JURIED THEME GALLERY – Show Us Your Muse

Muse: a source of inspiration. What’s your inspiration? A colorful sunset? A sleeping baby? Your true love? The sound of birds at dawn? Show us what, who or where inspires you to create and photograph.

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 “Show Us Your Muse”

Mark Peterman is a visual artist who explores narrative storytelling through photographs and multi-media. He constructs fictional narratives inspired from cinematic and literary influences that challenge the perception of reality and utilize the mystery of the unknown. His work examines how change, memory, and the passage of time affect the human experience. Growing up in a family of amateur photographers, Mark’s first encounter with photography was a darkroom built by his father in his family’s basement. He attended the Kansas City Art Institute to further his education in the arts, graduating with a BFA in graphic and industrial design. In 2004, he relocated to Arizona where he has maintained a mix of commissioned work for a range of clients and his daily practice of personal projects. Learn more about Mark Peterman’s work, awards and exhibitions.

Juror’s Statement

“It was a pleasure to participate in the jury process for the Arizona Photographers Alliance and review all the photographs submitted for the call for entry under the theme Show Us Your Muse. The submissions showcased a diverse range of photos that demonstrate technical skill, composition and lighting across the medium. There was a wide range of artistic approaches that added depth and complexity to the submissions.

I loved the different interpretations of the theme, and it was great to see each artist’s unique perspective on their muse or a connection to the theme whether it may be a person, place or concept. The photos that I selected for first place and honorable mention each transported me as the viewer to a specific place. I felt like an active participant in the photo and I could feel the photographer’s connection to the subject matter.

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the selection process.”

First Place: Dean Terasaki

Honorable Mention: Teri Tera

Honorable Mention: Pete Fredlake

Show Us Your Muse 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!