Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest Announces 2024 Winners

The Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Competition and Exhibition recently held its 22nd annual event. Judging of the competition took place in May and the exhibition part of the event is now open until July 1st.

The judges this year were: Lester Duncan, Mark Freeman, Jim Goodwin, Eddie Lambert, Richard Siggins and Ken Wright. These judges spent the entire day reviewing and judging 552 photographs taken by 87 photographers. Of these 87 photographers, 33 were new to the event.

Ann Fortney, creator and organizer of the event, said she is thrilled that each year the event grows in both the number of participants and the number of photographs they take part in.

“I don’t envy the judges at all. They have a very difficult job judging these beautiful photographs,” Fortney said.

Fortney said judges look at and judge each photograph and give each photograph a numerical score. Then, once all photographs in that level and category have been judged, the winners are announced.

There are some incredibly talented photographers, Fortney said, and she said if you don’t believe her, go see the exhibit at the Main and Atrium galleries located in the Kingsport Renaissance Center.

The 2024 Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest and Exhibition winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd place and honorable mentions) are:

YOUTH: 1st place — “Busted” by Jessyca Cook, 2nd place — “Sunset” by Peyton Lingerfelt, 3rd place — “Winged” by Peyton Lingerfelt. Honorable mentions: Peyton Lingerfelt and Jessyca Cook.

AMATEUR NATURAL COLOR: 1st place — “Shining Through” by Stan Ricker, 2nd place — “Layers” by Stan Ricker, 3rd place — “Gimme Shelter” by Stan Ricker. Honorable mentions: Cheryl Humphrey, Nancy Crumley, Dale Taft, Teresa McBroom, Carole Popovics, Christy Peters, Deborah Werling, Mary Beth Sheets, Stan Ricker, Kevin Dingus and Joseph Chappell.

AMATEUR NATURE MONOCHROME: 1st place — “Hanging with My Homies” by Stan Ricker, 2nd place — “Eerie Mtn Forest” by Amanda Schulz, 3rd place — “Texture” by Stan Ricker. Honorable mentions: Robert C. Murray, Christy Peters, Keith Blackwell and Adam Swatzell.

AMATEUR PICTORIAL COLOR: 1st place — “Light Up the Night” by Dale Taft, 2nd place — “The Great Escape” by Lisa Seaborn, 3rd place — “The Happy Fisherman” by Pam Nagel. Honorable mentions: Dale Taft, Teresa McBroom Kelly Heaton, Christy Peters, Lisa Seaborn, Lynn Olberding, Steve Hanor, Hunter Childress, Julianne Miles, Carole Popovics, Hugh Byrd, William Meckes, Preston Compton, Mary Beth Sheets, Pam Nagel, Adam Swatzell , Denise Jackson Haney and Donna Marie Rafftery.

AMATEUR PICTORIAL MONOCHROME: 1st place – “Simple Beauty” by Donna Marie Rafftery, 2nd place – “Take Me to the Park” by Kerry Simm, 3rd place – “Expecting Joy” by Kris Epperson. Honorable mentions: Maureen Mulroy, Christy Peters, Owen Franklin, Mary Beth Sheets, Adam Swatzell, Kevin Dingus and Kerry Simm.

AMATEUR “CARRIE PENLEY SPECIAL THEME – HISTORY”: 1st place – “Respect” by Julie Henry, 2nd place – “Smoking Gun” by Lisa Seaborn, 3rd place — “All Gave Some, Some Gave All” by Donna Marie Raftery. Honorable mentions: Julie Byers, Carole Popovics, Christy Peters, Lisa Seaborn, Owen Franklin, Mary Beth Sheets, Pam Nagel, Keith Blackwell and Adam Swatzell.

COMPETENT NATURAL COLOR: 1st place — “Grace” by Charles Edwards, 2nd place — “At Lunch” by Charles Edwards, 3rd place — “Siblings” by Helga Kleinert. Honorable mentions: Lynn Crumley, Bill Watkins, Charles Edwards, Elijah Shelnutt, Keith Jennings, Helga Kleinert, Richard Currie, Tina Graham, Rob Storrs, Tim Pennington, Bud Shinall, Michelle Harless and Mike Poe.

COMPETENT NATURAL MONOCHROME: 1st place — “Park Avenue Stroll” by Richard Currie, 2nd place — “Sage Thrasher” by Elijah Shelnutt, 3rd place — “Osprey Home Builder” by Richard Currie. Honorable mentions: Bill Watkins, Keith Jennings, Joey Rutherford, Pam Conley, Deborah Ramey and Tim Pennington.

