Local photographers continue to capture the Southwest's grace and beauty, proving that photography is much more than technical ability alone. The Doña Ana Arts Council is showcasing these artists who have recently excelled in their chosen medium.
Every year, New Mexico Magazine holds a contest to select the finest images from amateur photographers that represent what is so wonderful about our state. This year, five local photographers and 15 other artists were chosen from 151 entrants who submitted 1,600 photos to the 20th annual event to be viewed in the February edition.
David Turning led the group with his first-place win, “Marina Lights on Elephant Butte,” in the Enchanted Adventure category. He also placed third in New Mexico Experiences with “Blue Hour at White Sands” and received an honorable mention for “Amillos Rojos” in Landscape.
Gerald Guss took second in both the New Mexico Experience and Animal categories with “The Heart of New Mexico” and “Smooth Stepper.” He also received an honorable mention in the Enchanted Category with “Fuzzy Wuzzy.”
Aaron Martinez won third place in the Landscape category with his image “Moonrise at the Wedge” and an honorable mention for “Eruption” in Nightscapes, a new category this year.
In the Cell Phone category, Richard Larsson placed second with his image of “White Sands National Park.”
Steven Bunt won third place in Enchanted Adventures with “A Picture-Perfect Night.”
All the winning New Mexico Magazine images are featured at the Tularosa Basin Gallery of Photography in Carrizozo and on its web page at www.photozozo.org.
An image of sandhill cranes winging away from the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge taken by Will Keener was picked as a winner in the Cowboys & Indians (C&I) Magazine annual photo competition. It will appear in the February issue.
David D. Sorensen's work will be featured in “The Art of Quarantine” exhibition at the Gallery with A Cause, part of the New Mexico Cancer Center (NMCC) in Albuquerque, Feb. 22-May 21. The exhibition will feature over 20 of his images that reflect the Southwest as well other locations. Forty percent of the sales will be donated to NMCC.
The show will be available for viewing at nmcancercenter.org/gallery/.
Wayne Suggs has published his latest and most meaningful images in a new book titled The Color of Dreams. This tabletop book, a collection of his photos, values, and stories, brings the reader to the realization that photography is more than just taking a photograph. There are 100 high-definition color images accompanied with a narrative of how and why Suggs captured the specific location and time. Please visit www.waynesuggsphotography.com/shop/p/the-color-of-dreams to find out more about the book and the artist.
Karen Conley is program manager at the Doña Ana Arts Council and can be reached at manager@daarts.org.
