Juror's Choice Masked Figure #2

©Thomas Pickarski

The Darkroom Gallery Difference

Juror's Statement

"What a pleasure it has been to travel the world’s exotic locations and through intimately-known fields, forests and cities via your photographs. In selecting images, I was rather ruthless in rejecting some otherwise wonderful images because they had either a blatant technical issue, such as clipped highlights or a compositional mistake that could have been avoided, such as the top of a head lining up with a horizon line. I also tended to reject images that were simply cute or cliché’s (unless REALLY well done). I retained those that spoke deeply to me about the beauty of the world, or that got me thinking about our relationship to the earth. There were several environmental degradation images that I would have included if they had been stronger in image quality. As you will see from my final selection, I have rather eclectic tastes when viewing others’ works. Each image in the final selection stands on its own with a clear understanding of the photographer’s emotional connection to the scene."

Craig Blacklock,

Moose Lake, MN  October, 2019

Juror: Craig Blacklock

Craig Blacklock is an internationally recognized fine art landscape photographer specializing in the interface of land and water. While he has photographed over much of the country, most of Blacklock’s 18 books have focused on wild areas of Lake Superior. His newest book, ST. CROIX & NAMEKAGON RIVERS — The Enduring Gift, celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the signing of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, with the title essay by Vice President Walter F. Mondale, who as a senator, co-sponsored the Act. Blacklock’s photographs are widely exhibited, and included in many collections, including the Tweed Museum of Art and the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. His many awards include a Minnesota Book Award, 3 IPPYs, two PubWest Book Design Awards, many Midwest Book Awards, a Pinnacle Book Award, and an International Color Award (2^nd place book category), and he was the 2018 recipient of the George Morrison Award from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council. As a workshop instructor and lecturer, Craig has influenced thousands of photographers across the country.