Free and open to the public, this annual contest is an opportunity for our visitors from near or far as well as local community members to showcase their photographs and videos.
Participants are asked to capture the city of Alpine, Texas (and/or its surroundings) in a personal, reflective way to reveal the personality of the town through their eyes. The city itself has a rich history, a variety of architectural and natural landmarks and scenic views of all types and sizes. Through the artist’s own lens and outlook, Alpine’s persona will bloom with high-quality, inspired and surprising imagery.
Entrants have the chance to win one of the following cash prizes.
- H.L. Kokernot, Jr. Memorial Award – $500
(named in honor of the creator of the remarkable Kokernot Field, home of the Alpine Cowboys baseball team) - Henry Charles Trost Memorial Award – $100
(named in honor of the principal designer for Trost & Trost, architects of the historic Holland Hotel and many other signature buildings throughout the region) - Twin Sisters Award – $50
- Hancock Hill Award – $50
- “A” Mountain Award – $50
The 2015 photo contest was judged by E. Dan Klepper, an artist, writer, and photographer based in the west Texas town of Marathon, fifty miles north of Big Bend National Park, where he exhibits his art and photography at Klepper Gallery.
Along with his selections, Klepper offered the following comments about his personal judging process:
“The guidelines I used to judge this contest weren’t necessarily the only guidelines someone could follow when judging photography in general. Instead, they reflected my experience as an artist and photographer creating and selling my own work and providing content to book and magazine editors over the last thirty years. Judging also took into account the experience level and thematic choices found in the over-all entries. Similar themes often arise in contests, this one obviously led by a “shooting alpine” thread, followed by lots of sunsets, some wildlife, and plenty of storms. I kept that in mind as I made my selections.
“These were my guidelines:
- Attention to photographic skills. I looked for evidence that the photographer understood the fundamentals of photography and used them, in creative ways, to produce an image.
- Aesthetic characteristics like composition and design. Although subjective, aesthetics help to draw the eye into the image and keep the viewer exploring what the image has to offer. Elements like color, form, and value make a difference in the overall success of an image. Any production or post-production aides (on site, in-camera, in the darkroom, or through software) as well as the use of camera drones should be employed with intent.
- Narrative and abstract characteristics. I’m always looking for the story in the image, whether it’s portraying an event, a character, idea, or emotion. In abstraction, I look for images that approach abstract concepts in a surprising or enlightening way.
- Mindfulness. Is the photographer paying attention to the world around them? Are they attentive to the dynamics of the action unfolding in front of them? What can the photographer create or capture beyond pretty cloud colors or a bird on a fencepost?”
Klepper’s photographs have been featured in numerous books and magazines including “In Sight”, the online photography magazine for The Washington Post, and his large-scale works of photo-based art can be found in collections across the state. A recent commission, courtesy of the Ford, Powell & Carson architect John Gutzler, featured a large-scale print measuring one-hundred-and-twenty inches by fifty-six inches created for the downtown offices of the San Antonio Area Foundation.
Klepper’s experimental videos, produced throughout the 1980’s, have been showcased in festivals and exhibitions in Europe, the U.S., Canada, and Japan. His book of fine art photography titled “Why the Raven Calls the Canyon”, scheduled for release in the fall of 2016, is being published by Texas A&M University Press. Klepper’s work is also represented by Robert Hughes Gallery, located in San Antonio’s historic Pearl District, and can be found online at www.kleppergallery.com.
View the winners and entries of our previous contests:
- 2014 Photo Contest Winners
- 2014 Video Contest Winners
- 2013 Photo Contest
- 2013 Video Contest
- 2012 Photo Contest
- 2011 Photo Contest
Any questions can be directed to photos@visitalpinetx.com