The "Contestant turned Judge" Story

It was an ordinary day. Just got back from the Lancaster Museum of Art where I was judging the Scholastic Art and Photography Contest. For years, when I taught school, I would have my students enter the photography section of the contest. They had to, as a matter of fact. It was one of the requirements of the course. I always felt that they should have their work judged by someone other than their teacher. I had many talented students who eventually became professional photographers. Keith G., my boss at Grebinger Gallery, where I now work part-time, was a former student who entered prints in the contest. Jerry D., who has a thriving stock photo business, won a full scholarship to Savannah School of Art and Design because of the contest. Carolyn J. is a professional photographer in NY who did very well in the contest. The list goes on and on. My own son Tad decided to go to Antonelli's School of Photography because of his success in the contest. My daughter Brynn won a national award while in middle school which we traveled to Boston to receive. And ..... today I was one of the judges that may lead someone else into the field of photography. Pretty neat! A few weeks ago I got a call from Jim G. who taught art in the room next to me in high school. He was helping with the show and asked if I would be one of the judges for the photography section of the contest. I was honored! I was sent an email with the guidelines, but knew them by heart after having students enter the contest for over 30 years. Photos accepted into the contest could receive an Honorable Mention, a Silver Key, or a Gold Key. Gold Key winners traveled to the National Competition. At noon today I entered the Lancaster Museum of Art and met Amanda F. who had contacted me about time and date. She told me that one of the judges was ill and only Scott W., a professor of art and photography at F&M College, and I would be doing the judging. After meeting Scott, we sat in front of an iMac computer and the images we were to judge were shown on the screen. Much different that years ago when there would be a helper to hold the individual photos in front of the judges. To my disappointment I found that there were only 9 entries. I told them that I would sometimes have 250-300 entries just from my students. 9 ENTRIES!! The contest had been discontinued in Lancaster for a few years because of lack of interest among schools and volunteers. This year was the first year in four years that it was being held again. Could be the reason for the low turnout. There was one entry in the Middle School area and 8 in the High School area. Scott and I decided that all should be in the show. The one photo in the MS category we gave an Honorable Mention and we gave Gold Keys to 5 of the 8 in the HS category. The Lancaster Museum of Art is center city Lancaster in an old mansion. Beautiful building. I did manage to view the portraitures on display by photographer Hank O'Neal before I left. I enjoyed being part of the Scholastic competition again and took my job seriously. Hope to be asked again next year. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - pixs from the top are outside view of the Lancaster Museum of Art, the judging table with Amanda, Scott and myself, and inside the gallery showing the portraitures of Hank O'Neal