Sarnia-area teens asked to explore Lambton Through the Lens: contest

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Sarnia-area teens are invited to submit photographs for a juried summer and fall show at the Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery.

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Jurors will select 25 images to be featured along with an exhibition of work by late Canadian photographer Jane Hinton Aug. 2 to Oct. 12 at the downtown Sarnia public gallery.

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Young photographers selected, and their families and friends, will be invited to an artists’ preview event of the show, said Vanitia Campbell, Lambton County Library’s public services co-ordinator.

“I can confidently say, that is my favourite day of the working year,” Campbell said.

“Just to have the moment when we can value our teens in that way, is just great,” she said. “They are excited. Their family members are excited and we, the art gallery and the library, are very excited to have them there.”

Lambton residents, aged 13 to 18, can submit as many as five images each online at lclibrary.ca/teenphotocontest. Entry deadline is July 7.

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“The photo contest has been running in some form for quite a number of years,” Campbell said.

It started at the Sarnia Library before moving to the art gallery, and this is its third year as a juried show. Before, a public votes determined the winners, she said.

Last year, 88 images were entered by 25 entrants.

“We’ve had a really good response since we switched to a juried contest,” Campbell said. “And then the art gallery started creating a full exhibit with the teen artwork being hung alongside photos from professional photographers.”

Richard Beland, a veteran music photographer who runs Lambton College’s photography program, has been part of the juried show since it began, Campbell said.

This year’s jury also includes Sonya Blazek, the gallery’s curator-supervisor, and photographer Arden Mailhiot.

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Campbell said Mailhiot participated in the 2022 contest before attending the Lambton photography program.

“It’s a good confidence boost for our teens,” and a chance to consider pursuing photography as a career after high school, Campbell said.

Images taken with any device, including cellphones, can be entered.

“It’s definitely a lot more accessible than it was a number of years ago, and that’s probably another reason for the increased participation,” Campbell said. “Most people have a phone with a camera, these days.”

“The quality of the camera isn’t necessarily what makes the photo great,” she added.

The theme of this year’s contest is Lambton Through the Lens. Young photographers are being asked to explore what makes Lambton unique, while celebrating its 175th anniversary.

Images can be entered in three categories: Local Icons, Abstract and Romance of Ruin.

Category and overall winners will be announced July 19.

The gallery also will offer three photography workshops for teens in coming months. See the contest website for details.

pmorden@postmedia.com

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