“I hope I win. Oh my God don’t write that!”

By Elizabeth Hunt

Paul Sorensen explains his thoughts about a second 

year image during the Lambton College Image 

Challenge on April 19, 2017 

(Elizabeth Hunt/ Lambton College)

We are wrapping up the school year once again with the Lambton College Digital Photography Image Challenge. Each year, the program hosts a competition for both first and second year students. Judges are brought in from outside of the program to give their expert opinions. The scores are not only used to determine a winner for each category as well as an overall winner, but they also serve as a grade for the assignment. After weeks of planning, shooting, and printing, our students came into class this morning to see if their hard work paid off. The studio was buzzing with excitement as they awaited the arrival of the judges.

This year the judging panel included Craig Glover, Niki Patel and Paul Sorensen. Craig Glover is a graduate and former faculty member of the Fanshawe College photography program, his experience is mostly in photojournalism and corporate photography. Niki Patel is also a graduate from Fanshawe College, as well as a wedding photographer with HRM Photography. Paul Sorensen is a photographer with over three decades of experience. Paul owns Market Visuals in downtown Sarnia and creates printed art for other industry professionals, he also runs workshops and has his work on display at galleries across Cuba. It was safe to say that our student’s prints were in good hands.

As the judges took their seats, the class went silent; the suspense of what was to come next was almost unbearable! The first year images were judged in the morning starting with the nature category. As each image was critiqued, classmates knowingly made eye contact from across the room. Subtle congratulations were given through smiles and pats on the back while the students listened intently at the judges’ comments, trying to absorb as much information as possible.

Craig Glover critiques a second year image 

during the Lambton College Image Challenge 

on April 19, 2017 (Elizabeth Hunt/ Lambton College)

Once the first year competition was over, the first year students were able to breathe a sigh of relief. Scott Orchard confessed that he was “glad the stress is over, but I definitely have a good idea of where I need to go”. Shawna Lavoie was happy to comment on how “the judges’ critiques were really helpful because of their different backgrounds”. The first year students were free, but the second year students were eager to receive feedback on their prints.

Nervousness set in during lunch as the second year’s awaited judging. Christina Watts admitted that she was “rethinking the images I submitted”. Emily Nutson explained how “it was more of a challenge this year” since the second years were to submit more images into less categories. Although some of our second year students were feeling a little anxious, many of them, like Gina Robertson were “looking forward to the constructive feedback”.

As the judging came to an end, students were able to relax knowing that they had all done a good job. Craig Glover said that he was “blown away with the quality of the work”. Niki Patel agreed that “the work was very impressive”. Overall our students can confirm that the image challenge was a great way to enrich the program. Shawna Lavoie commented that “It was a good learning experience”, while Lisa Marshall-Cattran expressed how she “really appreciated the feedback”.

Winners of each category, and Overall First and Second year Winners will be presented next week at a year-end awards dinner in Sarnia. 

A HUGE THANK-YOU to our guest judges Paul Sorensen / Niki Patel / Craig Glover for spending a very long day judging our Image Challenge.  Without them there would be no contest. 
We very much appreciate your time, professionalism and the feed back offered to the students in attendance.

Judges Paul Sorensen, Nikki Patel, and Craig Glover (pictured left to right) critique an image during the first year portion of the Lambton College Image Challenge on April 20th, 2017 (Elizabeth Hunt/ Lambton College)

Former Student, Nikoo Shahabi Sirjani, makes an appearance in a second year image during the Lambton College Image Challenge on April 19, 2017 (Elizabeth Hunt/ Lambton College)

Teresa Perry and Dave Chidley give the judges a quick overview of the images in the first year “people” category before they are judged individually (Elizabeth Hunt/ Lambton College)

Franky MacDonald-Thomas watches as his image is critiqued during the Lambton College Image Challenge on April 19, 2017 (Elizabeth Hunt/ Lambton College)

Bryce Ottewell listens to the judges’ comments as they critique his image during the Lambton College Image Challenge on April 19, 2017 (Elizabeth Hunt/ Lambton College)

Teresa Perry removes an image after it is critiqued during the Lambton College Image Challenge on April 19, 2017 (Elizabeth Hunt/ Lambton College)