COMPETENT PICTORIAL COLOR: 1st place – “A Heavenly Table” by Keith Jennings, 2nd place – “Blue Faced Honey Eater” by Joey Rutherford, 3rd place – “Glade Creek Grist Mill” by Lynn Crumley. Honorable mentions: Bill Watkins, Joyce Latimer, Jim Cook, Keith Jennings, Helga Kleinert, Victoria Duncan, Richard Currie, Joey Rutherford, Cheryl Gray, Hazel Meredith, Tim Pennington, Regina Shinall, Norlynda Cook and Michelle Harless.

MONOCHROME PICTORIAL Mastered: 1st place — “Summer’s Dream” by Keith Jennings, 2nd place — “Music of the Night” by Jymmi Davis, 3rd place — “They Said to Put a Fence Around the Barn” by Deborah Ramey. Honorable mentions: Tim Pennington, Regina Shinall and Michelle Harless.

MASTER NATURE COLOR: 1st Place – “Sunset on Roan” by Terri Campbell, 2nd Place – “Just Like a Fish Out of Water” by Mark Roberts, 3rd Place – “Sunset on Grandfather Mtn” by Terri Campbell. Honorable mentions: Belinda Bridwell and Mark Roberts.

MONOCHROME NATURE MASTERS: 1st place – “Standing Tall” by Mark Roberts, 2nd place – “Upper Red Fork Falls” by Mark Roberts, 3rd place – “Sea Sculpture” by Terri Campbell. Honorable mentions: Belinda Bridwell and Mark Roberts.

PICTORIAL COLOR OF THE MASTERS: 1st place — “Turkey Dispute” by Belinda Bridwell, 2nd place — “Bass Harbor Light Station” by Mark Roberts, 3rd place — “Sunset on the Roan” by Belinda Bridwell. Honorable mentions: Terri Campbell and Mark Roberts.

MONOCHROME PICTORIAL MASTERS: 1st place — “Heads of State” by Terri Campbell, 2nd place — “Japanese Maple” by Terri Campbell, 3rd place — “Court of the Patriarchs” by Mark Roberts. Honorable mentions: Terri Campbell and Mark Roberts.

PROFICIENT/MASTERS “CARRIE PENLEY SPECIAL THEME-HISTORIC”: 1st place — “In the Name of a Grateful Nation” by Terri Campbell, 2nd place — “Bodie Lighthouse” by Lynn Crumley, 3rd place — “The President’s Heads” by Terri Campbell. Honorable mentions: Jim Cook, Keith Jennings, Pam Conley, Cheryl Gray, Deborah Ramey, Jymmi Davis, Bud Shinall, Terri Campbell and Mark Roberts.

BEST OF SHOW: “A Walk on Park Avenue” by Richard Currie

JERRY PENLEY “I LOVE THE BLUE RIDGE/APPALACHIA AREA” AWARD: “In the Name of a Grateful Nation” by Terri Campbell. (7 consecutive victories)

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: “Night Owl” by Hunter Childress.

When you visit the exhibit, you’ll see all 552 photographs hung, not just those that won or received honorable mentions. Fortney said she hangs every photograph on display and encourages everyone to go see it before the exhibit ends July 1.

Fortney thanked the contest sponsors: Adventure Time Hot Air Ballooning, Eastman Camera Club, Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Hardee’s of Kingsport, Holston Valley Broadcasting Corp., Kingsport Art Guild, Kingsport Imaging Systems, Inc., Kingsport Renaissance Center, Kingsport Times News, Mac’s Medicine Mart, MyCroft Signs, Penjacc Productions, Spivey, King and Spivey, LLP and Stir Fry Café.

She also thanked all the hard-working photographers and volunteers helping her behind the scenes: Phillis, Dick and Wayne Fortney, Ellen Munsey Hogan, Amber Lavinder, Fredonna McClellan, Debbie McLauren, Edna Walker, Stacy Wellmaker and Emily Westbrooks.

“Every year I honor two special people who are no longer with us, my mother and father, Carrie and Jerry Penley,” Fortney said. “Twenty-two years ago, they supported me and helped start the Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Competition and Exhibition.”

The Jerry Penley I Love the Blue Ridge/Appalachian Region Award honors his father’s love of the mountains and all things regional. The “Carrie Penley Special Theme” category honors her mother, who loved scavenger hunts, especially photo scavenger hunts.

Each year the theme changes and the special Carrie Penley 2025 theme is: “Macro”. Macro is defined as “larger than life” photography. Really close photography. Some examples could be: insects, eyes, water drops, flowers, etc. Forney tells anyone who asks, “Think outside the box, there is no limit to your imagination. You have a whole year to find that special themed photo. Have fun and happy photo hunting!