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P O W E L L, W y o. - Many of the images selected for awards at the Photographic Institute of the Yellowstone's 2007 Photo Expo in Billings, Mont., (including best of show) can now be seen locally in an exhibit displayed in the SinClair Gallery at Northwest College.
NWC photography students made a clean sweep of all awards given in the student category at the April 14 and 15 Photographic Institute of the Yellowstone (PIY) Photo Expo. Five of the students' award-winning images, including best of show, were taken in Southeast Asia during a March field study class. They are currently displayed in "The Similarities Between Our Differences: Vietnam/Cambodia 2007," an exhibit featuring select photos taken by the students who traveled with the field studies class.
Images taken by NWC freshman photographer Andy Peterson of Billings, Mont., earned the most and the highest recognition at the PIY expo. In the student category, he earned first place and two honorable mentions, but he really showcased his skill by claiming overall best of show. Peterson's image of a young Cambodian child peeking out of a bamboo shelter was judged the best in all categories, which included 450 images taken by student, amateur and professional photographers.
Peterson's Best of Show photo was taken in March on an NWC photo field trip to Southeast Asia. He described the floating village where he took this shot as a "very sad place." The trip introduced Peterson to several impoverished places like this one, as well as many beautiful natural and historical sites. He had never been out of North America before and called the trip an "eye-opening experience."
Northwest swept up the remaining student awards as well. Sophomore Nicole Hammer, formerly of Malta and now living in Powell, took second in the student category and Jordan Webber, a sophomore from Billings, placed third. Toni Snelling, a NWC freshman from Billings, earned an honorable mention.
NWC students weren't the only ones who wowed the judges with their work. Katie Lazzaretti of Gillette, a 2006 Northwest graduate, took first place in the amateur division, and Anthony Polvere, an NWC photography instructor, took home an honorable mention and second place in the professional division.
"The Similarities Between Our Differences: Vietnam/Cambodia 2007" will hang in SinClair Gallery through Sept. 14. Located in the Orendorff Building, the gallery is open during the summer from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-noon Fridays. Admission is free.