It's A Family Affair

This summer's community photo contest sponsored by Gallery 'n' Gifts featured father and son winners, and a friendly competition between local husband and wife.

Seems the husband Neil Barney was last year's best of show winner (a black and white photo of a traditionally dressed Turkish man) tried his hand at digital photo darkroom work this year and was chosen first place for his category. His wife Ruth during this past winter, looked out into the front yard and saw an image she thought worthy of shooting. She is not the consummate photographer lover her husband is but she does have her own camera and a good eye.

The judging system at the gallery is all "blind judging" meaning the photographers name and residence is not known during judging. I spoke to the coordinator of the photo contest at Gallery 'n' Gifts, Gale Caldwell, and she enlightened me that during judging, "both husband and wife's photos were contenders for the Best of Show award. We were delightfully surprised when we all discovered that it was all from the same family". What are the odds.

A second family, a father and son, were also this summer's top winners. First and second places were plentiful as the Arbaut family Charles and son Dylan took home two First Place, two Second Place, one Third Place and an Honorable mention.

Charles, a lifetime Nikon lover, shoots with a Nikon D-70. Dylan's camera of choice is a Canon D-70.

All Photos can be seen for several more weeks at the Gallery and Gifts artist co-op in Tehachapi. The next community photo contest will take place in February of 2015. Start looking and shooting now, don't wait till the last minute.