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Best of Delaware Annual Competition


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.✉ Susan Peter·		 The Best of Delaware large print competition was established in memory of Dr. Erik Kissa, FPSA, MPSA to bring photographers together to share the best in photographic printing and to promote the advantages of PSA membership.  The first one took place in 2018, sponsored by PSA and hosted by Coastal Camera Club. This is an annual free event open to all PSA members in Delaware to share their large prints and to vie for the Kissa Award, a PSA Gold medal, followed by an interactive critique session with the jury to provide a learning opportunity for the participants and interested observers, and to encourage appreciation of fine prints.  
Erik Kissa, FPSA, MPSA
April 7, 1923-July 11, 2017

However, the third annual Best of Delaware, originally set to be judged on March 28, could not be held due to the virus and cannot be rescheduled this year, so the medal and three honor ribbons will be awarded to digital entries instead.  Every PSA member living in Delaware is invited to submit TWO images by August 4 via  https://www.dropbox.com/l/AADvs9w2kf3ku_taEbdGZ3JdI54QU8xgozE   Images larger than 1200 in either direction will be scaled down for viewing and judging.  Filenames should be last name, first initial and title. (example: SmithJBigCat)  Any image is eligible except previous Best of Delaware award winners. To see the results of previous years, click on the links at the bottom of the page.  The jury, Elena McTighe, HonPSA, MPSA, Delray Beach FL; Valentina Sokolskaya, EPSA, Philadelphia PA and Richard Sprott, APSA, Potomac MD will judge remotely and the 2020 awards will be posted below before the end of August. 
 
The Photo Travel and Photojournalism small prints, which were to be judged the same day, were entered in advance and mailed to each jury member for scoring. After that judging has been completed, full results will be posted at  http://www.forster-services.com/DelawarePrintExhibition2020_Catalog.pdf 
 
"A Day of Photography Inspiration and Education," originally scheduled for March 28 will be held as an online Zoom webinar on Saturday August 29, starting a 9:30 a.m., and is open to anyone who registers at www.eventbrite.com/e/a-day-of-photography-inspiration-and-education-online-zoom-webinar-re gistration-106788132178
 
The program is free, but everyone who makes a donation at www.coastalcameraclub.com/about/donate/ to help offset expenses will be entered into a drawing for a print from the speaker Nikhil Bahl.  He is a full-time professional photographer, author, educator, workshop instructor and environmentalist residing in the Washington, DC area. Drawing inspiration from nature, he adopts novel approaches and seeks meaningful interpretations to create photographs that transcend the commonplace, reflect deeper insights, and convey an enchantment of the subject's beauty.  His website is www.nikhilbahl.com  He will make two presentations and the total elapsed time for the event is expected to be no more than three hours.
 
First Session - Photographic Voice and Vision (About 1 hour plus time for Q&A) 
Every photographer should think about how they can find their photographic voice. Once a photographer has found their voice, they can then start to develop their vision. It takes time, but both aspects are essential to the growth of any photographer. Nikhil will define photographic voice and vision and share his thoughts on how you can develop your photography to speak about who you are as a photographer and what you want to express. This presentation will help you to think about your photography more deeply.
 
Second Session - Photographic Impact (About 1 hour plus time for Q&A)
As photographers, when we are inspired by a subject, we are driven to photograph it. We use different approaches and techniques to interpret the subject, all with the final goal of creating images that have photographic impact. That impact could be visual, emotional or both. In this presentation, Nikhil will break down the photographic process and share his thoughts on how you can take control of your photography and create more meaningful and personal images. He will also share how these personal interpretations can and will have more photographic impact that will engage the viewer beyond the average photograph.
 
For any questions about the "A Day of Photography Inspiration and Education," contact Deb Payette at:  info@coastalcameraclub.com

Please select the link, below, to reveal past photos and winners from the competition
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  • 2019 Best of Delaware Print Competition - Awards and Photos from the Event

    The 2019 Erik Kissa Memorial Medal, a PSA Gold, was awarded to Jerry am Ende in the second annual Best of Delaware print competition.  Open to all PSA members living in the state of Delaware, the free event was held on April 27 in Lewes DE. The winning print of a snowy egret displaying full breeding plumage is entitled "Marilyn Monroe," a humorous reference to an iconic photo of MM.  PSA Honor Ribbons were awarded to "Red Fox Kits Play" also by Jerry, "Look At Us!" by Tom Lovatt, and "The Matriarch’s Gaze" by Peggy Udinski.  

