Each week in 2023 we put a theme out to the Sony Alpha Female+ Facebook Group, asking members to share their creative images as they interpret the theme for a chance to win a $500 Micro-Grant. The submissions blew us away, as did the inspiration and education from our special guest judges throughout the year. Below we honor all of the winners from each week’s theme and share some of their words and submitted photographs. See the complete Sony Alpha Female+ 2023 Micro-Grant Winner Gallery HERE, and stay tuned to the Alpha Female page and Facebook Group for more.
2023 Alpha Female+ Micro-Grant Winners
Micro-Grant Winner: Tahmina Binte Mansur Ania
Theme: All of the Feels
“I am new to this group. I want to introduce myself through this photo. My name is Tahmina and I am an aspiring landscape photographer. I took this photo in December 2021 in Alaska. I was scared to walk down this icy frozen river at first. When I was walking, I was thrilled to my core. I was walking over the 50mph snow gusts at 0 degree temperature. The snowy wind was batting against my face. I fell in love with the condition and understood the risk landscape photographers take to get the most unreal picture. I also learned to add a little imagination of my own, which I did for this image. We stayed for 30-40 minutes to shoot in extreme cold. That was one of my best days in Alaska. The feeling I had altogether was scary, excited and pure joy after taking this photo."
Photo by Tahmina Binte Mansur Ania. Sony Alpha 7R IV. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master.
Micro-Grant Winner: Krista Chappell-Rempel
Theme: Holidays
“I got a macro lens for Christmas and tried it out this afternoon. I think I'm going to like this!”
Micro-Grant Winner: Leah Beggs
Theme: Resolutions
“We live in a fast paced world and so my resolution for this year is to encourage slow living, more adventure and exploring."
Micro-Grant Winner: Kimber Greenwood
Theme: Your True Self
“This self portrait was taken underwater in my pool and was an exercise in making peace with discomfort. For example, I have a huge love, but also a deep fear of the water after I had a near-fatal diving accident many years ago. I've also never been a super girly girl, though my business is built around fiercely feminine aesthetics. My name means gold, but I prefer silver. So lots of dichotomy in this image! I hated taking it, but am thrilled with how it turned out. Sometimes it's worthwhile to sit with our discomfort, because after that, comes growth."
Micro-Grant Winner: Sandy Stolzman
Theme: The Little Things
“My recent trip to Costa Rica gave me more time with all the little froggy creatures I love so dearly. Every time I create macro images I get the chance to see and learn new things. I’m obsessed. I call this image “The Conversation”.
Photo by Sandy Stolzman. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G.
Micro-Grant Winner: Leah Barad
Theme: Winter Where You Are
“Although we get the occasional snow here, winter in the Seattle area is mostly just grey and wet. But we never let that phase us. As the saying goes ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.’"
Micro-Grant Winner: Rebecca Congleton
Theme: Home
“At the beginning of the year, I began my first ever 365 project. I’m documenting my kitchen sink every day. This began with looking for beauty, light, and shapes in ordinary things; but it has become a visual narrative of the loneliness and burden of the disproportionate division of household chores in the majority of homes, where women are responsible for a much larger portion of the housework, regardless of whether they work outside the home. It’s an attempt to capture that monotony and make the unseen seen. I call it ‘That Sinking Feeling’".
Micro-Grant Winner: Tisha Babineaux
Theme: Love
“I love watching the birds on our property. Last year, I watched this pair of blue birds slowly build their nest and she laid 6 eggs. She sat on that nest religiously, only rarely leaving. Every day (multiple times a day), the male would show up with food. She would leave the nest, meet him, take his offering and quickly return to their eggs. It was extraordinary to be able to watch."
Micro-Grant Winner: Alex Eischeid
Theme: Identity
“For the past few years I have struggled with my identity. My story isn't uncommon and is being much more of a reality for so many others. When I was six months pregnant with my daughter, I found out the man whom I thought was my biological father, was actually not. Just about everyone in my family knew this information except for me. I felt betrayed, lost, and hurt, above all, I felt like this heritage of mine had been ripped away in a matter of seconds. What do I tell my children? How do I write our family tree? I have no way of finding out about that side of my family unless I do some deep investigative work, which I'm not prepared to do. As I was doing yard work this last fall, I ripped up this dead hydrangea out of the ground. Here in Oklahoma, we have this deep red soil that stains your clothes and hands if handled for too long. I instantly saw the beauty in these old ripped up roots. An immediate connection to them because I saw a little bit of me in them. Roots ripped away without any of our own control."
Micro-Grant Winner: Crystal Mercredi
Theme: Women Empowerment
“Created this one with the Sony A1 and I think my 24mm GM. It’s a marketing image for my local college to promote their welding program, featuring one of their female welding students. The college prides itself on one of the highest rates of enrolment in our province for women in trades.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Jennifer Peterson
Theme: Nightscape
"I have spent the last several years learning all I can about #Nightscape photography. From the first time I captured stars on my Sony a6000, I was hooked. There are so many factors drawing me to this type of photography. I enjoy the planning and the adventures while out on a photo shoot. I love the ever changing night sky and the chase to find a perfect foreground. Sharing the awe and wonder of the dark night sky has been an unexpectedly joyful part of my journey, as well. This image is a composite taken on a very cold morning in Spring of 2022. I had driven the entire day to position myself to photograph the milky way rising in the southern sky at this location. I used a tracking mount to get a long exposure of the sky. I then waited until blue hour to get a focus stack of the foreground. I love how this image looks like an alien landscape. Jupiter rose up just below the milky way and cast a bright glow in the sky. This was a remarkable night under the stars and felt like an otherworldly experience.”
