Creativity Pays Off for Iowa Photographers in State Fair Competition

DES MOINES, IA (08/15/2009)(readMedia)-- Megan Pitt of Altoona and Peter LaMair of West Des Moines earned Best of Show honors in the Photography Salon competition judged prior to the 2009 Iowa State Fair.

Pitt's entry, "Spring Showers," won her $500 for Best of Show in the Adult Division. LaMair earned $250 for Best of Show in the Youth Division with his entry, "Water Drop."

Judges reviewed a record 4587 entries for consideration and awarded $7,675 in prize money to the most creative and engaging black and white and color photos. The theme for this year's specialty division was "Iowa County Courthouses."

Winning entries from each division will be on display throughout the Fair in the Patty and Jim Cownie Cultural Center, open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Additional results below:

ADULT DIVISION: COLOR

1) Monte Nutzman, West Des Moines

2) Shannon R. Klaus, Grimes

3) Stacey J. Leerhoff, Clarksville

People

1) Jason Bradwell, Des Moines

2) Darci Hartman, Altoona

3) Heather Johnson, Martensdale

Iowa Places

1) Kathleen Hoard, Madrid

2) Jason P. Murphy, Pleasant Hill

3) Emily Howard, Clive

USA Places

1) Jessica Clinton, West Des Moines

2) Alanna Eng, Urbandale

3) Edvardo Ibanez, West Des Moines

International Places

1) Rose Mayo, Des Moines

2) Ted Reynolds, Des Moines

3) Randy Campbell, Pleasant Hill

Things / Still Life

1) Susie Thompson, Urbandale

2) Jason Bradwell, Des Moines

3) Hellen Freude, Des Moines

Plants / Flowers

1) Dave Wildes, West Des Moines

2) Ben Dixon, West Des Moines

3) Susie Thompson, Urbandale

Animals / Insects / Wildlife

1) Jean Melick, Cedar Falls

2) Tammi Howell, Mingo

3) Lisa Bailey, Spirit Lake

ADULT DIVISION: BLACK & WHITE

1) Jody Halling, Perry

2) Wyatt Drew, Greenwood, NE

3) Johnny T. Trost, Booneville

People

1) Megan Brant, West Des Moines

2) Jann Freed, Des Moines

3) Brenda Strauss, Creston

Places

1) Christian Ewoldt, Altoona

2) Michael Larsen, Polk City

3) Dwight Brown, Ankeny

Things / Still Life

1) Darren Montufar, West Des Moines

2) Dwight Brown, Ankeny

3) Adrianna Bell, Des Moines

Plants / Flowers

1) Chuck Carpenter, Johnston

2) Harlen Persinger, Grundy Center

3) Barb Russell, Newton

Animals / Insects / Wildlife

1) Zsanette Buchanan, Des Moines

2) Ann Jorgensen, Garrison

3) Dawn Mikkelson, Sioux City

YOUTH DIVISION: BLACK & WHITE OR COLOR

1) Kyra Troendle, Randall

2) Patrick Kinley, West Des Moines

3) Nicole Cook, Pleasantville

People

1) Kaylee Maasdam, Sully

2) Kyle Soyer, Johnston

3) Grace Millsap, Waukee

Places

1) Katie Ruebel, Des Moines

2) David Warner, Cedar Rapids

3) Rebecca Osthus, Des Moines

Things / Still Life

1) Rebecca Osthus, Des Moines

2) Alli Haney, West Des Moines

3) Abby Coleman, Ankeny

Plants / Flowers

1) Benjamin Muller, Pella

2) Thomas Harmon, Otis, KS

3) Mandy Teig, Jewell

Animals / Insects / Wildlife

1) Gabriel Turner, Des Moines

2) Ryan Schneider, Riverside

3) Sarah Thacker, Nevada

SPECIAL DIVISION: BLACK & WHITE OR COLOR

Anything Goes!

1) Dave Corbett, Des Moines

2) Bob Rude, Coralville

3) Karl Kaufman, Des Moines

Toned, Tinted or Solarized

1) Barbie Ahrens-Lowry, Montezuma

2) Kelly Boothroyd, Boone

3) Jason Michael Becker, Des Moines

Sports

1) Kathleen M. Hanika, Urbandale

2) Janene Kling, Bondurant

3) Tom Vogt, Fort Dodge

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

1) Juan Fernadez de Castro, Iowa City

2) Dean A. Teeter, Urbandale

3) Ben Dixon, West Des Moines

Fairs, Festivals & Parades

1) Jim McGraw, Ankeny

2) Terry Kruse, Clive

3) Jake Joseph, West Des Moines

Downtown Places & Faces

1) Kim Adams, Ames

2) Greg Bal, Iowa City

3) Terri Sinclair, Cumming

Iowa Architecture

1) Mandy Teig, Jewell

2) Dehbora Jensen, Creston

3) Larry A. Bradshaw, Des Moines

PHOTO AWARDS

Best of Color (Adult): Bryan S. Latchaw, Oskaloosa

Best of Black & White (Adult): Diane Darnielle, Des Moines

Superintendent's Choice (Adult Color): Kevin Powell, West Des Moines

Superintendent's Choice (Adult Black & White): Kara Heinzig, Ankeny

Best of Color (Youth): Max Horsman, Altoona

Best of Black & White (Youth): Nicole Hindman, Cedar Rapids

Superintendent's Choice (Youth Color): Michael J. Vaclav II, Ames

Superintendent's Choice (Youth Black & White): Peter LaMair, West Des Moines

"State Fair Time" in 2009 is set August 13-23. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th Street and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines and are open 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. each day of the Fair. Exhibit hours vary. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or check out www.iowastatefair.org.

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