Wednesday, May 03, 2023

A delicate bird perched on a spring branch moved judges to select it as Best in Show for the ninth-annual Teen Photo Contest at the Fond du Lac Public Library.This photo highlighting the student’s understanding of depth-of-field was taken by Andrew Slinde, who earned a $250 gift card for taking the top spot. Slinde is a seventh-grader at Shepherd of the Hills Catholic School in Eden.

Slinde’s entry was one of about 60 photos from teens across Fond du Lac County that were sent to the Fond du Lac Public Library over the winter. Teens could enter in one of three categories: Mood, Story of My Life, and Anything Goes. Earning Honorable Mention awards in those categories were:

  • Mood: Julia Fidziukiewicz, Shepherd of the Hills Catholic School
  • Story of My Life: Taylor Miller, Fond du Lac High School
  • Anything goes: Olivia Haack, Winnebago Lutheran Academy

All four winners will receive their photographs professionally framed, courtesy Gallery & Frame Shop in downtown Fond du Lac. All entries also are on display in the Langdon Divers Community Gallery through early June.

A public reception will be held Wednesday, May 10 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; the reception will be paused at 6 pm to recognize the winners of the contest. 

Contest judges were professional photographer Casey Fiebig, Julie Balson of Gallery Frame Shop, and Shannon Kupfer, executive director of Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts. They praised Slinde’s technique with the winning photo.

“The photographer captured such a detailed and clean image of the subject matter,” Balson said. “Not an easy thing to do. Love the sharpness and detail of the bird, with the blurred background.”

The Langdon Divers Community Gallery is open seven days a week, whenever the Fond du Lac Public Library is open at 32 Sheboygan St. The gallery may be found off the atrium at the south entrance to the Main Library. 

For updates on Langdon Divers Community Gallery, follow the gallery on Facebook at www.facebook.com/langdondivers. Kolstad may be contacted at mel@kolstad.net.