Lotus by David Allen Corbell

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Sandals by Raymond Finkleman

Kitty by Beth Altman

Raymond Finkleman

David Corbell

Almost anyone can take a photograph. With all the technology available to us through our phones and cameras, most of us can capture a moment in time.

It requires a special talent, though, to take an artistic photograph. Photographers must pay attention to details the novice might not even notice, from framing the scene to considering the light and shadow.

Over time, the three award-winning artists listed below have honed their photographic skills so that, amid a proliferation of visual imagery, their images stand out.

First Place

David Allen Corbell
Ellicott City, Md.

About a decade ago, David Allen Corbell, 56, decided he wanted to learn more about photography, so he taught himself using a Nikon Coolpix 300. “I played around with the camera and did some research online until I figured out what worked for me,” Corbell said.

He picked up the basics pretty quickly and moved from that Coolpix to professional cameras. The hobby began purely as recreation, but about seven years ago, Corbell developed a side job photographing weddings, graduations and individuals. He works full-time as a systems administrator.

While photography has become a source of income for Corbell, he still enjoys it as a hobby. On the weekends, Corbell enjoys visiting interesting locations where he can take photos purely for pleasure.

“Photography is relaxing for me,” he said. “There is peacefulness in finding the right composition.”

Corbell took his award-winning photo of a lotus flower while visiting Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania.

“It’s hard to find a lotus in full bloom without it looking like a showerhead,” Corbell said. When he found this bloom, he captured it in a one-shot take.

Corbell doesn’t like to do much processing of his photos afterwards; instead he works hard to capture the image he wants in the moment.

“You have to be versatile, and you have to look ahead to what might happen.” Corbell said.

Second Place

Raymond Finkleman
Damascus, Md.

When Raymond Finkelman, 68, retired in 2007 from his job as a computer scientist for the U.S. Army, he found a new passion in photography.

Since 1996, Finkelman had also coached fencing, a sport that has been a part of his life since he was a teenager.

When he retired from the Army, Finkelman began traveling the world to watch his athletes compete. When he traveled to Turkey for the World Championships in 2007, he bought his first Nikon camera.

“I thought to myself, ‘If I’m going to Turkey, I might as well bring a good camera,’” Finkelman said.

Before that trip, Finkelman had been interested in photography, but he hadn’t taken it seriously. His travels around the world changed that.

“I started to approach photography from an artistic point of view,” Finkelman said. The more he traveled, the bigger role photography played in his life.

Finkelman began to enjoy taking photos not only during his worldwide travels but also when traveling to Bethany Beach, a favorite vacation spot for 30 years. Now, he always has his iPhone or Nikon with him when he explores the beach.

Finkelman took his winning photograph, “Sandals,” while sitting on the beach with his wife.

“I like the perspective of the photo, with the sandals up close and the ocean in the distance,” Finkelman said. “The image signifies relaxation, and reminds me of the feeling of having my toes in the sand.”

In 2018, the town of Bethany Beach chose one of Finkelman’s images, out of 2,000 submissions, to use in its town calendar.

With degrees in physics, astronomy and computer science, Finkelman is getting more interested in using filters to enhance his photography. His goal is to eventually combine his interests and explore astrophotography.

During the pandemic, Finkelman is selling face masks adorned with his photographs on his website, bethanybeachphotos.com.

Third Place

Beth Altman
Washington, D.C.

Beth Altman works in private practice as a psychotherapist in downtown D.C. But when she’s not working, she pursues a longstanding interest: abstract and street photography.

“I like to go out where there are people congregating, like at street festivals,” Altman said.

Altman has been interested in photography for much of her life, but she began devoting more of her attention to it about 10 years ago.

She has since participated in many formal workshops and classes and is an active member of the North Bethesda Camera Club as well as the NIH Camera Club.

Altman now regularly shows her work and has participated in exhibitions at local galleries, including the Maryland Federation of Art, the BlackRock Center for the Arts, Penn Place at Garrett Park and Joseph Miller Abstract Photography Exhibits.

Her award-winning photograph, “Kitty,” was shot at an event in Baltimore’s Graffiti Alley, where photographers and aspiring models are given a chance to work together. The events are mutually beneficial: Photographers meet potential models, and models can build their portfolios.

“This particular woman [Kitty] was a natural and was fun to work with,” Altman said. “I liked her expression and the way her presentation blended in with the background in terms of color palette and the grunge factor.”

Honorable Mentions

Lynn Schmitt, Montgomery Village, Md.

Richard Isaacman, Edgewater, Md.

Harvey Kupferberg, Rockville, Md.

Keith Brace, Baltimore, Md.

Warren Wilson, Lanham, Md.

Vella Kendall, Monkton, Md.

Alan Simmons, Rockville, Md.

Stephen Robinson, Rockville, Md.

Howard Clark, Montgomery Village, Md.