Meridian Magazine:: Photoessay: LDS Photographers: When Seeing is Believing

By Robert Woodhead

Renowned photographer Ansel Adams wrote, “I knew my destiny when I first experienced Yosemite .” For the next sixty years he made an annual return to the Valley, where exposure to nature's majesty resulted in a prolific career of capturing inspiring images.

The beauty and majesty of God's creations is also central to a photography exhibit returning to the Washington , D.C Temple Visitors' Center this summer with the theme Monuments of Faith: Images of Joy, Reverence and Inspiration. Officials at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors' Center in Kensington , Maryland expect the annual exhibit to attract entries from LDS and non-LDS photographers.

Virginia Bywater, chair of the Visitors' Center Cultural Arts Committee, notes that the juried show brought in more than 180 entries in its first year. “It was beyond our expectations for the inaugural year and was so well received by both the photographers and visitors,” she says. “As the theme takes root over time and entrants become more familiar with the spirit of the work and surroundings here we're sure to see even more impressive displays of their artistic talent.”

Bill and Patricia Child, directors of the Washington Temple Visitors' Center, note that thousands of visitors viewed the free exhibit as they toured the Visitors' Center last summer. “The facilities and spirit here give us the opportunity to showcase the artists' works in a respectful but powerful way that brings out the best the entrant has to offer,” they explain, adding they're pleased to help display those talents in conjunction with the spirit, mission and purpose of the Visitors' Center.

Entries for this year's exhibit will be accepted at the Visitor's Center on Friday, July 18 or Saturday, July 19 between noon and 6 p.m. All amateur and professional photographers of any age are encouraged to participate. Entry details can be found at www.monumentsoffaith.org.

The juried show will run daily from July 26 through September 14 and will feature the top 100 entries as selected by a panel of JUDGES'.

Although not a competition, the juried event (JUDGES'' Choice) will highlight selected works of exceptional quality says Event Coordinator Holly Tomlinson. She explains the judging criteria will center on four key areas: appropriateness of subject matter, compatibility with the spirit and purpose of the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors' Center, technical execution, and overall aesthetics .

“From the standpoint of the Visitors' Center we're seeking photography that not only meets the standards and expectations of this institution but showcases creative and artistic talent capturing the joy, reverence and inspiration expressed in God's creations,” Tomlinson adds.

Last year's JUDGES'' Choice selections represented skills of both amateur and professional photographers — from truck driver to physician, from photo club enthusiast to professional on assignment — their selected entries are highlighted below with additional samples from their portfolios.

To send questions or comments to the 2007 Judge's Choice photographers, go to www.monumentsoffaith.org and click on “Contact.”

TIFFANY KRIEGER

Tiffany Krieger is the mother of 3 boys, and specializes in photographing families and children.

She started taking photos in 1989, when her father gave her his Canon AE-1. She has loved photography ever since! Her passion is photographing babies and children. Her favorite models are her three boys. She's won numerous awards and special recognition in local and regional juried competitions. Her greatest satisfaction comes from experiencing the joy in the faces of those she photographs.

JUDGES' CHOICE: People Category

Miracle In the Hand of God ~ Click to Enlarge.

“This photo was done with a newborn. I was using a 17-40mm lens with an off-camera flash using a cord. The baby was lying on her back on a very large bean bag chair. Her body was covered with a black blanket wrapping it around the father's hand. He was only holding her foot. I was shooting above him with the flash above and a little behind my head. Then I took several photos with his hand holding the foot in different positions until I got the shot I was looking for.”

Samples of Additional Work by Tiffany Krieger

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Pink on Point “I love the grace and beauty of dancers. A ballet school owner asked me to be a documentary photographer for an event she was putting on at a community college. It was very difficult lighting — beautiful for the dancers but challenging for the photographer. I was shooting in available light at ISO 1600 with a 70-200mm vibration reduction lens. In this shot the 11-year-old ballerina was off in the wings waiting while her teacher was working with her dance partner.”

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All Things Bright and Beautiful “Here is my two-year-old niece who usually doesn't like to have her picture taken, but on this day she was willing. The natural light was from the north and was soft on her face. I was using a 200mm fixed aperture lens. I did set the shot up a little by making sure her toes peeked out from her dress.”

PAGE JOHNSON

Page (Townsend) Johnson is a freelance writer, editor, and photographer in McLean, Virginia. For Page, photography is about perspective — not only compositionally, but also emotionally and spiritually. Consequently, she thinks of herself less as an artist and more as an historian of people and events in order to find purpose and meaning. She believes that photography can find the extraordinary in the ordinary and reveal simple truths and joys that we often take for granted.

JUDGES' CHOICE: Nature Category

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Castle Valley Ranch, Emery, Utah The Heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (Psalms 19:1) “In this photo of Castle Valley Ranch in Emery, Utah , the powerful sweep of clouds on the left is balanced and punctuated by a small red building on the right. The panorama and color give me a wondrous sense of eternity,” says Page.

Samples of Additional Work by Page Johnson

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The Light that Fills the Soul “The glory of the desert sun streaming through a lone wildflower would humble even Solomon. This little flower, that might easily be overlooked, took on an entirely different appearance just by shooting it from below and directly into the sun.”

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Joy “The joy of simply being can be a serendipity that fills us body and soul, just as my daughter experienced the first time she saw the ocean.”

