- April 28, 2024
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"Flowers" by Gabriella Rosa
Garbiella Rosa won Best in Show for "Flowers" in the city's first Young Adult Photography Contest. Courtesy photo
"Transparent" by Evan Doane
Evan Doane won first place in the city's first Young Adult Photography Contest. Courtesy photo
"Incognito" by DC Pickering
DC Pickering won second place in the city's first Young Adult Photography Contest. Courtesy photo
"Orange Wings in Yellow Flowers" by Lily Chiofalo
Lily Chiofalo won third place in the city's first Young Adult Photography Contest. Courtesy photo
The city of Ormond Beach celebrated the four winners of its first Young Adult Photography Contest on Aug. 5.
The contest, themed around the city’s parks, nature and green spaces, was created in memory of city photographer David Pizzo, who died in January at 73 years old. Pizzo — who, according to his obituary moved to Ormond Beach from New York in 2007 — had worked for Eastman Kodak Company for more than 20 years
“He was proud to hold the distinguished reputation of being the professional photographer for the city, as well as for local businesses and the community,” a Jan. 21 mayor’s proclamation in honor of Pizzo reads.
“... His work was an art, he did it well and with much zeal,” the proclamation states.
And art was created during the contest, which was open to all children ages 12-17 living in Volusia County.
Gabriella Rosa, of Ormond Beach, won best of show for her photograph, titled “Flowers.” She heard about the contest from her dad, who saw the city’s post about the contest on Facebook. She’d gotten a GoPro camera for Christmas and has spent the last couple months exploring photography.
Rosa, a freshman at Seabreeze High School, said she took her camera to a field with her sister one day, just for fun.
“I decided to take my camera for some sky pics, and then I noticed the flowers,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Hey I can get a really cool shot with this.’”
She wasn’t expecting to win the contest.
“It was incredible to see everybody’s artwork too,” Rosa said.
Evan Doane, an Ormond Beach 17-year-old, got a camera in June and started taking pictures.
The Mainland High School senior won first place for his photograph, titled “Transparent.”
“For the past year and a half, I’ve taken photos on my phone, and I’ve always wanted a camera for myself so I can take photos like that,” Doane said.
Winning first place in his first contest caught him by surprise, he said. Everybody’s work was amazing, he added.
“It’s really cool to see a photo that you’ve taken be hung up around everybody else’s that has had experience with photography, and it kind of just looks like it fits in with everybody else’s,” he said.
DC Pickering, of Ponce Inlet, won second place for her photograph titled “Incognito.” Pickering has been interested in photography for a couple years and saw the local contest as an opportunity that doesn’t come very often — there aren’t that many competitions in the area, the Spruce Creek High School sophomore said.
This was Pickering’s first time placing in a competition.
“It was really awesome to see my photo in The Casements,” Pickering said. “And for future people who want to enter the competition, I would say it’s a great opportunity, even if you don’t win anything; it’s just a cool experience.”
Pickering’s mother Tara found the competition online.
“I think that having different organizations allow youth in our area to show their skillset and show their creativity is fantastic,” Tara Pickering said.
The third place winner was Lily Chiofalo, a seventh grader from Port Orange. Her photograph was titled “Orange Wings in Yellow Flowers,” and Chiofalo said she knew once she spotted the butterfly that it would make a great photograph.
“It really stood out against the flowers, and I love animals and taking pictures of them,” she said.
This was her first contest too. When she found out she’d won, she said, she was “really excited and surprised.”
Her mother, Shannon Chiofalo, added that the setup at The Casements was very professional.
“Everybody’s entries were so beautiful,” she said. “I felt really proud to see her work up there on the wall.”
The art will remain on display through Friday, Aug. 25. The prize ribbons were sponsored by The Casements Camera Club.
