Kristin Burns (Photo: Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce)
Jan. 26. 2011, Staff Report
Despite the single-digit temperatures Monday night, eight of the 10 winners of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural photography contest were on hand to receive their award.
The 10 winning photographers, who were among the nearly 100 contestants that submitted photographs, each received a $50 prize from Chamber President Ira Greenberg and the photo they entered professionally enlarged, finished and mounted by Technical Digital Services (TDS), 50-31 43rd Street/Celtic Avenue, Woodside.
Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer also gave a Citation from the City Council and congratulated each winner. The Chamber board organized the event, the prize money was given from an anonymous donor, and the prints produced by TDS. The cost of the contest was covered by a New York state grant obtained by Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan.
There was not one winning photo, per se, as the judges were looking for the 10 best – hence the title of the event “XbestpiX.” The judges were not identified; furthermore, they were not told the identity of the photographers.
The photos included pictures of the Sunnyside Arch, St. Raphael’s, a well-known raccoon on 47th Street (see photo above), the no. 7 train at night, to little girls in dresses and a snow scene within Sunnyside Gardens Park. The photos will be on the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce’s website in February.
Those interested in buying a photo may contact the photographer directly via information under each photograph on the chamber’s website in February. The photographers retain the copyright to their pictures.
The contestants were required to submit a photo of the Sunnyside/Woodside area from any era, and photographers of all ages and locations were invited.
“I recognize a lot of the people in Mary Teresa Giancoli [of Sunnyside] kid’s party photograph,” said Van Bramer.
“I love the cemetery one” said Thomas Cogan, a reporter with the “Gazette”, referring to a photo taken of Calvary Cemetery. “It’s rare to see photographs of the cemetery publicized,” he added. (photo by Spiros Morfovasilis of Astoria)
The event also doubled as a Chamber of Commerce free “Business Card Exchange,” which is typically held four times a year at the request of a member merchant working to introduce new visitors to a location. Wine for Exchanges is always donated by Chamber VP Anthony Lodati of Lowery Liquors.
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7 Comments
By name, one winning photograph each made by
1. Steve Bornholtz
2. Kristin Burns
3. Carl Derrick
4. Jeff DelViscio
5. Mary Teresa Giancoli
6. Matt Green
7. Peter Kileen
8. Cindy Kirikawa
9. Grace Polk
10. Spiros Morfovasilis
What a wonderful story of some postivie things that are happening in our town. Nice to hear some good news about our area. Nice reporting by the sunnysidepost web site
The cost of the contest was covered by a New York State Grant obtained by Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan. Goverment “Grants” aren’t “free” money. Nolan and Van Bremer are being “generous” with Taxpayer funds.
I agree with Shadyside
The Chamber of Commerce is not a government organization. I don’t see a problem here.
Are you serious? It sounds like the majority of the contest/event was covered by an anonymous donor and the photo studio TDS. It was piggybacked on to an existing Chamber event that allows local business owners to meet, which is great, and the wine was donated by Lowrey’s. It’s not like it was an elaborate black-tie affair held at the Waldorf. It also sounds like media was present and good press can do nothing except help our community. How could you find fault with any of that? The cost to you personally was probably a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a single cent.
All those “logistics” aside, it was for the sake of art and enrichment, which should be encouraged and supported. I hope to see this contest continue and grow in the years to come and I’ll definitely be checking out the winners on the Chamber’s website in Feb.
Why is taxpayer money going to pay for an event like this?