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Give Us a Kiss “Some of my favorite pictures are those I didn't anticipate. I was following my daughter and her fiancé to a spot where I would take their engagement photos, when he suddenly stooped down and asked for a kiss. What makes the photo compelling is the obvious spontaneity of the moment coupled with the visual contrast of short and long lines.”

PERLA ANTONIAK

Perla is a recent graduate of Brigham Young University-Hawaii. Her passion for photography stems from her exploration of the wonders found in life's nuances.

JUDGES' CHOICE: People Category

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In Awesome Wonder “While living in a village in southern India , I became close to a bag weaver named Kili. We would sit together sharing smiles and curiosity as she taught me to weave. I lived there for some time while doing research on the arts and handicrafts of Tamil Nadu.”

Samples of Additional Work by Perla Antoniak

Like Doves Descending “This was taken at the Mecca Masjid Mosque in Hyderbad, which has a beautiful fountain attracting many doves. It can be quite difficult to catch the awe of the flight of hundreds of birds in a single photograph and even quite risky. The next time I attempt a shot like this I may bring an umbrella!”

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Lighting the Edge of Night “This was taken during one of those moments when you suddenly realize how beautiful and significant a single flame may be. The power went out in the city of Coimbatore while I was making jewelry with a woman named Vijayalakshmi. She lit the candle in her small store which provided enough light for us to continue undisturbed.”

JAMES CAMPBELL

James has lived in Washington, D.C. for 3 years and is excited to be expecting his first daughter. When he is not getting ready to teach her about the outdoors (and hopefully photography!) he enjoys talking with his lovely wife Lauren about everything they can think of.

JUDGES' CHOICE: Building Category

Click to Enlarge ~ Reflections of Heaven

Samples of Additional Work by James Campbell

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Lights “I took this photo to evoke the emotion of one of my favorite places: a room of Monet paintings at the National Gallery of Art in Washington , D.C. Rather than trying to capture the rich palettes and emotional brush-work of the impressionist paintings themselves, I turned my lens to the ceiling, revealing the symmetry and order in the lights that make the room such a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.”

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National Gallery, Detail “This photo was fun because it suggests the grandeur of the place — the exterior of the powerful National Gallery — with such a tiny element from one of the side entrances. The symmetry and detail suggest a kind of attention to detail and beauty that the photographer hopes will always be a core part of art.”

JERI TIDWELL

For Jeri, photography is a passion — the perfect photograph being full of quiet intensity and emotion, beautiful lighting, and capturing a memorable fleeting moment.

JUDGES' CHOICE: People Category

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Sunshine for the Soul “This picture is of a dear friend of mine and her newborn son. I was lucky enough to photograph this baby at 18 hours old, and again at three weeks old as seen here. A hand-held light meter is an invaluable tool when working with strong back lit situations such as this.”

Sample of Additional Work by Jeri Tidwell

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Name of Picture “I was commissioned to take a family portrait that included this beautiful young girl. While we were waiting for her father to arrive I took advantage of this wonderful swing. As she swung into the frame I locked my focus, kept the shutter halfway depressed and waited for her to reenter my viewfinder. Click! I work with natural light, and only natural light. I do not find it limiting, because there are locations with magic light such as this!”

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SYDNEY VANATTER

Sydney graduated from Utah State University in 2006 with a BFA in Photography. Having focused mostly on landscapes and studio work in school, she loves shooting candid portraits of her nephews and anyone around her. Whether capturing nature or people in their natural element, Sydney is at home finding the beautiful things around her and sharing them with others.

JUDGES' CHOICE: Nature Category

Roots

Samples of Additional Work by Sydney Vanatter

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Lake Mist I loved going up Logan Canyon to Tony's Grove in the evening when all the people were gone and the sun was setting. I was a little nervous this particular evening since there were cows not too far away munching on some weeds and it was getting darker every second. Waiting for the shutter to close was the longest 30 seconds of my life.

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Sean This photograph of my nephew was taken at the park across the street from our house. Capturing all the faces this kid makes can be challenging but very rewarding. I love this one because it is full of sweetness and wonder.

TODD JOHNS

Todd is a physician in the Washington, D.C. area. He has had an interest in photography ever since he was given an instamatic camera as a child. He particularly enjoys taking landscape photographs, focusing on the amazing light that can be enjoyed early in the morning or in the late afternoon.

JUDGES' CHOICE: Building Category

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Winter Mirage “This image was taken in November when we were experiencing a bout of heavy fog. As I looked out my window and could barely see the neighbor's house across the street, I wondered what the Washington D.C. Temple might look like in the fog. I raced over to the temple and was delighted by the ethereal scene of the temple bathed in light with the fog surrounding the temple.”

JUDGES' CHOICE: Nature Category

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Serene Sunrise “This photograph was taken in the fall in Vermont when my son and I were on a photographic trip. We had stopped in a dense forest shrouded in fog. All of a sudden, the sun broke through the fog, awarding us with a photographic spectacle as amazing shafts of light hit the forest floor. The picture I submitted was the last photograph I took just before the sun was obscured by the fog and the light display was over.”

Samples of Additional Work by Todd Johns

Click to Enlarge ~ Sculpture

Click to Enlarge ~ Rose