Winners of the 2007 “Picture Eagan” photo contest were announced Tuesday, October 2, to the Eagan City Council. The biannual amateur photo contest began in 2003 as a way to attract defining images of the City and the quality of life it affords its residents.

There were three categories for the 2007 contest: best postcard view of Eagan, the best sense of volunteerism or community service, and Eagan at play. Judges also awarded a grand prize for the best photo submitted overall.

The 2007 winners are Tom McCartney, Marissa Martin, and Nancy Saunders. No award was given in the volunteerism category, but of the more than 30 amateur photos submitted, McCartney won the grand prize of $100 for best in show for his iconic shot of a men’s softball game at Northview Park at twilight. The judging panel, which included the staff photographer of the Eagan Sun Current, and the editor of the privately produced Eagan Magazine, along with City Communications staff, said McCartney’s photo had an almost “idyllic” quality, capturing America’s pastime in the heart of Eagan during the summertime.

McCartney, for his part, said in July he noticed the great ball fields and landscape and wanted to capture that activity against a setting sky. It took him about 20 photos, using his 35 mm digital camera on a tripod set to a very slow shutter speed, to get the image he wanted. McCartney wanted to reflect the motion of ball players running in the outfield against a cloud-filled night sky.

Young Marissa Martin, a 16-year old student at Eagan High School, won in the best Postcard View of Eagan category for her photo of “the peaceful part of Eagan”—the footbridge at Blackhawk Park reflecting in the rippled waters of Blackhawk Lake. Judges liked the use of colors and reflection. Lauren Knight won second place in the same category for her view of Holz farm and Jaci Bercopec received honorable mention for her shot of the snake sculpture at Caponi Art Park.

Using a Canon Digital SLR camera, self-employed writer and piano teacher Nancy Saunders won in the Eagan at Play category for her fun shot of a young person enjoying cooling off on a hot July night at Cascade Bay. The image shows a person dousing herself under the water spouts, while sunlight sparkles on the water surrounding other swimmers. Judges liked the strong lines and composition in the photo. She also won second place for her picture of a child conquering one of Cascade Bay’s water slides.

With all of the volunteer activities and community service in Eagan, from Relay for Life cancer research walks to scouting, from athletic boosters to food shelf volunteers, the judges were surprised to not get entries in that category. As to what advice they have for budding photographers, Eagan Magazine editor Alyssa Geronsin says, “Have a reason why you are shooting the photo; show that you made choices of what to include and leave out, and bring your photo in to be developed to make sure you have good resolution.”

Sun Current photographer Scott Thiesen advises emerging shutterbugs to crop their photos to make it the best shot, and don’t place your subject in the center of the image. Get closer to your subjects to create more interest and a sense of emotion or movement, giving the viewer a feeling of the moment.

What categories will Eagan have for the 2009 photo contest? “You just never know what we might come up with,” said Tom Garrison, Eagan’s Communication’s Director, but he says to look for an announcement by next summer.

All of the photos submitted may be used by the City in publications or on the City Web site.  Winning photos will also be displayed in the hallways at City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob Road.

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