Winning Images 2000

Fewer Entries Didn’t Make Judging Any Easier

Although we received just 189 entries in Images 2000, the fifth annual New Times photo contest–about half of what we received in previous years–the high quality of the entries still required over three hours of judging. Sure, the judges’ scarfing a few slices of pizza and quaffing a couple of brews may have dragged that out a bit, but the excellent quality of the entire field made judging and selecting winners quite difficult.

This year's judging panel comprised Peggy Mesler, owner of the Photoshop and our host for the evening; Tom Meinhold, of Tom Meinhold Photography; Marla Pugh, New Times managing editor; and Jeff Greene, New Times staff photographer. Mesler is a lifelong San Luis Obispo resident and a Cal Poly photojournalism graduate. Meinhold, who is also an SLO native, is a 1987 graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography.

After three hours of debate, cajoling, threats, and begging, the field was narrowed to the 50 prize-winning photographs displayed on the following pages.

Our grand prize winner, "Rainbow Waters, Laguna Lake," is the creation of local photographer Sue Phalen, who sandwiched two slides to create it.

In fact, Phalen says, the photo almost didn't happen at all. The canoe portion of the photo was taken at Laguna Lake, but because the muddy water in it looked so washed out, Phalen set the slide it aside. Months later, while she was visiting the Historical Society, she noticed a multihued pattern of light on a window. Realizing that this would make a good background photo, she made several images, incorporating the window screen for texture. In combining that slide with the canoe slide, she created an image that has garnered her not only the New Times Images 2000 Grand Prize, but honorable mentions in competitions sponsored by Popular Photography and Photographers Forum magazines.

At first using point-and-shoot cameras, Phalen took up photography about 10 years ago. After receiving encouragement from local photographer Dale Reid while attending his classes at Cuesta College, she got serious about her craft in 1996. Now that she has refined her technique, she sells numerous prints each year through gallery shows and art exhibitions. She is president of the San Luis Obispo Camera Club and insists that she draws great inspiration and guidance from all the fine photographers that comprise the membership.

For you techies who just have to know, Phalen uses a Canon Elan 2e with a Canon 28-105mm and Canon 100-300mm lens, and she uses Fuji Sensia slide film exclusively.

Phalen submitted 10 entries to our contest this year. Five won recognition. Her "La-la-la-la" image–four brightly colored birds singing–took first in the professional/color/faces category.

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Every year we hear grumbling about the number of multiple winners our competition produces; in fact, we suspect suspicion about how we choose winners is a reason some people may have not entered this year. The fact remains that the judges have no idea who has entered any of the photographs they select. That said, this year there were seven multiple winners, and one of them, Cambria's Jude Johnstone, swept the category in amateur black-and-white-faces.

Many photographers submit several photos in each of several categories. Since each entry requires an entry fee and represents the expense of printing and mounting, it is our philosophy that each deserves an equal chance at winning.

We welcome your comments regarding the contest and the winning images as we plan next year's Image 2001 contest and try to make it even better. E-mail us at [email protected], or call us at 546-8208.

In the meantime, please enjoy this year's collection. Æ