JURIED THEME GALLERY – Still Life

Still Life: a genre of photography used for the depiction of inanimate subject matter, typically a small group of objects. Still life images turn ordinary (even dull) objects or subject matter into something interesting using lighting, composition and arrangement.

AZPA’s Juried Theme Gallery is a project developed in 2024 that highlights the work of our members who range from full-time professional photographers to enthusiastic amateurs. A number of times each year, a call for entry will be announced with a rotating theme. Current members can submit up to three digital images that speak to the theme, which will be juried by a different professional photographer each cycle. The juror will select ONE image from each entrant that best represents the theme. Each of those images will be displayed here in the online gallery. In addition, the juror will choose one first-place winner to receive a cash award of $100, plus two honorable mention recipients.

About the Juror for Still Life

As a well-established advertising and editorial photographer, Art Holeman has a passion for capturing the essence of three-dimensional life and objects in two-dimensional images. Having settled in Phoenix, Arizona in 1986 after living in Michigan, Iowa and Nevada, Art has become well known for black-and-white photography that highlights the majestic beauty of the natural world, particularly the landscapes of the desert Southwest. Art’s love of traveling led him to take an active role in Through Each Other’s Eyes (TEOE), a nonprofit photography collaborative that fosters cultural appreciation. As part of TEOE, Art has hosted photographers from Mexico and Japan, and, in turn, shot black-and-white portfolios in Himeji, Japan and Sonora, Mexico. Independently, Art has also shot extensively in Perugia, Italy and Banjul, The Gambia. Art’s photography has garnered numerous awards and publicity worldwide. He has exhibited at galleries and museums across the United States, Japan and Mexico and was most recently recognized by Phoenix Home & Garden as a 2021 Master of the Southwest. Follow Art on Instagram at @azartswork. View his photography: Commercial Work and Fine Art Work.

Juror’s Statement

I was honored to be asked to be a juror for AZPA’s call for entries for the theme Still Life. This genre of photography has been integral to the medium’s 185-year history. As I reviewed the submissions, I was struck by the diverse approaches—from traditional to experimental. Each image demonstrated careful consideration and skillful execution. Most notably, the submissions showcased a profound understanding of lighting, composition and narrative quality. The selected images for first place and honorable mentions exemplify the breadth of creativity, spanning from mixed media to traditional techniques. They feature stunning prop choices, compelling compositions, and warm hues of tactile paint. Congratulations to everyone involved on their impressive work!

First Place: John Wagner

Coyote Skull in Jar  © John Wagner

Honorable Mention: Linda Enger

Pandemic Pod © Linda Enger

Still Life Gallery

(click on each image for full view and description)

If you are interested in purchasing any of the photographs offered for sale, please contact the artist directly via the email link shown with each image. Thank you for visiting!