“Pigments in the Sky” by Stephanie Hoffarth
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VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Photography instructors at Dakota College at Bottineau have cast their votes in the 2021 High School photo contest.
The multi state photography contest which has been on place since 2014 is open to current high school students. Photos can be taken with any camera, providing they have been taken by the student submitting them and are original.
The top 3 photographers were awarded prizes, and top 25 photographs were printed in the Dakota College of Bottineau Photo Gallery. Due to the COVID- 19 the photo contest took place virtually this year. Treylan Cope, Savannah Huffstutler, and Stephanie Hoffarth, all Valley City High School art students, took part in this contest.
Out of 214 entries from five different states, a Valley City High School Sophomore takes fifth place overall. Stephani Hoffarth won fifth place from her accumulated point total based on technical skills, intent, principles of design, and aesthetics. Hoffarth had two images go past round three and one go to round four.
For Stephanie, photography has been a passion for several years. So, when her art teacher, Mrs. Stephani Krueger, saw on Dakota College at Bottineau’s flier there was a photo contest for high school students and showed it to her, she jumped at the chance.
“I always strive to provide my students (current or not) with as many opportunities to build their art resumes and to support their passions and talents as much as I can” Krueger said. “I am very humbled by the success of my photos, which I have worked very hard to capture. I hope I can build off of what I have accomplished to achieve bigger things. I plan to continue shooting and try to expand my horizon by trying new techniques and shots.” Hoffarth stated.
Stephanie’s photograph Pigments in the Sky (as shown from above) will be on display in the photo gallery in Bottineau. Both Cope and Huffstutler broke past round two of the competition. Cope advanced with an outdoor landscape image and Huffstutler with two images including a tropical action shot and a North Dakota landscape.
“This was my first time competing in the competition, so I didn’t expect to go as far as I did. I loved the encouragement Mrs. Krueger gave me along the way, and the critiques that the professors at the college gave so I can make my work better and be ready for the contest for next year” Huffstutler stated.
Congrats to all the VCHS photography contestants.