A Thousand Words

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  • Winners of the 2019 Sulphur Springs Photography Exhibit for the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk held in October were Bobbie Dyer (center) with “Solitude” in first place, Dillon Harred (right) in third place with “Untitled” and in third place, Steve Hack with his untitled photo. Staff photos by Jillian Smith
    Winners of the 2019 Sulphur Springs Photography Exhibit for the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk held in October were Bobbie Dyer (center) with “Solitude” in first place, Dillon Harred (right) in third place with “Untitled” and in third place, Steve Hack with his untitled photo. Staff photos by Jillian Smith
  • “Solitude” by Bobbie Dyer, first place
    “Solitude” by Bobbie Dyer, first place
  • “Untitled” by Dillon Harred, second place
    “Untitled” by Dillon Harred, second place
  • “Untitled” by Steve Hack, third place
    “Untitled” by Steve Hack, third place
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Local photographers craft award-winning art

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Winners of the Sulphur Springs chapter of the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk were announced at a reception Saturday afternoon at City Hall. The exhibit included photo prints from 20 participants in this year’s contest.

Billie Ruth Standbridge, representing the sponsoring Downtown Business Alliance, named Denise Givney and Myra Watson as honorable mentions.

In first place was Bobbie Dyer of Darkroom Idea Photography for her submission entitled “Solitude.” Second place was awarded to last year’s first-place winner Dillon Harred for an untitled photo. Also with an untitled submission was Steve Hack in third place.

The submissions will be available for public viewing at Two Twins on Gilmer Street until after the holidays, and then at local banks after the first of the year.

“This Sulphur Springs photography exhibit is the effort of two combined contests, the World Wide Photo Walk and 5 Year Marathon Photo Contest, Italy,” a release from organizers read.

Billie Ruth Standbridge and Perry Altenbaumer, both of Sulphur Springs, began the local photo walk eight years ago. In the third year, they joined with the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk and last year with the 5 Year Marathon Photo Contest.

The Sulphur Springs Downtown Business Alliance is a sponsor of the local photo walk, which is part of the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk contest, that takes place in October.

Area photographers, both amateur and professional, gathered in downtown Sulphur Springs to spend the morning walking through the streets and around Heritage Park, taking pictures to submit to the local contest.

There are two leaders for each walk held, and this year’s leaders for Sulphur Springs were professional photographer Isabel Reyna and Chad Kopal, professional videographer and owner of Chad’s Media. The two also judged for the local walk.

Only one submission from the Sulphur Springs walk was submitted to the international level, pitting it against photos taken around the world. Last year, 17,000 photographers participated, and Dillon Harred, second-place winner for the 2019 local walk, was awarded honorable mention in the worldwide walk.

Winners for the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk have not yet been announced.

The DBA has also partnered with Casa Regis, a nonprofit cultural art center in Italy, for a second competition, the 5 Year Marathon Photo Contest, which began in 2018.

Mikelle Standbridge, daughter of Billie Ruth Standbridge, runs Casa Regis and is the judge for this contest. Participants submit three photos a year for five years. Each is awarded points for their submissions, which accumulate over the five years. The winner is the photographer with the most points and will be the recipient of a trip to Italy to stay at Casa Regis. Billie Ruth Standbridge will sponsor the airfare for the winner, and Mikelle Standbridge will sponsor the lodging.

Currently, 15 area photographers are participating.

To follow the 5 Year Marathon Photo Contest and Casa Regis in Italy, visit www.casaregis.org.

Anyone interested in participating in the next Worldwide Photo Walk can contact Billie Ruth Standbridge via email at billieruth1234@gmail.com for notification in September 2020.