Themed Competition – Water
January 15, 2025 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Judge: Janet Little Jeffers
Website: https://www.janetjeffers.com
Bio: Janet Jeffers is a visual artist using photography to explore intimate and abstract details in the natural and built worlds. Her photographic process is based on a practice of mindful exploration and discovery. Jeffers received her BA from Towson University and MA in Publications Design from University of Baltimore, and worked in the fields of graphic design, interior design, and broadcasting, before committing to a full-time career as a visual artist. Her work has been featured in solo exhibitions, including the Baltimore World Trade Center, the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, and the Hoffberger Gallery, as well as group exhibitions at PhotoPlace Gallery in Burlington, Vermont; Maryland Hall for the Arts; Jo Fleming Contemporary in Annapolis, Maryland; Y:Art in Baltimore, Maryland; and Baltimore Clayworks, amongst others. She has been featured in print and online publications, including Décor Magazine and UpstArt Magazine. Permanent installations of her work include large-scale installations, such as wall and window murals, and are installed in organizations and spaces such as Pharmaceutics International, Inc., University of Maryland Medical Systems, Catholic University, Addison Row in Washington, DC, and The Juniper in Columbia, Maryland.
Artist 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.
Theme Definition:
Water photography refers to any photo that emphasizes water as the main visual element or primary subject of the image. This includes lakes, oceans, beaches, rivers, pools, ponds, waterfalls, and puddles. But don’t limit yourself. Water photos can also include subject matter like kids playing in water, people walking in the rain, dogs playing in the sprinkler, water splashes or drops, etc. Click here for some examples of Water photographs.
The following links provide more information on taking water themed photos.
https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/photography/discover/water-photography.html