joining is NEVER to be repeated – that’s just the quality of geologic time in a seldom-flowing river’s progress.”
That’s when I had my own utterance of those memorable words of old, “My goodness gracious, me sakes alive!”
THE WINNING PHOTO
OK, that’s enough buildup. Right? Here’s the photo that was recognized as the 2022 Single Image Winner in the Landscape/Nature category.
The Whole of Page 35
You don’t need to rush out and purchase the April 2022 copy of Black & White Magazine to see the page of honor…here it is. If it tends to not fit your whole screen, click on the image to get a ‘fill-screen’ version.
I’m sorry that you had to endure a non-Italy photo, but that’s just the way it is.
I have a hope for you, and here is that hope: I hope that if you are in the northern-Arizona area of Antelope Canyon (just outside of Page, AZ), you will arrange a visit to Upper Antelope Canyon. Tours are readily available. And, there is much, much less crowding than in the past, as the Navajo have installed a one-way system by creating an up-and-over-return system that takes you back to your guide’s vehicle. In the past, there we groups coming and going at the same time, and congestion was the rule of the day. And, I would suggest skipping the Lower Antelope Canyon…just not as adventure worthy.
I’ve used more than one tour outfit, and I highly suggest Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours.
If you happen to be on a tour in the Antelope Canyon area, perhaps I’ll see you in the less-visited Rattlesnake Canyon, or Mountain Sheep Canyon, or even Owl Canyon. We can say ‘hello’ and compare photos. Until that happens, I say…
Ciao for now,
Steve
p.s. Oh hey, if you want to see the other photos I submitted for this particular contest, here are the other five, which did not receive recognition. From left-to-right and top-to-bottom they are: boulders lodged within Mountain Sheep Canyon - a side canyon in the Antelope Creek wash; hot-air balloon from our own hot-air balloon drifting over the vineyards of Napa Valley; ‘slurred’ bicyclist in New Orleans; abandoned drive-in theatre in central Nevada; and, the underside of a highway interchange in New Orleans. Click the first image and then arrow through the photos.
The Results Are In -- Part 17
Me, trying to find an erupting geyser in a blizzard
“Trees: Life in the Slow Lane”…that was the gallery show topic of the Vermont PhotoPlace Gallery in their May-June, 2019, showing. The photo that I submitted, and that was accepted for the show, was taken just this winter in Yellowstone National Park.
“The photo selected for the showing was taken at the Fountain Paint Pots...”
My lovely wife, Ellen, surprised me with a Christmas gift of two weeks photographing in the Yellowstone-Teton area during early February. This took care of one of my bucket-list items.
Two photo tours were arranged by Ellen. The first was spent in northern Yellowstone National Park in search of wolves, among many other species of wildlife. The second tour started in Teton National Park and included a snow-coach ride to Old Faithful. What a joy that was as heavy and continuing snow fell as we seemed to float our way from the town of West Yellowstone to Old Faithful. Along the way, we had ample opportunity to take photos.
The photo selected for the showing was taken at the Fountain Paint Pots between Old Faithful and Madison Junction. I was drawn to the stark contrast of dark trees, golden-colored waters, and white snow.
I know. I know. You are asking yourself (and me through extrasensory means), “Are those colors real?!”. And I answer, “Yes, they are'“. It has something to do with the algae and minerals and mysterious things of nature like that.
The Double Whammy
Recognition for this photo doesn’t stop at the PhotoPlace Gallery.
There is an interesting photo website that is ironically called, “Don’t Take Pictures”. I think the point of the name must be that we should be taking photos instead…maybe? I don’t know.
Anyway, I was contacted by Kat Kiernan, the site host, about using this photo as the ‘Photo of the Day’ on their website. Of course, I said “Yes”. So they did, as shown here.
That’s it for today. I will be back to Italy in my next installment. Meanwhile, if you would like to see photos from my Yellowstone and Teton experience, you can view a sampling just below.
Yes, those last two photos are a beautiful amber-eyed wolf and a grizzly. Yellowstone is a fabulous place — especially in winter.
Until next time when Italy will once again be the topic…don’t drink yellow water!
Ciao for now,
Steve
The Results Are in -- Part 16
“The live online gala was attended by 11,829 photography fans around the globe, who logged on to watch the climax of the industry’s most important event for color photography.”
