Nearly 100 photographs by 34 photographers are on display for the Sixth Annual Fran Achen Photography Competition through July 26 from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursdays through Sundays at the Whitewater Arts Alliance’s Cultural Arts Center, 402 W. Main St.
The winning photographs were selected by Robert Mertens and James Terkeurst who are both photographers, educators and faculty members from the UW-Whitewater College of Arts and Communication. They based their choices solely on the photographs, as the names and signatures of the artists were concealed. Mertens and Terkeurst led an interesting discussion of photography and what makes a good photograph, discussed their selections, and answered questions during the awards presentation.
Winners are as follows:
Best of Show: Chap Achen, “Harvest Time, Goodhue Co.”
Adult Accomplished: 1st place: Jeff McDonald, “Starin Water Tower”; 2nd place: Mary Ellsworth, “Black on Black”; 3rd place: Terry Scott Mayer, “Untitled.”
Adult Amateur: 1st place: Robert Buell, “Peony Bud”; 2nd place: Karolyn Alexander Tscharnack, “Chicago – Sept. 2014”; 3rd place: Cristina Ossers, “Shadow.”
Teen: 1st place: Hogan Alexander, “Still Life #12”; 2nd place: Linnea Tabaka, “Woodn’t It Be Nice”; 3rd place: Jordan Wiesen, “Butterfly.”
Youth: 1st place: Althea Reichwald, “The Nest in the Tree”; 2nd place: Cambell Alexander, “Kevin, Steve & Gerald”; no third place.
In addition, those attending the show are invited to cast their ballots for the Viewer’s Choice Award. This award will be announced on Sunday, the last day of the show.
“We are very pleased with the quality of images on display and hope that Fran Achen would have been pleased as well. He was an exceptional photographer and his catalog of images continues to inspire,” Jeff McDonald, chair of the show and Whitewater Arts Alliance board member, said.
