“Today” in Harrison County in 24 Hours

What started out as a friendly photo challenge among the 2018 Boyd's Station Reinke Grant for Visual Storytelling recipients Arden Barnes and Michael Swensen and friends has grown into the 2nd Annual Boyd's Station Dawn to Dusk Photo Invitational held from July 12 -14, 2019 in Harrison County, Kentucky.

The original concept by Boyd’s Station Reinke Grant recipients Michael Swensen and Arden Barnes in 2018 was to invite friends to come to Harrison County for a small, friendly photo contest.

That idea morphed into the Boyd's Station Dawn to Dusk competition last year with an official theme announced just hours before the event for the student photographers to interpret - in their own visual essay and words - the poem “Where I’m From” by Kentucky poet laureate George Ella Lyon over a 24 hour period in 2018.

The second annual Boyd’s Station Dawn to Dusk Photo Invitational theme announced on Friday, July 12, 2019 at 9PM was for the participants to interpret the word “Today” in ten photographs and words during the 24-hour period on Saturday, July 13 with judging at 11AM on Sunday, July 14 at the Rohs Opera House.

Students taking part in the 2019 challenge were Reinke Grant photographers Michael Johnson from Ohio University, Stephanie Amador from Ball State University, Nathaniel Bailey from Kent State University and Boyd’s Station Mary Withers Rural Writing fellow Margaret Heltzel from Ohio University. Joining the group were Boyd’s Station Emerging Storytelling scholar Shai Bardin from St. Ann’s School in Brooklyn, NY along with Carolyn Rogers and Michael Swensen from Ohio University.

Judging the event were Nancy Farmer from Harrison County, Dr. Neil Rush from Cynthiana, Jenny Jones, visiting professional writer from Washington, DC, photojournalists Michael Keating, Gary Landers, both formerly of the Cincinnati Enquirer and photojournalist Pete Marovich from Washington, DC.

The overall winner of the Boyd’s Station Dawn to Dusk Photo Invitational was Boyd’s Station 2019 Reinke Grant recipient Stephanie Amador from Ball State University. She was awarded the overall top prize and a cash award of $300. Second place was Nathaniel Bailey from Kent State with a $200 prize and third place was Michael Johnson from Ohio University winning $100.

The best of show single image from the event was by 2019 Reinke Grant photographer Michael Johnson from Ohio University and the best words submission was by 2018 Reinke Grant recipient Michael Swensen. Each taking home $100 for their work.

Along with the judging at Rohs Opera House and photography equipment insight courtesy of Nick Henry from Roberts Camera from Indianapolis, Washington, DC based photojournalist Pete Marovich presented a collection of his work to the students including his Shadows of the Gullah Geechee documentary project which includes images now included in the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture.

None of this would be possible without the generous and amazing support from Nikon and their tremendous support in providing gear for Project 306.36 each year along with sponsors Photoshelter, Madison Photoworks, Roberts Camera and Ki Smith Galllery in NYC! Boyd’s Station thanks you!

The Words

THE CONTEST GUIDELINES

The invitational theme that was the basis of the competition was announced to participants on Friday, July 12 at 9PM.

That theme was to interpret the word “today” in words and photos in a 24-hour period.

The time period to interpret the theme began at 12:01AM, Saturday, July 13 lasting for a 24- hour time period ending at 11:59PM on Saturday, July 13.

Photographs could only be taken during that time period.

All photos must have been taken in Harrison County, Kentucky.