The Lewiston Tribune’s Annual SnapShoot contest turns 31 this year, and in that time, it’s changed almost beyond recognition. The original contest required entries on Kodak film, while today’s parameters are far more accessible, open to anyone with a camera or a phone in their pocket. Happy Day Restaurants has been lucky enough to serve as a judge for years now alongside Butch Alford, Barry Kough, August Frank, and some special guests once in a while, a tradition that started because our stores used to host drop boxes for submissions. The job falls to our marketing team to put on our judging caps and get to work! So how are winners actually chosen, and how do we judge a contest like this?
It isn’t overly complicated, and a lot of the groundwork is done by Tribune photographer August Frank. After a short walk over to the Tribune, we found Butch Alford and August already set up and waiting, physical submissions scattered across the table. To kick off the judging, we passed the printed photos around, everyone stealing an extra glance at a particularly grumpy, deeply unwelcoming bird nestled into a birdhouse that read “Welcome.” The irony wasn’t lost on us, and the photo was unanimously moved along in the judging.
Once the physical photos have been gone through, the digital submissions come up on screen, already meticulously organized by August. We clicked through dozens of them while the room filled with gasps and awes in equal measure. We’re honored to draw the attention of skilled photographers around the area, but we value up-and-coming talent just as much, and that diversity is what makes the judging tricky. It’s also what makes us feel like the real winners, getting to see the world through our community’s eyes: newborn smiles, dogs catching the sunset, a rare glimpse into the quiet life of an owl. Every walk of life, captured with heart.
Judging a photo contest means embracing subjectivity. Not every photo will move everyone in the room the same way. A shot that strikes something deep in one judge might pass another entirely. But by the end, the collection of 8 winners and 10 honorable mentions represent a wide spectrum of styles, cultures, and love.
After about an hour and more than 130 submissions, the second week finalists were chosen on composition, clarity, originality, and feeling. The walk back to the office was jittery, to say the least. We couldn’t stop talking about the photos still stuck in our heads. Already looking forward to next week’s judging, we came away with a renewed appreciation for the world around us. With 2 weeks left, consider this our nudge: submit your photos, whatever your skill level. And thank you to the Tribune for another year of letting us be part of this!
