PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE YEAR
The ArtQuest Photographer of the Year is an exclusive annual project for our Photo Social members. Each year, we introduce a unique theme that becomes the creative focus for the community. Over the course of the year, members explore the theme through their photography, with ongoing education, discussions, and inspiration provided during, all building toward the recognition of one photographer whose work best captures the spirit of the theme.
ArtQuest Photographer of the Year
2023- DREAMS
Danielle Denis
Artist Statement:
Often when dreaming, I visit strange and unusual places. Fuelled by imagination, experiences, and emotions, my mind puts together familiar elements, but presents them in unnatural ways.Warping and transitioning between spaces, I feel transported to an alien version of my dimension.These photographs seek to capture the feeling of being in a strange yet familiar place. Bringing together natural and abstract elements, light and dark, I seek to evoke the astral sense that accompanies these dreams.
This body of work was brought to life using instant film; each print manipulated by hand to create unique transparencies. This manipulation process creates a distinct etched texture and broken edges, further echoing the ephemeral nature of dreaming. The translucent images are masked and mounted in pairs, creating analog photomontages that are then displayed on a light source. In an increasingly digital world, we see photographs existing only on our screens, or forgotten on hard drives. Crafting images that also exist as tangible art objects is what drives my creative process. I seek to challenge the status quo, and create one-of-a-kind pieces that offer an experience in real life
**The submitted images are are digital captures of these physical pieces, for the convenience of online presentation
ArtQuest Photographer of the Year
2022- Surreal
Lila Donovan Kelly
ArtQuest Photographer of the Year
2021- B&W
Lila Donovan Kelly
Title: Youth
Artist Statement: I created this image in response to a strong sense of despair, fear and turmoil, I have been feeling in Youth around me and in the world. Since the inception of Covid 19 and the increasing degradation of the earth, suicide rates among youth have been rising dramatically.
In this black and white image, I choose strong contrasts of black and white with textured tones of grey to convey powerful emotions.
The white arm and hand represent truth, purity and the innocence of Youth drowning in a dark, black, corrupt world. The swirling black and grey textured water symbolizes chaos and confusion. The totality of the image portrays the horror of where humanity is today - with devastating environmental destruction of the earth, horrendous numbers of plants and animals extinct, the poor uprooted, lost, suffering and starving. And Youth with no future; unless adults face the truth and act with authority to heal the planet now
ArtQuest Photographer of the Year
2020 - CONTRAST
Amanda Devison
Photo title: Divergence
Amanda's artistic statement: In a year unlike any other, I hope that my photo inspires others to pause, reflect and reframe. I see this image as my first true work of “art” in photography. I say that because this image seems to mean something different to everyone who views it and I believe that every one of those interpretations is correct. While all of our life stories are unique, there is an underlying commonality at the root of our pandemic experience.
