THE PEACEFUL PRAIRIE
Chris Attrell is the winner of our Saskatchewan summer photo contest with this evocative image called The Last Ride shot at night at a derelict farm house near Moose Jaw. See all the entrants at thestarphoenix.com.
There is nothing like the beauty of a Saskatchewan summer. Our recent photo contest proved this to the world with colourful and emotional images that captured the fun and beauty that come with warmer weather. Congratulations to the grand prize winner, Chris Attrell, whose image The Last Ride appears above and who will receive $200 cash from co-sponsor Don’s Photo. Other selected photos appear in this edition of the paper.
To see all the entries, check out thestarphoenix.com
1 THE LAST RIDE by Chris Attrell
Taken at night in the Moose Jaw area; a car parked in front of a farmhouse using flashlights to light it up.
Comments: This is a great photo of a scene often viewed from the highway during summer road trips in Saskatchewan. Photographer showed technical skills by lighting up the abandoned house and car.
2 HILDA’S GROVE by Allan Duddridge
My mother, Hilda Duddridge, stands in a field of bright yellow flowering canola on the farm one mile south of Hanley. My grandparents, Charlie and Ethel Duddridge, farmed this land in the 1920s. My father, Lew Duddridge, grew up on this farm, then enlisted as a pilot in the RCAF during WW II. When he returned with his Welsh war bride, Hilda, they acquired the farm in the 1940s. While raising four children, my mother found time to plant a grove of Scotch Pines that are visible in the background. Comments: Canola fields are a Saskatchewan summer staple. This is a nice, bright portrait of Hilda — you can see her personality shine through and that she is proud of this farm she helped grow. This was one of few portraits submitted that told a story.
3 LAKE LOVE by Amanda Dalglish
Saskatchewan is known for its many lakes and living skies. This was taken in Saskatchewan’s Prince Albert National Park, at Waskesiu Lake at dusk from the main beach in the town site.
Comments: A nice silhouette of a couple and their three dogs at the lake. The bench is distracting so I would have framed the moment differently, but I was happy to see people included in the photograph instead of just a sunset.
4 1 IN 20 YEAR THUNDERSTORM by Ashley Atcheynum
A storm that rolled through the Battlefords and caused localized flooding; although there was flooding, the scenery was a sight to be seen!
Comments: Great storm photo. The wide angle lens and composition help make the storm clouds come alive.
5 CLEAR WATER, BRIGHT SKIES by Nicholas Gabruch
No Saskatchewan summer is complete without a few nights under our gorgeous skies! This photo was captured in August last year at Nemeiben Lake, near La Ronge. It boasts night skies with virtually no light pollution, which allows the stars and the Milky Way galaxy to be observed clearly with the naked eye. The photo was selected by Premier Brad Wall to be used for his Facebook “cover photo” because of its depiction of this province’s living skies, and lake-dominated landscapes.
Comments: Great photo of the night sky looking out at your dock at the lake. Stars are bright and reflected in the calm water.
6 LITTLE SCHOOLHOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE by Averil Hall
Taken near Val Marie and the entrance to Grasslands National Park. This building was used as a church and a school in days gone by. Now it is a picturesque spot where the birds like to hang out. On this early morning on July 16, 2017 you could see rain in the distance and the sun on top of the clouds. The rain that had fallen previously made the colours really come alive in the swaying grasses.
Comments: Composition and mood of the image is really nice but I feel it is over-edited — the saturation or vibrancy is increased too much in post production.
To see all the entries, check out thestarphoenix.com