Wassenberg Camera Club at the Fair

By Rex Dolby

Congratulations to Valerie Adams, who won the Senior Best of Show in the Black and White

category, and to Wassenberg Camera Club member Jodi Hattery for earning the Senior Best of Show in Color as well as two first places.  Fellow member Rex Dolby achieved a first and third place in the Van Wert County Fair’s Photography Exhibit.

In the Youth Division, Chris Hattery won Best of Show in Black and White, four first places, four second places and one third place.  His sister, Nataley won Best of Show in Color, four firsts and two seconds.  Her brother Joshua won a first, a second and six thirds.

Nine Wassenberg Camera Club members were on hand to record judge James Gabbard’s  decisions, place ribbons, turn name tags so they could be read and award $10 to each of the Best of Show winners.  When the judging was completed, they reorganized the display at the Fair Board’s request.

Gabbard is well qualified to judge the exhibit.  He has been Photography Professor at IPFW University in Fort Wayne since 2005.  He also does freelance wedding photography as well as fine art portrait work.  Prior to announcing his decisions, he studied the photos in each category and often commented on why one photo was chosen over another.  When all the winners had been decided, he stayed to conduct a mini-seminar for those present, discussing how some pictures could be improved and answering  questions.

The Wassenberg Camera Club’s next meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Wassenberg Art Center.  “Farm Animals” will be the theme for competition in prints and slides that evening.

If you have any questions about the 36th Annual Wassenberg Photography Exhibit, which will take entries on Sept. 14-15,  call the art center at 419.238.6837, or download a complete prospectus at: wassenbergartcenter.org.