City Hall was alight on Oct. 19 for a special event honoring those who took and submitted photos representing their city of North Salt Lake. All photos submitted were displayed and guests were able to select a “People’s Choice” award in both the children and adult categories. The last year’s winners were placed on easels for all to see what was hanging in the City Hall from the previous year. Energy was high as many prominent citizens of North Salt Lake and photographers congregated in the council room. The photos were then flashed on the available screens in the room as winners were announced and awarded a gift card.

Children division winners:

1st place: Kayla Child (snowy school bus in front of church)

2nd place: Tressa De Mzee (playground with dramatic shadows and sky)

3rd place: Anna Feistel (sun shot fall trees)

Adult division winners:

1st place: Larry Witkowski (moose cooling in golf course lake)

2nd place: Scott Lalliss (fiery sunset)

3rd place: Diane Romrell (canyon sunset)

To see the winners, visit city hall during business hours throughout the next year. If you have a good eye and a cell phone or camera and see beauty all around your hometown, you may consider snapping a shot or two and then submitting your best to the contest next year. The photo contest has been going on for three years now and submissions are due in October. The pictures need to be taken in North Salt Lake, but don’t have to follow any certain theme. Beautiful nature shots dominated this year’s contest, though a striking shot of a playground structure bathed in neon red won the People’s Choice award. The People’s Choice award in the children’s division was a thick, lightning bolt connecting a menacing cloud to a distant mountain.

Braxton Wilhelmson, a talented artist, and commercial photographer, then displayed his amazing photography while sharing important elements of a great photo. Lighting is key. Taking pictures of people in shadow or with a side light can avoid the problem of dark, shadowed eyes and faces. Using the portrait mode available on many cell phones allows for the blurred background that can emphasize the people in the photos. A more advance camera can reduce the depth of field to achieve this. A good photo does not have large blocks of empty space, so plan to get interests in all areas. In fact, conceptualizing the shot you want beforehand can be key to success. Always consider your audience. Cell phone filters tend to degrade the original photo. Choosing beautiful subjects that elicit an emotional response could produce the next winner.λ