Juror's Statement:

Perhaps the most elusive state of consciousness resides in the world of dreams. What we remember or interpret from this mysterious place within our minds is fascinatingly personal to
every individual. So to select only 51 images from the 694 images submitted proved to be quite a challenge. 

It was my great honor and pleasure to act as juror for a theme so close to my heart. I applaud every photographer that submitted work and congratulate the selected exhibitors.

-Susan Burnstine

Juror: Susan Burnstine

Susan Burnstine is an award winning fine art photographer originally from Chicago now based in Los Angeles. Susan is represented in galleries across the world, widely published throughout the globe, conducts workshops internationally and has also written for several photography magazines, including a monthly column for Black and White Photography Magazine (UK).

Burnstine is one of the few photographers today avidly pursuing alternative processes to create an idiosyncratic and deeply personal visual landscape. Initially, Burnstine sought to find a way to portray her dream-like visions entirely in-camera, rather than with post-processing digital manipulations. To achieve this, she has created twenty-one, handmade film cameras and lenses that are frequently unpredictable and technically challenging. The cameras are primarily made out of plastic, vintage camera parts, and random household objects, with single-element lenses molded from plastic and rubber. Learning to overcome their extensive optical limitations required Burnstine to rely on instinct and intuition—the same tools that are key when attempting to interpret dreams.