The South County News team presents the results of the third annual South County News February Cover Contest for Vicksburg High School photography students.
The theme: “My Hometown.”
Art and photography teacher Tony Lindeman presented the project to his three photography classes in late September, which allowed over three months for students to capture their best images to express the project theme. Sixty-two students submitted entries for consideration. The top five are recognized and presented by the South County News team this month. Included with each photo is the artist’s statement.
Judges were impressed with the composition of the students’ photos, their sensitivity to their natural surroundings, and their creativity.
The winning cover photo, taken by Noelle Germay, shows the historic grain mill at the Scotts Mill County Park. How Noelle incorporated leaves and grasses in her photo emphasized the beauty of the park and the importance of this place to the photographer. The 2nd place winning photo, captured by Jordyn Clarey, shows a covered bridge in the background with a small stream running throughout. The judges appreciated her creative, artistic entry. The 3rd place photo by Corrine Wilson is especially colorful, and her artist’s statement explains her deep connection to Vicksburg High School’s “Big Red Machine,” and its importance to her sense of belonging. The judges enjoyed Ella Mann’s 4th place photo and the striking lines of the abandoned trestle. Drake Ritenauer’s 5th place photo of the Mill and his artist’s statement regarding the importance of the Mill and its history resonated with the judges.
Artists’ Statements
1st Place: Noelle Germay
Choosing Scotts Mill County Park to take a picture was not my first choice when this project was originally brought to light. I knew I wanted to choose something that was unique or different from the normal landscape, but I was shot out of ideas. I wanted to understand the theme and take a picture that not only followed the project description but also meant something to me. I didn’t want to focus too much on the color of fall or the falling leaves, however I feel like they added a perfect touch by being in the foreground without popping out as the main focus. Scotts is the small town that my house happens to be placed in and the same town I attended elementary school in. My childhood memories are full of going to Kalamazoo County Parks — which preserve beauty in places that are accessible for everyone to see — so it was only fitting to take a picture of a park that happened to share the name of my hometown. We would go sledding, hiking, or traipsing around the dog park, enjoying the peace and raw beauty parks such as Scotts Mill have to offer. When I went to the park to take this photo, I had to search for certain details such as shadows, and lighting which allowed me to notice the fine details of Scotts Mill County Park. My goal was to highlight the miniscule attributes such as the sign on the building that added to the beauty of this park. Through this photograph, I feel like a new light was shed onto my hometown: Scotts, Michigan.
2nd Place: Jordyn Clarey
When I think of “hometown”, I visualize the beauty of nature, particularly during the fall. The vibrant colors of the leaves against the flowing stream of water capture the natural beauty I associate with fall, and the nostalgia that comes with it, reminding me of time spent with family and friends admiring the scenery. The bright oranges and yellows of the leaves remind me of the warmth of those moments. To me, this photo represents not only the beauty of nature but also the countless memories with my loved ones, serving as a reminder that, no matter how much time passes, fall will always bring me back to those moments.
3rd Place: Corrine Wilson
Through my lens, I’ve attempted to capture the essence of my hometown, Vicksburg, Michigan, by focusing on The Big Red Machine and the Roar of the Crowd. I captured a picture of a shako, otherwise known as a bucket, and a plume. One of the best things Vicksburg is known for is our phenomenal marching band. Under the direction of Mr. Ben Rosier and Mr. Jay Bennett, the BRM works incredibly hard to be the best we can be. I have been a part of the band program since 6th grade and have been playing the flute for 7 years. I knew I wanted to capture a picture that related to the BRM because of the incredible impact it has had on me and many others. I wanted to capture a picture that was very recognizable. This picture is even more sentimental because I am now a senior and have finished my final season of marching band.
4th Place: Ella Mann
Though not in Kalamazoo County, my hometown is where my home is. Just on the outskirts of Calhoun County, there is a bridge that has been out for years. Apple Maps will tell you this bridge is a viable option to take to shorten any route — I’m sure that makes sense when you see that there are holes in the road of this bridge. Regardless of what this bridge is lacking in stable architecture, it has an abundance of memories from everyone that lives around it. A majority of my childhood summers were spent fishing at this bridge with my legs dangling off the sides, catching my lure on the power line above from casting too high. Other memories were chasing the snakes that came out during the spring on the dirt roads surrounding it. This bridge will forever be remembered as a cherished site in my childhood memory.
5th Place: Drake Ritenauer
When the words “Hometown” are said, I immediately think of the still amiable town of Vicksburg. Whether it’s the small-town atmosphere or the peaceful landscape surrounding, Vicksburg is it for me. But what put my hometown Vicksburg on the map? At its peak, Vicksburg was a bustling center for paper production and railway transportation. The main focal point of Vicksburg’s growth was the Lee Paper Mill. At its peak it produced 17 tons of paper per day from its over-420,000 square foot facility. The Mill acted as a driving force for economic changes in Vicksburg and put Vicksburg on the map. That is why for this hometown image I chose to shine light on this amazing piece of history, the Mill.