    The late Dr. Kissa, MPSA, the previous State Membership Director, was a 49-year member of PSA, a Journal columnist and active as an exhibitor and teacher for many years.  To honor his belief that the real value of competition is as a learning tool, the judging was followed by an interactive critique involving the the observers and the participants,  The jurors, Dianne Carnegie, Elkton MD; Robin Harrison, Ocean City MD and Tom Tauber, MPSA, Lansdowne PA, brought valued perspectives as successful photographers and experienced printers.

    To familiarize attendees with the category of Photo Travel and to encourage future participation, the results of the First Delaware Print Exhibition judged by Dee Langevin, MPSA, Valentina Sokolskaya, PPSA, and Tom Tauber, MPSA were also on display.  Hosted by Coastal Camera Club and coordinated by Leslie Sinclair and Tom Lovatt, the day also featured an optional dinner and morning and evening photo trips into nearby Cape Henlopen State Park. 


    The 2019 Winning Images

    Marilyn Monroe
    Jerry am Ende
    Gold Medal Winner
    Red Fox Kits Play
    Jerry am Ende
    Honor Ribbon    		 Look at Us!
    Tom Lovatt
    Honor Ribbon    		 The Matriarch's Gaze
    Peggy Udinski
    Honor Ribbon



    Photo from the Competition


    Photos courtesy of Sam Z. Markman. (click photos to enlarge)


    State Membership director Lynn Maniscalco presents the PSA Gold to Jerry am Ende.


    Tom Lovatt, Jerry am Ende and Peggy Udinski (L to R) show their winning prints.


    Assistant Membership Director Leslie Sinclair introduces the judges.


    Tom Tauber, Dianne Carnegie and Robin Harrison (L to R) judge the prints displayed by Debbie Woods, Marta Nammack and Mardi Thompson (L to R).

    Successful Photo Travel prints on display during the event.


    Staffing the check-in table: Tish Brey (left) and Deb Payette 
  • 2018 Best of Delaware Print Competition - Awards and Photos from the Event
    The 2018 Erik Kissa Memorial Medal, a PSA Gold, was awarded to Susan Peter in the first annual Best of Delaware print competition, hosted by Coastal Camera Club, on Saturday, April 28 in Lewes DE. The late Dr. Kissa was the previous State Membership Director and the competition was open to all PSA members living in DE. To honor his belief that the real value of competition is as a learning tool, the judging was followed by an interactive critique among the 120 observers and participants, with the jurors Andy Gordon, Lynn Maniscalco,HonPSA, EPSA and Tom Tauber, EPSA. Gordon also presented "Embarking on Your Creative Journey," and he and David Neff, a fellow RIT graduate, gave a workshop on focus stacking. The free all-day event, "A Day of Photography Inspiration and Education," was open to everyone, and included a photo flea market and PSA information for the benefit of non-members as well as members who are not taking full advantage of their membership. Partial support was provided by the Delaware Division of the Arts.

    The 2018 Winning Images

    Katmai Grizzly with Cub
    Susan Peter
    Gold Medal Winner
    Clouds over the Alaska Range
    Bob McCaffrey
    Honor Ribbon    		 Blue-Footed Booby with Chicks
    Susan Peter
    Honor Ribbon    		 Need a Ride to Church
    Paul Hammesfahr
    Honor Ribbon



    Photo from the Competition


    Photos courtesy of Sam Z. Markman.

    Lynn Troy Maniscalco, HonPSA, EPSA, (R) presents the Erik Kissa Memorial Award, a PSA Gold Medal, to Susan Peter (L) for her print, "Katmai Grizzly with Cub," named "2018 Best of Delaware." PSA honor ribbons went to (L to R) Bob McCaffrey for "Clouds Over the Alaska Range," Susan Peter for "Blue Footed Booby with Chicks," and Paul Hammesfahr for "Need a Ride to Church?"
    Jurors Lynn Troy Maniscalco,  Andy Gordon, and Tom Tauber provide commentary Paul Hammesfahr drawing for PSA item with Lynn Troy Maniscalco Competition in progress. The people in the front of the room are Gene Tadlock, Leslie Sinclair, Pat Powell, Joe Radcliffe, and Marta Nammack