Juror's Statement:

The amount of creativity and striking talent in the submissions for Black & White (& Blue) was incredible. It was a truly wonderful experience seeing the variety of work sent in for this exhibition. Making selections was difficult from the outset, as the overall quality and content of the submissions was very high. Narrowing down the field of 903 images to the final 53 meant that only about six percent of them made it in. The final choices made all answered the one big question I asked over and over again…is this a print I would add to my own collection and hang in my home? Look through the selections and you will know the answer with absolute certainty.

I was equally happy to see images made with a variety of process, including silver gelatin, cyanotype, platinum, lith, and digital. Process, however, is not merely the tools or materials used, but how the creator responds and connects with them to make their art. The images in this exhibition make this connection.

Drama, mystery, tension, and composition all had to be embraced in order to put it all together. Of the final images chosen for this exhibition, I found myself selecting some that surprised even me (most notable would be the Juror’s Choice), and that is what I like about the outcome more than anything. Thank you to all who submitted and pleased my soul with your work, you have a lot to be proud of.

-Michael Kirchoff

Juror: Michael Kirchoff

Michael Kirchoff straddles the worlds of both fine art and commercial photography. A commercial shooter for twenty-five years, it is his fine art work that has set him apart from others, with instant film fueling more than a few bodies of work, both completed and ongoing. His consulting, training, and overall support of his fellow photographic artists continues with assistance in construction ones vision, reviewing portfolios, and finding exhibition opportunities, which fill the gaps in time away from active shooting.  

Kirchoff’s fine art imagery has garnered recognition from the IPA Awards, the Prix de la Photographie in Paris, Photographer’s Forum, and Critical Mass. His photographs have been published in Black & White (US and UK) Seities, Esquire (Russia) New Statesman, Blur, Adore Noir, Fraction, SHOTS, and website like Lenscratch and Light Leaked. He continues to exhibit prints internationally in solo and group exhibitions. Kirchoff is also an editor at Blur Magazine, a charter member of the LA Center for Photography, and has been a board member of the LA chapter of the American Photographic Artists (APA).