ROCK SPRINGS — Three Sweetwater County photographers took home awards last weekend at the annual meeting of the Wyoming Professional Photographers Association.
Marni Christensen of Marni Christensen Pet Photography, RJ Pieper of Sweetwater Photography were awarded prizes in the General Division, and Jenni Knezovich of Fotos by Jenni competed and won in the Master Division.
Christensen, known locally for her work creating images of animals, swept the Pet Portrait category, taking all three awards and placing in the top ten photographers category.
Pieper, a landscape photographer, took home four awards, including first place in the Illustrative category, judges choice, first place in Best Commercial Image and also placed in the top ten photographers category.
Knezovich, who had an image that scored a rare 100, was the big winner of the night earning her the Best Landscape/Nature Image, Best Image by a Wyoming Fellow, the Herb Lehman/Katie Cummings People’s Choice Award, Sunset Award, Best Image by an American Society of Photographers member, Best Image by a Certified Professional Photographer, and Best of Show in the Master Division.
Knezovich also took home awards for first and third place in the Child’s Portrait category, second and third place in the Wedding Images category, and third place in the Commercial Image category.
Knezovich was also the recipient of the PPA Presidential Award, received a Judges’ Choice Award, and placed in the top ten photographers category.
Images receiving the highest scores receive awards in each category. Entries are judged by a blind panel of five trained judges and are adjudicated on impact, technical, excellence, creativity, style, composition, presentation, color balance, center of interest, lighting, subject matter, technique, and storytelling.
Winning images will be revealed following the International Print Competition in August. Knezovich became a Certified Professional Photographer in 2015 and received her Master of Photography Degree from the PPA in 2017 and her Master Craftsman degree in 2019.
Both Christensen and Pieper are currently working towards their Master Photographer. Additionally, Pieper has declared his candidacy to become a Certified Professional Photographer. Christensen plans to declare her candidacy in the near future.
For more information about WPPA, PPA, Contest Rules, or other information, Please visit www.wppa.wildapricot.org or www.ppa.com.
