Gurwin Photo Contest winners capture beauty of planet Earth
‘Photography helps people see’ ~ Berenice Abbott
By Heidi Sutton
Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Commack revealed the winners of its 26th annual Photo Contest at an award ceremony and reception on Sept. 18. The highlight of the evening was a traditional slide show of the winning selections from this and previous years. Project Assistant Phyllis Barone handed out the awards for the evening.
Sponsored by the Tiffen Company for the 13th year in a row, this year’s competition drew almost 800 entries from amateur photographers across the country. Of those submissions, 46 photos were chosen to be enlarged, framed and hung on permanent display in the nursing home. The breathtaking images will be on exhibit in the Helen and Nat Tiffen Gallery for a year and will then move up to the resident units.
The innovative event is the brainchild of Dennine W. Cook, chief public relations officer at Gurwin who came up with the initial idea in 1993 as a way of “making [Gurwin’s] bare walls worthy of a smile.”
“Your beautiful photography does more than just decorate the nursing and rehab center; it creates an ambiance that feels like home. It inspires people. It comforts people. It brings joy to people, not just our residents but our staff and visitors as well, every day,” said Cook. ”There aren’t that many things that you can do in this world that have that kind of sustaining impact.”
“This a favorite event of ours,” said President and CEO of the Gurwin Healthcare System Stuart B. Almer before thanking Cook for coming up with the contest and for “beautifying our hallways.”
This year’s winning photos are presented in a modern and stylish wooden frame provided by The Frame Center in Smithtown, as opposed to the silver metal framing of previous years, after Almer suggested the change “to enhance the photos even further.” All future contest winners will have the same frame “so the building looks nice and uniform going forward” he said.
Cook went on to speak of the profound impact these incredible images have made on residents of the 460-bed facility “to whom they mean so much.” She spoke of Debbie, a 60-year-old traumatic brain injury survivor at the facility. “She’s writing a book, she’s committed to getting back out into the world to compete in her second Iron Man. She’s feisty, she’s focused, she’s fierce, and she gets some of her inspiration from your photos on the wall.”
“This contest, although competitive and a great achievement for you as a photographer, is really about the people who get to see your work once it is chosen,” explained Cook.
The annual contest does not accept digital entries, only 8 × 10 prints, which are not returned. However, Cook was quick to assure the audience that all of the submissions will be put to good use. “[The residents] use them in art therapy as painting and drawing inspiration and in crafting classes. It’s become a great resource here at Gurwin and everyone is very grateful.”
This year’s judges, Christopher Appoldt (Christopher Appoldt Photography) and Tony Lopez (Tony Lopez Photography), were given the difficult task of choosing a grand prize winner along with honorable mentions for 12 categories as well as Best in Show, which this year was awarded to Bryan Ray from Half Moon Bay, California for “The Great Migration,” a stunning image of hundreds of wildebeest attempting to cross a river in Africa during a migration to greener pastures. Five additional photos were chosen as Resident Selections.
Added Cook, “All the selections, whether they be Honorable Mentions, Grand Prizes or Resident Selections will be judged, discussed and enjoyed by so many appreciative eyes for years to come and to me that’s the real honor — that your photos will hang for decades here in our resident’s home.”
Entries for next year’s photo contest will be accepted between Feb. 15 and April 15, 2020.
2019 WINNING SELECTIONS
BEST IN SHOW
“The Great Migration” by Bryan Ray
ACTION/SPORTS CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“Drive to the Net” by Elise Rubin
Honorable Mention
“Skater Boy” by Carolyn Ciarelli
Honorable Mention
“Shake It Off” by James Napoli
ALTERED/ENHANCED CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“View from Governer’s Island” by Susan Silkowitz
Honorable Mention
“Captain America Caleb” by Deidre Elzer-Lento
Honorable Mention
“Working in the Fields” by Jan Golden
Honorable Mention
‘Unisphere After Dark” by Leon Hertzson
CHILDREN’S CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“Serenity” by Ashley Tonno
Honorable Mention
“Four of a Kind” by Donna Crinnian
Honorable Mention
“The Friendly Forest Fairy” by Sarah Wenk
LANDSCAPES CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“Glade Creek Grist Mill” by Mike DiRenzo
Honorable Mention
“Tufted Landscape” by Jeff Goldschmidt
Honorable Mention
“Horseshoe Falls, Niagara” by Barbara McCahill
LONG ISLAND/NEW YORK CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“Melville Pond” by Jeff Goldschmidt
Honorable Mention
“Croton Dam” by Ellen Dunn
Honorable Mention
“Never Forget” by Carol Milazzo-DiRenzo
NATURE CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“Solitary” by Jo-Anne Bodkin
Honorable Mention
“Under Angel Oak” by Carol Goldstein
Honorable Mention
“From Bud to Bloom” by Meryl Lorenzo
Honorable Mention
“Night Dreams” by Carol Milazzo-DiRenzo
PEOPLE CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“Balancing Act” by Alan Sloyer
Honorable Mention
“Ballerina on Malecon, Cuba” by Roni Chastain
Honorable Mention
“Waiting for Sunrise, Death Valley” by Ellen Dunn
PETS CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“Little Miss” by Lora Ann Batorsky
Honorable Mention
“Callie” by Jill Fanuzzi
Honorable Mention
“What’s for Dinner?” by Dan Greenburg
STILL LIFE CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“Silk Threads” by Jo-Anne Bodkin
Honorable Mention
“Pink Rose” by Ellen Gallagher
Honorable Mention
“Mailbox, Italy” by Sondra Hammer
Honorable Mention
“Sunflower in Window” by William Hammer
TRAVEL CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“Balloon over Bagan” by Alan Sloyer
Honorable Mention
“Starry Night in Rome” by Mike DiRenzo
Honorable Mention
“Lofoten, Norway” by Debbie Monastero
Honorable Mention
“The Dolomites” by Bobbie Turner
WILDLIFE CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“Snowy Flies” by Janis Hurley
Honorable Mention
“In Flight” by Adina Karp
Honorable Mention
“Mama Duck” by Carol Goldstein
STUDENT CATEGORY
Grand Prize
“The Vessel” by Alex Horowitz
Honorable Mention
“Cake Pop” by Chloe Catton
Honorable Mention
“Lost in the Green” by Stephanie Clarfield
RESIDENT SELECTIONS
“Cousins” by Howard Antosofsky
“Letchworth” by Rachel Perks
“Tufted Titmouse” by Michael Danielson
“Tall Ships Visit Greenport” by Barbara McCahill
“Harbor Seal” by Jacqueline Taffe
