Awarded Photographs from the Exhibit
Watergram Archer Evans Allendale Columbia	The WROC-Rochester First.com Image Innovator Awarded $200 by WROC Watergram Portrait, by Archer Evans is the winner of the WROC online Image Innovator competition.  Archer’s photo is a richly textured image that appears to be a surreal underwater dreamscape---a face, perhaps from a vintage photograph, emerges through a swirling, almost cosmic layer of fluid and bubble formations.The result is a fusion of human and elemental forms.   The use of grayscale enhances the atmosphere, invoking a sense of memory, decay and transformation.  Bubbles and fluid patterns ripple across the surface like thoughts rising to consciousness, while the delicate details in the face, partially obscured, suggest both emergence and dissolution. The layered aesthetic mimics analog photo development processes or alternative printing methods, adding a tactile feel.   There is something introspective about this portrait. It feels as though the viewer is peering through a veil of time or emotion, witnessing the slow erosion of identity or the melding of internal worlds. The interplay of fluidity and form captures a kind of psychological ambiguity that lingers well after the first look.  Archer’s image is both mysterious and meditative---a haunting visual poem that invites repeated viewing and introspection. It speaks to the fragile intersection of memory, identity and the fleeting nature of existence.  Marie Costanza
Lost Nate DeWitt Norman Howard School	The Betsy Phillips Creative Image Award: Awarded $100 by Image City Photography Gallery Lost by Nate DeWitt from Norman Howard School is the recipient of the Betsy Phillips Creative Image Award.  Nate’s image is very reminiscent of the type of photo that Betsy Phillips was known to create.  The image blurs the lines between photography, abstract art, and emotional narrative.  The texture and composition draws the eye into its layered, almost chaotic web of scratched lines, muted earthy tones, and fragmented forms. Upon close inspection, the viewer might see the ghostly presence of a folded, almost origami-like figure emerging from the dense background. This figure, simultaneously delicate and weathered, becomes the focal point, evoking feelings of fragility, resilience and mystery. Subtle hints of color---flashes of blue and violet amidst the sepia and charcoal palette—add an unexpected vibrancy, breathing life into the shadows. This image stood out for its conceptual boldness and emotional depth.  It exemplifies the spirit of the Betsy Phillips Creativity Award, celebrating not just the aesthetic appeal but the courage to experiment.
Oh to Be Wise Marissa Martin Webster Schroeder High School	The Loretta and Michael Pace Excellence in Education Award: Awarded $100 by the family of Loretta and Michael Pace.   Oh to Be Wise by Marissa Martin from Webster Schroeder High School is the winner of the Loretta and Mike Pace Excellence in Education Award.  The image is a thoughtful photograph that speaks volumes about the lifelong pursuit of knowledge and self-awareness.  At first glance the viewer is drawn to the cleverly crafted wire figure, with one hand resting against its head, which evokes the classic pose of contemplation reminiscent of Rodin’s The Thinker, but interpreted in a modern, almost vulnerable way. Behind the figure, a stack of art books looms, their titles reading like a roll call of masters---Matisse, Cezanne and Monet. The deliberate placement of the books suggests the daunting, sometimes overwhelming challenge of measuring oneself against the greats, of finding one’s place in an ever-expanding world of ideas.  Oh to Be Wise is a visually poetic meditation on education, growth and humility. Its strength lies not just in its technical composition but in the layered metaphor it quietly offers: that wisdom is not a destination but an ongoing reflective journey.  The image is one that Michael and Loretta Pace both would have enjoyed because it captures the essence of what true learning aspires to be ---thoughtful, humble and perpetually curious.
Frequencies Unbound Aurora Freer Red Creek High School	The Bill White Arts Education Award: Awarded $100 by the Empire Realty Group. Frequencies Unbound by Aurora Freer from Red Creek High School receives the Bill White Arts Education Award provided by James White Empire Realty Group . This image is a stunning visual symphony that beautifully translates sound into color, and music into light. The composition centers around a saxophone, its gleaming brass curves and intricate keys sharply defined against a rich, warm backdrop, but it is what dances beyond the instrument that makes the image so captivating: a cascade of vibrant bokeh lights, like scattered musical notes floating freely in the air. The blurred circles of red, yellow, blue and green seem almost kinetic, evoking the intangible energy of sound waves radiating from the saxophone’s bell.  Aurora played with depth of field and contrast, allowing the instrument to anchor the image while letting the surrounding lights shimmer in joyful, unpredictable patterns. There is a sense of celebration in this image---a recognition of how art---much like music---transcends boundaries.  The warmth of the color combined with the saxophone creates a visual harmony that speaks of the creative process itself, structured, yet spontaneous. The image invites the viewer to embrace the potential of artistic expression and its recognition for the Bill White Arts Education Award embodies the power of education to unbind creativity and let it soar.
Le Roy High School	School Award - Best in Show Award: Awarded a framed print provided by Image City Photography Gallery. This award recognizes the schools that present an outstanding collection of student photographs.  The award celebrates elements such as technique, composition, creativity and storytelling.  By highlighting the collective efforts of students, this award aims to encourage artistic exploration, inspire emerging photographers, and reinforce the importance of photography as a powerful means of expression.  Ranked voting was done by partners of Image City.