Club Competition

Judge: Janet Little Jeffers

Judge’s Statement:

Driven by curiosity and wanderlust, I discover hidden worlds through photography. My practice is one of contemplative exploration in which I am drawn to details in two seemingly disparate subjects: nature, and built environments as nature slowly reclaims them.

Careful observation allows me to find the unexpected in the mundane, and beauty in the eyesore. I get close with the camera to probe intimate elements, often to the point of abstraction. I distill my experience of these subjects by framing deliberate, structured compositions, even in the chaos of the natural world. In the digital darkroom, I process with a light touch, respecting the scene as I found it. What I see is remarkable enough that I don’t feel the need to embellish it.

As I compose these visual worlds, the shifts in scale between the micro and the macro often blur distinctions between the natural and the built. They serve as a reminder of how interwoven our inventions are with the natural environment, and how both can be simultaneously vulnerable and tenacious.

As for my philosophy and approach to judging competitions, of course I am always evaluating the usual standards of technical excellence, but I’m also looking for an image that surprises me, evokes some emotion or mystery, or tells a compelling story. I love seeing creative approaches and witnessing how each individual sees and photographs the world in their own way, so I always enjoy unique viewpoints. As a judge, I am dedicated to providing constructive, respectful, and encouraging feedback.

(Zoom link to be forwarded to members via SYRCAM)