More than 460 4-H’ers participated in this year’s photography project – the second highest number of any project (behind 593 4-H’ers in crafts). Among them was Laura Milam, a 10-year member of Nature Minds 4-H Club, who was exhibiting for her second year.
“My (little) sister introduced it to me, and she’s been doing better,” she said. “I use it as an excuse to go out and take pictures, capture moments.”
The photography project includes five categories: 10 prints on a poster board in either black and white or color, one salon print in black and white or color, and creative/experimental. Because of the large number of participants, 4-H’ers can only enter one category for judging.
Judging is open for the photography project, which means a 4-H’er sits down with a judge and explains their project. The judge asks questions and can offer critiques and tips to budding photographers. While sitting across the table from 4-H Photography Judge Ron Gill, Milam explained her 10-print color poster.
“It’s intimidating,” Milam said of open judging. “It’s good to see someone else’s perspective. My project definitely improved from last year. I applied what I was told last year and it really helped.”
