By Chet Williamson

Sometimes less really is more. Such is the case with this year's photo contest. While we were disappointed by the declining number of submissions, the judges were delighted by the quality of the work.

In previous years, the average number of pieces we've received has been 100 to 125. This year, we received 93 submissions. Should we blame the economy?

Upon seeing the collection, the first thing we noticed was color — more than half the submissions fell into that category. With the advent of the digital revolution, it's obvious that more and more photographers are shooting this way. While black & white had been the flavor of choice in other annuals, lime greens, pastel pinks and sky blues were abundant this time around.

Speaking of categories, the judges introduced a new grouping for the Class of 2008. In addition to color, people populate the assembly — faces, lots of them, willingly reach out for attention. In a nod to all the mugs, the judges instituted the new group of "personality" photographs.

The winners were seasoned veterans, former winners and newcomers alike. And many of the photogs shared that certain quality that makes the Worcester Magazine Photo Contest such an anticipated annual event - they're shutterbugs who constantly find new and different, creative and surprising ways of looking at Worcester.

You can see the work of the winners, honorable mentions and also-rans at the upcoming 70-plus piece exhibition in the Aurora Gallery at ARTSWorcester, 660 Main St., May 16 through May 23. The opening reception takes place at 6 p.m. on May 16, featuring Turtle Boy Award-winning singer/songwriter Dan Burke. After the show ends, all photographs can be picked up on Tuesday, May 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. at gallery. Congratulations and thanks to all who participated.

COLOR

First Place: Gage Street by Erika Sidor

It was unanimous. All four judges chose this photo as the winner in this category. Sidor, a former contest winner, is the staff photographer for Worcester State College. When informed that she had won, Sidor remarked, "And, I thought it would just live as a 5x7 on my ‘fridge for ever and ever."

Gage Street was shot with a digital camera, standing on the third floor porch of fellow photographer Stephen DiRado.

"I wanted to try and get an interesting perspective on that whole area," she explains. "I really like the way the three-deckers are all crowded together. It's nice to be able to see the glow of the city behind it. It's a little bit of Shrewsbury Street on to downtown. I like to do long exposures at night."

Second Place: Hanover Renovations by Erika Sidor

While the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts was undergoing renovations, for a couple of weeks the back wall was torn down to expand the stage. It exposed the venue to the elements and made for a great photo-op.

"It was just something that I saw one night," Sidor says. "The sky was just this amazing blue. It was illuminated and beautiful. It was as if the building was a can of anchovies. They just peeled off the back of it."

Third Place: Paxton Town Hall by Michael Nigro

A former Paxton town clerk retired a few years ago and Nigro presented this photo as a retirement gift. "It is a gyclee print," he says. "That is the second one. It's about three years old. I took it during a light snow, with a digital camera, a Canon 10D. It's printed on a watercolor paper."

Nigro is a retired trial lawyer who says, "I'm 62 and I've been taking pictures all my life, but I really got into it with the advent of digital imaging. I used to take my work to color labs for enlargements and they were never right.

"Photography is my second life," he adds, "as long as it doesn't interfere with my golf game."

BLACK & WHITE

First Place: Water Street by Dick Taylor

The judges were fascinated by the texture of this photograph. The buildings look like they've been affected by acid rain. "It's just because I made it grainy," says Taylor. "Then I pushed the contrast a little bit. I shot it in digital."

Other than taking a photography course at Worcester State College in 1990, Taylor is largely self-taught. "I've been taking photos off and on for a long time, but really haven't done a lot with it," he admits. "I really started doing stuff with digital in 2006, because you can control it more."

Second Place: Edgemere Diner by John Solaperto

An honorable mention winner last year, Solaperto is a local singer of note. Back in the day, he fronted The End. These days he is the learning resource manager at Quinsigamond Community College, where he also teaches a couple of courses on digital photography.

For the diner shot, Solaperto says, "I looked inside and I couldn't get in. So I wiped the window off. I had a really fast 50-millimeter lens. I pressed it up against the window and made some shots from both sides. That's why it is such a shallow depth of field. I had to open the aperture all the way up."

