Westport, CT -- The Westport Arts Center and the Westport Farmers’ Market have announced the winners of the third annual Young Shoots student digital photography competition.
The competition, jointly created by the two Westport non-profit organizations, was designed to provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate their creativity through the digital photography medium, and to showcase the local color and vibrancy of the Westport Farmers’ Market.
Over 70 photographs of the Westport Farmers’ Market were submitted by kids and teens ages 8-18 from across Fairfield County. The subject matter ranged from rhubarb to jump ropes to honey bees.
Jurors for the competition were Lillie Fortino, Director of Education for the Westport Arts Center; Eileen Sawyer, a local photographer and member of the Westport Farmers’ Market Board of Directors; and Stephanie Webster, Editor-in-Chief for CTbites.com.
First place winners in each age group won the opportunity to co-lead a photo shoot at The Whelk restaurant with renowned chef Bill Taibe and a $100 cash prize. Second place winners received a $50 cash prize. Fan Favorite winners for each age group, selected by the public, received a one-year membership to the Westport Arts Center and a Westport Farmers’ Market t-shirt.
Following are the selected winners and photographs:
Ages 8-10:
- First Place: A Bouquet of Lettuce, Samantha Henske
- Second Place: Buzzzz, Samantha Sandrew
- Fan Favorite: One in a Million, Samantha Henske
Ages 11-14:
- First Place: Back To Our Roots, Josh Suggs
- Second Place: Chrysanthemums, Olivia Toth
- Fan Favorite: Apple of My Eye, Josh Suggs
Ages 15-18:
- First Place: Happy Rhubarb, Lili Dowell
- Second Place: Untitled (Jump Rope): Claire Langdon
- Fan Favorite: Colorful Beginnings, Sarah Maybruck
The students were honored Tuesday night in a gallery-like reception at Sugar & Olives restaurant in Norwalk.
Samantha Henske, First Place winner for the Ages 8-10 category said of her A Bouquet of Lettuce photo, “I just loved how the lettuce looked like a flower too.”
Samantha Sandew, Second Place winner for the Ages 8-10 category stated, “I worked really hard to get the right angle to give the [face-shaped honey jar] an expression.”
For more information on Young Shoots and other youth and teen programs at the Westport Arts Center, please call 203/222-7070 or visit westportartscenter.org.