Picture Perfect: By Chloe Quinn

          On Saturday, July 30th, participants crowded Bridge Street as the Arts on Bridge Street Festival was in full-swing.  Vendors peddled their artworks, others sold tasty snacks, and a good time was to be had by all at this annual happening in historic Ashtabula Harbor.

          Inside Goodwill of Ashtabula, another part of the festival was occurring.  The winners, as well as all of the participants, of Goodwill’s first annual Photo Contest found all of their beautiful photographs hung and displayed for the public to see in Goodwill’s Topky Community room (on Goodwill Drive, next to the store). There were almost thirty photographers—amateur and professional—who tried their hand at entering the contest this year.  There were six categories, with a $50 Goodwill cash prize awarded for each.  The categories were as follows: Beach Scene, Human Interest Scene, Ship Scene, Wildlife Scene, Lift Bridge Scene and Selfie Category.

           The best-tried category was the Lift Bridge Scene, by far.  Many local photographers took it upon themselves to capture the iconic bridge at every angle possible, from day to night scenes, still shots and action shots, much like the winning shot that depicted a time-lapse scene, with fuzzy lines of car’s lights going by.

          Then there were the other winners, who were all equally stunning.  Marjorie, who won the Human Interest category for her beautiful shot of a young, blonde girl holding a fuzzy puppy, both yawning in unison, spoke up about her winning entry.   The young girl, Marjorie explained, was her grand-daughter, and they were visiting a puppy sanctuary.  “I just shoot just what I see, just like it is,” Marjorie explained, “And I never, ever use Photoshop. You can do anything with that stuff, and I don’t like using it.”

          Overall, the contest was quite a success, and it contributed its own measure of color to a very colorful event.  Plans are already in the works to make next year’s program even more comprehensive.