OK folks, this one’s big. It’s the International Color Awards, and it’s the leading international award honoring excellence in color photography. Awards were announced during the spring of 2019. In a field of over 7,000 entries from 79 countries, I am honored to have had seven of my photos recognized, from nomination (a limited number of photos selected for further consideration by the distinguished industry judges), to honorable mention, to receiving a third place (aka ‘Honor of Distinction’) in the Americana category.
A press release was even provided…so I’ll let that press release say the rest, following this gallery of considerations and winners.
NOMINATED FOR FURTHER JUDGING
Aerial Category
Yes, I have a drone, and I love to use it. The first photo below was found while hovering over East Vail, and the second is the Snake River (of Colorado), near Keystone.
Springtime Shadows
Serpentine
Architecture Category
This photo was taken in Venice, Italy. You may have seen it before…and some of you even have it hanging in your homes!
One-Thousand Years in the Making
HONORABLE MENTION
Abstract Category
A photo captured during a visit to Scott Kelby’s PhotoShop World Conference in 2012. I saw this demolished-building scene (minus the pedestrian) just across from the Washington DC Convention Center conference site. The abstract nature of the photo comes from my insertion of a lone figure taking the stairs…kind of.
Taking the Stairs
Aerial Category
Whilst driving through central Nevada (which I found absolutely fascinating, by the way…more in the next photo’s discussion), it came to me that I had been driving in a very, very straight line for a very, very long time. I pulled to the side of the highway and flew my drone up to get this straight-as-an-arrow view.
Straight as an Arrow
Americana Category
Still in central Nevada, I discovered one of the by-gone icons of Americana — the drive-in theater — abandoned as most are today. I was going for a look of ‘western-Americana-like desolation’ in the photo, and I think I achieved that. This photo is titled, “Matinee”.
Matinee
To be perfectly honest (is there any other kind of honesty, by the way?) the drive-in theater is located about 140 crow-flown miles from the background scenery…thank you Photoshop. The small photo shows the lay of the actual derelict drive-in theater in Yerington, Nevada.
HONOR OF DISTINCTION
3rd Place in the Americana Category
Here is my photo that garnered 3rd place overall in the Americana category. I captured this rather ironic photo - titled ‘Drive Thru Window’ - in Van Horn, Texas. And west-Texas-isolated Van Horn is chock-a-block full of scenes like this one. And yes, that is pretty much a drive-through window.
Drive Thru Window
And now, as promised, here is the press release they provided that lays out the specifics of this international contest, including a list of the distinguished judges.
So, there you have it. And, I’m glad to say that at least one of the photos above was taken in Italy! More from Italy coming soon.
Ciao for now,
Steve
The Results Are In -- Part 15
I’m really excited to let you know that Black & White Magazine has once again elected to publish some of my photos as award winners. The “Special Issue 2019 Contest Winners” for single images was published in February, 2019. The term ‘single image’ is in contrast to recognition for a ‘portfolio’ of several images (like the New Orleans portfolio I previously showed here).
In this current issue, the editors selected three of my photos for publication. And one was even a photo from Italy!
Laundry Day
The photo from Italy is found on page 80 and is titled ‘Laundry Day, Isola Burano, 2012”.
Laundry Day, Isola Burano, 2012
Burano is a lovely and colorful island in the Venetian lagoon. Almost every house is painted in bright colors, though you could not tell that from the photo above. The wall in the photo is a nice lemon yellow. You can see a color version in my print store here.
I love this simple composition. And, I like that the laundry is from the toddler's room...complete with baby-blue, bunny-rabbit sheets and pullups. You may have seen this photo before, as the judges for the International Black & White Spider Awards liked this one, too, as they gave it a 2nd Place - Merit of Excellence Award in their 2014 contest.
Sunset Gospel
On page 40 you will find a familiar photo from “The Results Are In — Part 14'“. The photo is titled “Sunset Gospel, Grenville, New Mexico, 2014”. To find out more about this photo, see the aforementioned article.
Sunset Gospel, Grenville, New Mexico, 2014
Rapid Transit
Finally, here is an old favorite that I captured on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Pedicabs are a great way to negotiate the streets of New Orleans, and I had fun ‘slurring’ many photos as they passed by, using a very slow shutter speed as I panned my camera. This one was my favorite. The color version was nominated in the 7th Annual International Pollux Awards back in 2015.
On page 189 you can find, “Rapid Transit, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2012”
Rapid Transit, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2012
OK, consider my horn as tooted! Now it’s time that I got back to thinking about, and writing about, good times in Italy. I’ll fill you in on that sort of thing very soon!
Ciao for now,
Steve