The Owensboro Photography Club is hosting its 49th annual show at Kentucky Wesleyan College’s Ralph Center of Fine Arts through Nov. 22.
The exhibition features 50 entries in two divisions — limited edit and full edit.
This year’s show had 31 entries in the limited edit division, a category that allows for minor changes in the picture, including cropping, switching from color to black-and-white, changing the contrast slightly or removing spots, said Eddie Atherton, photography club president.
There were 19 entries in the full edit division, which basically allows any entry that has been edited. These entries can be manipulated by computer software using filters and manipulating the image as the photographer sees fit.
Atherton said that the best in show winner’s photograph almost looked like a painting because of the editing the photographer had used to get the results.
“It looked like something you would buy,” Atherton said.
Eight photographers won a total of 13 awards this year, and of those, four were first-time winners.
“It’s good when we see new people winning and being recognized,” Atherton said, adding that it’s also good for the club because the same photographers might have entered the year before and not received an award, but this year they did.
The club uses three judges from different photography backgrounds so as to provide a balance.
“Some might like landscapes and others might like action shots, so we try to give a variety,” Atherton said.
This year’s judges were Kenny King of Dream Copy Photography in Owensboro, Darrin Phegley of Henderson, who worked as a photojournalist at the local newspaper and Jordyn Myracle of the Ohio Valley Art League in Henderson.
Atherton said that the category of full edit has substantially changed over the years with the options that are available to photographers, including not only the camera equipment but also the editing programs.
Although the show does not specify digital photography, Atherton said that all of the entries this year were digital.
“Some [photographers in the club] use film, but it is a rarity…an oddity,” Atherton said.
The club has close to 25 members and at most meetings, they average 15 in attendance. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at the Ralph Center, unless they hold a photography event off-site or it is a holiday.
They have recently visited the Western Kentucky Botanical Gardens to photograph nature during their meeting and have also met downtown to take photos. Retired members also take day trips to surrounding areas to photograph nature, including Garden of the Gods in Illinois, and other elements or interests that might be part of a local attraction but are busier on weekends.
Atherton said that the club meetings are open and anyone can come to see if they are interested.
“It’s a good place for people to come and learn about photography and their cameras,” Atherton said.
He also said that with Christmas coming up, people might get a new camera, which can seem complicated. The members use a variety of camera brands and the meetings are a good place to ask questions and learn.
The exhibition is free to the public and is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at Kentucky Wesleyan College’s Ralph Center of Fine Arts, located at the corner of College Drive and South Griffith Avenue.
