Florida Museum of Photographic Arts Member’s Show

A friend tipped me off that she had won an honorable mention at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts Member’s Show. I was very pleased for her and wanted to see her picture. Plus, I was very curious about this museum. I’d not heard of it at all.

The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts is at 200 N. Tampa Street, Suite 130, Tampa, Florida 33602; 813-221-2222. That’s near the corner of Jackson Street and Ashley Drive, right downtown. This particular exhibit closes on September 4th. That’s only 10 more days. I hope you go. It’s worth every bit of the effort.

You won’t be disappointed. All of the pictures have something to offer but there are some very stunning photos, absolutely stunning photos. Of course, the official winners, listed below, are extremely good. The judges must have spent many an anguished hour trying to decide the winners because so many photos were deserving. Here’s the official list from the museum’s website:

Best of Show
Rory Brennan, Cancer Ward, Paraguay
Members’ Choice
Chris Hoyer, Sweet Dreams, London
Documentary
Roy Rodriguez, The Conversation
Travel
Kirk Ke Wang, Passage of Time
Portraiture
Jim Reiman, Jason
Nature/Landscape
Robin Dana, Water Lilies
Details
Melissa Harris, Pinned Glass
Creative Mediums/Processes
David Audet, Fan, Fur: La France
Honorable Mentions
Judith Hall, Travel, Under the Bean
Michael Schuhmann, Portraiture, Captain Love
Andrew Malbin, Nature, Scar the Whale and His Family
Katherine Stetson, Details, In Memory of My Mother
Jennifer Mace, Creative Mediums, Vine

But, I have my own “winners,” too! Who wouldn’t. There are always going to be photos that speak in a special way to each viewer. I think, in my case, my “winners” were photos that demonstrate techniques I wish I could execute.

If you go to the museum, and I hope you do, compare your own list with mine. I’m curious if you agree. Here, in addition to the official winners, and in alphabetical order, are my own favorites:

Color
Ashes to Ashes, Steven Gregory
Broken Door, Randy Van Duinen
From the Well (of Life), Ugo, Mazzarolo
Going Green, Michelle Wilson
Halloween Pennant, Don Moyer
Look Beyond, Amy Rigsby
Lotus Zen, Catherine Hammer
Sweet Dreams, Chris Hoyer
Times Square, Allan Alexander
Town Center Winter, Lynn Wiezycki
Trees in the Fog, Ernest Gudath

Black & White (or mostly Black & White)
Door to Salvation, Jose Suro
Electric Rhythm, Amy Bird
Elephants March, Bob Demchuk
Lobsterman’s Credo, Terry Hayden
Survival, Marshall Seider
The Beginning, Stephanie Parke
Untitled, Peter Lapin
Wondrous View, Heather Papolos
Ybor City Trolley, Robert Boice

(Note: I can’t always read my own handwriting. If you notice a misspelling of someone’s name, please let me know so I can correct it.)

If that seems like a long list of personal winners, let me assure you: the exhibit is LARGE! I had no idea there was so much photographic talent locally. I’m very impressed and eager to learn anything I can from this community in order to become a better photographer myself. (I’ve joined as a Senior; I recommend you donate or join is you can. See Membership Drive.) It would be very gratifying to have the skill of any of the members in the exhibit.

I wish the little cards identifying the titles and artists, and prices when for sale, also listed more technical information. I would have loved to have known the different kinds of printing processes, the different kinds of cameras used, whether digital or film, the type of paper, etc. One photo had that kind of information, but none of the others did. I would like to have known that. Such information would help us fledgling photographers.

Please go to this exhibit and please support this museum. You won’t regret doing so.