CLC photo contest attracts record number of entrants

Awards recently were announced in the 41st annual Central Lakes College photo contest- the largest contest to date, with 195 entries from 42 photographers representing 20 communities within and beyond Minnesota.

Nicole Vry of Wadena received top honors with Best of Show in Black and White, runner-up Best of Color and two other first-place awards.

Tajia Anderson of Hallock received runner-up Best of Show in Black and White and first place for a black and white portrait and a first in the color flower category.

Jennifer Orestano of Brainerd won Best Techno-Gadget theme award and a first place for colored flowers.

Kali Anderson of Forest Lake received the Best of Show in Color award.

Richard Lewis of Brainerd earned a Judge's Award for a creative sepia-tone stylized 1900s scene, two first-place honors for a black and white landscape and a portrait and a color award.

Linda Beasley of Brainerd won three first-place awards - all in color, including one in the action category.

Melissa Lee of Henning took three first-place awards, including two in black and white in the children and portrait categories and a color close-up in animals.

Winners of two first places each were Carol Mills of Crosby with a Judge's Award in color landscape and black and white creative photo; Nicole Belmore of McGregor with a color photo in the children category and a black and white in the flower category; and Danelle Jensen of Forest Lake with a color creative and a black and white children picture.

Individual first-place winners included Nancy L. Thompson of Pequot Lakes in the Techno-Gadget category; Martha Krueger of Baxter with a black and white landscape; Gary Fitch of Brainerd with a color action shot; Samantha Nordlund of Parkers Prairie with a color bird; Chelsea Rae Ottomoeller of Clarissa in the children color category; and Marlowe Kingstead of Pequot Lakes with a Judge's Award in the color landscape category.

Other first-place winners were Matt Anderson of Estero, Fla., who received a Judge's Award with a color landscape; Diane Scearcy of Brainerd with a color landscape; Ingrid Anderson of Lake Shore in flowers; Therese Berczyk of Crosby with a color portrait; Tasha Maki of Staples for a color portrait; Sheila Carleton of Baxter with a color animal picture; and Taylor Johnson of Staples with an animal close-up.

The photo show remains on display through Friday during normal building hours at the Brainerd campus in the east hallways.