Third Place: Wonderland by Nanette Ginns

Another former honorable mention winner, Ginns says she learned a great deal about photography by being in local camera clubs, namely the Seven Hills Camera Club in Worcester, and the Gateway Camera Club in Framingham. A former teacher and computer programmer, she says, "I've been shooting since I was pregnant with my son, who is now 30."

Wonderland was taken at Tower Hill Botanic Garden. "I went to enjoy the daffodils on a Sunday," she says. "I was doing some photography of flowers and enjoying the afternoon. I spotted what looked like a bride and groom in the daffodils. So I started taking photographs of them. I just thought she looked beautiful."

PERSONALITY

In addition to being a staff photographer at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Collins is a former First Place Worcester Magazine photo contest winner.

Although the shot looks like an assignment, Collins says it could have been, but wasn't. "I was riding down the street and saw these cops with this guy up against the wall, frisking him. I stopped to see if it was a spot news event. When I was starting to photograph him, his friends said, ‘Hey, take our picture.'

"Often when people say ‘take my picture' you don't want to — it's mugging. These guys were mugging of course, but they thought they were the picture. I kept the background in the frame. They are of course giving their signs and I have no idea what it means."

Second Place: Weathered Worcester Icon: Portrait of Woodi Allaire by Zabelle D'Amico

Zabelle D'Amico is another familiar name in local photography circles. She began her career as a photographer while working as a reporter at The Landmark in Holden. As D'Amico rightfully describes her, Woodi Allaire is also well-known in art orbits. For years she ran the Atwood Gallery in town.

"It was her face that got me," D'Amico says. "I had in my head to do her portrait. Years ago, I had seen a Georgia O'Keeffe portrait that struck me. There were a number of shots that I wanted to do — one of which was on that wonderful sofa. I used natural light. It was a beautiful morning and moment."

Third Place: Urban Garden by Christina O'Neill

A recognized painter as well as a noted photographer who has done cover photography for specialty publications at New England Business Media, O'Neill is an editor at The Warren Group.

Urban Garden was taken in the summer of 2005. She won the shot as an assignment for Common Pathways. "I took a series of photographs for use in their brochures," O'Neill says. "They had this urban garden where basically the community can go and grow stuff. It is off Providence Street on Vernon Hill. I just liked the poses, especially the little one who is wearing the pink dress. She is holding that squash like it's gold. I just love that."

Honorable Mentions

Solomon's Spring by Vasso Galanis

Can't Earn Heaven by Craig Polewaczyk

Grounded by Richard Reynolds

Break Wheels Yellow by Don Ricklin

One Way by Cory Taylor

Let it Reign by Dick Taylor

This Way by Dick Taylor

Night Out by Brendan Wolfe

Eternal Sunshine by David Yates

The judges were Allen Fletcher, chairman of Worcester Publishing Ltd.; Jan Seymour, executive director of ARTSWorcester; Worcester Magazine Editor-in-Chief Noah Bombard and Jeff Loughlin, Worcester Magazine staff photographer.

Details

Where: Aurora Gallery at ARTSWorcester, 660 Main St.

When: May 16-23

Call: 508-755-5142 / www.artsworcester.org

The opening reception will be held on Friday, May 16 at 6 p.m., featuring singer/songwriter Dan Burke

Photo Contest Entrants

Yvonne Ashworth - Jenna Baronoski - Lisa Barthelson - Cheryl Belanger - Lora Brueck - Jim Collins - Zabelle D'Amico - Charleen DeLuca - Donna Dufault - Rick English - Scott Erb - Joan Gage - Vasso Galanis - John Gaumond - Nanette Ginns - Rebecca Glassen - Igor Gurbanov - Gordon Larrivee - Max Mathias - Ned Mancini - Alex Moore - Leo Nalivaika - Daisy Nichols - Michael Nigro - Doris O'Keefe - Christina O'Neill - Jennifer Park - Mark Peterson - Craig Polewaczyk - Richard Reynolds - Don Ricklin - Susan Sedgwick - Anthony Segman - Erika Sidor - John Solaperto - Cory Taylor - Dick Taylor - Anna Wahlgren - Brendan Wolfe and David Yates