The Pittsburg County 4-H Photography Contest is patterned after Section 302 in the County Fair Book. 4-H members can utilize these entries for the 2024 County Fair but could not have entered these items in the 2023 County Fair. We had 59 entries this year. Results for this event were as follows:

Junior Grand Champion (grades 3-7)

Brytne McCombs, Blocker 4-H

Junior Reserve Grand Champion

Harley Durossette

Senior Grand Champion (grades 8-12)

Hailey Stephan, Frink-Chambers 4-H

Senior Reserve Grand Champion

Ember Duffy, Haileyville 4-H

Ribbon winners were as follows:

Blue Ribbons-

Blocker 4-H-Crystal Hollingshead, Samantha Shafer, Lucas Allen (3 ribbons), Brytne McCombs (2), Josiah Durossette (2), Harley Durossette (2); Crowder-Solar Starr (2); Frink-Chambers-Hailey Stephan, Marco Martinez, Louis Martinez, Jagger McCabe, Addie Dixon, Landri Henry, Sadie Miller, Landyn Willie; Haileyville-Asyrian Seegel (3), Ember Duffy, Aleah McGuire, Kristian Langton, Aubrie Whitehouse (2); Lakewood-Brielle Roberts (2); Parker 4-H-Teagan Devries (2); Puterbaugh 4-H-Eyan Madden.

Red Ribbons-

Blocker 4-H-Samantha Shafer, Crystal Hollingshead (2); Frink-Chambers-Adalyn Yancey, Sayler Melton, Louis Martinez, Jagger McCabe (2), Addie Dixon; Haileyville-Asyrian Seegel; Lakewood-Jessica Gragert (2), Jadelynn Gragert (2).

Green Participation Ribbons (Clover-buds grades K-2)-

Blocker 4-H-Emmerlynn Allen (2 ribbons), Gabriel Durossette (2); Frink-Chambers-Ansley Willie, Raelyn Willie; Haileyville-Rylee McGuire, Jade Isom.

For more information about this and other 4-H events and activities please give us a call at 423-4120 or email me at greg.owen@okstate.edu.

Mastering the subtle art of capturing extraordinary photographs often hinges on recognizing and responding to the unique signals present in our environment. This fantastic tutorial delves into this nuanced aspect of photography, underscoring its pivotal role in elevating a photographer’s work from mundane to magnificent.

Coming to you from Alex Kilbee with The Photographic Eye, this insightful video sheds light on the critical importance of tuning into various cues that potentially lead to capturing great photographs. Kilbee discusses how legendary photographers harness light, perspective, and even the tactile nature of subjects to create images that resonate on a deeper level. He introduces the concept of the “squint method,” a technique for simplifying scenes to identify compelling photographic subjects by blurring detail and focusing on shapes, forms, and colors. Kilbee’s narrative emphasizes the necessity of shifting perspectives and exploring different angles, illustrating how such approaches can unveil photographs that might otherwise remain hidden. His discussion about the tactile sensations photographs can evoke further illustrates the depth and dimensionality that texture adds to an image, enhancing its connection with the viewer.

Moreover, Kilbee touches on the often-debated topic of color versus black and white photography. He argues that the choice between the two should be dictated by the photograph’s ability to convey emotion and narrative rather than by personal preference alone. He references Fan Ho’s work to exemplify how some images gain strength from the absence of color, focusing instead on light, shadow, and form to tell a more compelling story. The video encourages photographers to remain open to the myriad possibilities each scene presents, advocating for a mindset free from preconceptions and fixed ideas. By doing so, photographers can become more receptive to the “signals” that guide them towards creating truly great photographs. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Kilbee.

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