"Stunning Images" Capture Top Honors In Bucks County Photo Exhibit

NEW HOPE, PA — A collection of stunning images is on display at the 3oth Phillips’ Mill Photographic Exhibition from now through April 21 in Solebury Township.

From ethereal imaginings to nostalgic charm, the fine art photography gracing the walls of the historic Mill will enchant everyone in attendance, promise show organizers, who conferred 11 awards on the top images during the show's opening event on April 1.

Renowned fine art photographer, educator and author Jill Enfield juried the winning images this year from more than 1,200 submissions received from as far away as Rome, Italy. Of those submissions from 262 talented artists, 138 images were accepted and 11 awards presented.

Garnering top honors with his captivating, “Houses of the Holy,” Dennis Maida of Lincoln Park, New Jersey, received the award for Best of Show. His photograph depicting a solitary house on a hill enveloped by a halo of abundant stars is simply breathtaking.

Dennis Maida’s “Houses of the Holy” won Best of Show, (Dennis Maida)

Capturing nocturnal images of starry skies amidst stunning landscapes in his “The Milky Way and Beyond” series shows Maida’s gift for utilizing Nikon cameras with 24-120mm lenses, creating brilliant views of the evening expanse.

Doylestown resident Diane Levell was awarded the coveted Best Body of Work for her “Brandywine” series, which draws inspiration from the work of Andrew Wyeth and the lush surroundings of the Brandywine Valley.

Lavell spent a year from 2018-2019 photographing the bucolic Brandywine landscape with breathtaking results. Her series captures the essence of the valley in a new light, creating intriguing stories with her images.

Ursula Ferrara's stirring image “Morning Summer” from her series “The Witch Pot” received the Portrait Award. Ferrara is an Italian photographer, painter and animation film director who submitted her work from Rome. She is the author of several short animated films awarded by renowned film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin and Locarno.

Ferrara began shooting with her father’s Leica at the age of 13 and studied analog photography at the Florence Academy. She is passionate about ancient techniques, such as wet plate, and continues to experiment with self-built cameras for ultra large format photography, including recently, a camera van.

"Best Creativity" was awarded to Danielle Picard, George School Director of Visual Arts and Design, for her body of work. Picard’s haunting images from her most recent collection intrigue the viewer with their ethereal composition and technique.

George School's Danielle Picard won the Best Creativity Award for "Waiting." (Danielle Picard)

“I’ve been collecting old photographs for as long as I can remember,” Picard says. “My current series weaves collected images into my own personal narratives. While some of these images touch on themes of loss and transcendence, they all explore the dichotomy that complex relationships, real and perceived, bring to these subjects.”

Flemington, New Jersey’s Lynne Kerr’s captivating “Phlox of Cows” was given a Patrons’ Award for her striking image of a bovine’s unflappable glance amidst a field of flowers. In her first year as a member of the Mill Photo Committee, Kerr’s photographs are noted for their elegance and whimsical sense of humor. Her penchant for choosing clever titles adds depth to her craft and enhances the experience of viewing her work.

Patrons’ Awards were also bestowed on Princeton Photography Club Board Member Ginny Veltre for her intricately detailed “Under the Bridge” and Philadelphia area resident Bob Debski for his mesmerizing seascape “Spectre.”

Other award winners include the poignant “Hemingway’s Typewriter” by Lisa Stolzer, educator at the Princeton Montessori School which took second place and conjures a nostalgic mood with its sepia tones and wistful depiction of the infamous writer’s tool of the trade.

Bucks County’s Linda McManus earned third place for her “Road to Farmhouse” capturing a striking snowscape of a tree-lined trail which appears to expand into infinity.

The Landscape Award was presented to Geoffrey Agrons of New Hope, for his engaging “Forest,” a striking depiction of nature’s glory.

The Spencer Saunders Award for Architecture was presented to Ken Konchel of St. Louis, Missouri for his collection including “Arrangement,” “Beam,” “Facets,” “Concentricity,” “Serration” and “Flow.”

The annual Phillips’ Mill Photographic Exhibition is open to the public through April 21 with gallery hours Wednesday through Sunday from 1-5 p.m. and extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays until 8 p.m. All works are for sale at the exhibition.

To discover more about all of this year’s accepted works as well as the remarkable images of the winning submissions, visit the Mill’s website at www.phillipsmill.org. Enjoy the exhibition in person at 2619 River Road, New Hope 18938.