Photo by Jennifer Peterson. Sony Alpha 7 III. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master & Sony 24mm f/1.4 G Master
Micro-Grant Winner: Felicia Renne
Theme: Portrait
“This is an impromptu portrait of a young professional ballet dancer. We had been shooting outside and decided to take a shortcut back to our cars through a local museum. We both spotted this display of the Donor Circle, looked at one another and smiled. The security station was just a few feet away, so we had to hurry for fear that they would stop us. I got three shots off and sure enough, they chased us away. Out of all the shots we took, this is one of his favorites and mine too."
Micro-Grant Winner: Lauren Trench
Theme: Adventure
“How’s it going?” A co-worker of mine asked another. “I’m here,” he responded clearly unimpressed with his Tuesday afternoon. “I exist.” I thought about those words. How separate they should be from the feeling of going through the motions. When I first met my fiancé, we were friends who spent our weekends exploring southern Arizona. One September afternoon, we took a small road trip from Tucson to look for a cave we wanted to photograph. It wasn’t long after we got there that we felt the air change. The wind picked up and we watched as heavy monsoon clouds formed in the distance. We worked quickly to avoid the incoming storm. I climbed to a small ledge at the back of the cave and turned to see my now fiancé standing there. He’d stopped taking photos. He stopped looking at his phone. He just stopped. I watched him watch the small flashes of lightning permeate the clouds. We both listened as distant thunder echoed over the red rocks. I lifted my camera and snapped this photo of him. We were far from the first people to visit this cave. It’s certainly been heavily trafficked since. But in those moments, it felt like we stumbled onto a secret. Like we discovered something important. I remember that feeling when I look at this photo. The thickness in the air. The sense that something so much bigger was about to happen. The overwhelming aliveness of it.
I am here. I exist."
Micro-Grant Winner: Tanushree Vaidya
Theme: Expression
“This is one of my favorite photos as a wedding photographer. The combination of harsh light, gorgeous emotions and expressions as well as the water droplets frozen in time really conveys the energy of this moment.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Gemma Amos
Theme: Floral Delights
"When I look through my camera I feel calm. My mind relaxes as I focus in on the micro-worlds that my viewfinder gives me access to. I particularly enjoy observing and photographing birds. Watching their behaviors and seeing their personalities. Hummingbirds are my all-time favorite. No matter how many times I see them my inner child lights up and I fill with joy. Red Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) is an early bloomer in spring. After a sparse winter it becomes a hummingbird buffet. I love this image for many reasons; the ecstatic arch of the hummingbirds body as it tastes the nectar, the warm golden afternoon light after so many months of gloom, and the vibrant blossom display that is truly a floral delight.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Paula Hilborn
Theme: Pet Friendly
“This is Fozzie. He is the first dog that I have ever had in my 52 years of life. He is my constant shadow. He leaps like a rabbit, and on this day, I captured him flying down the steps chasing his puppy friend named Fogo. It was later in the day, so the sun was filtering in through the dust that the 2 dogs were kicking up in their high speed chase down the stairs. This was shot in a nearby park and leash free area near my home. I love this photo as it captures his joy in that moment, and really gives you the impression that he is having fun and living his best life!”
Photo by Paula Hilborn. Sony Alpha 7 III. Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro G.
Micro-Grant Winner: Marie Pier St. Laurent
Theme: Action Shot
“Wrestling has regained popularity in my hometown. Chic venues now host fights and people from all walks of life come together and enjoy the show. I was lucky enough to have the chance to photograph one of those events.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Cindy Wu
Theme: Your Inspiring Environment
Micro-Grant Winner: Anna Papuga
Theme: Breathtaking Landscapes
“This day was a special one during my backpacking trip on Santa Cruz Island in California. I got lucky that the sunset happened to be as beautiful as this spectacular cove. I sat and watched the colors appear in the sky as this lone sailboat hunkered down for a calm protected night. This is such a special island not only for its unique above-ground breathtaking landscape but also for the marine landscape surrounding this ecological gem!"
Micro-Grant Winner: Criz Quinn
Theme: Golden Hour
"From a dreamy sunrise shoot in Bali with Daniel Kordan and his beautiful daughter! One of many breathtaking mornings I will never forget from our Indonesia Odyssey with the best of friends. P.S. This amazing morning shoot was featured in my friend Mark Denney’s YouTube video from April 5. He was there with us to share the stairmaster experience to get to this spot and the spectacular #goldenhour we all experienced. Although this photo may look like his shot to many who saw his video, this one is definitely proudly captured using a Sony and not a Fuji camera.”
Photo by Criz Quinn. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G.
Micro-Grant Winner: Kimberlee Rud
Theme: Cityscape
“Our first day in Corfu. We wandered the streets looking for a place for some lunch and ended up sitting just under this small canopy of green leaves and pink flowers with the perfect sunwink shining through. I looked up to see a man hanging laundry out to dry from the apartment above. The narrow walkways, the combination of old and new all in one city. Beautiful and charming.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Megan Arndt
Theme: Day In The Life
“As we wind down the school year and my kids are home more often, it becomes even more difficult to balance work and family life. I love when my kids are home in the summer, but trying to work from home at the same time is always a challenge.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Jordy Clarke
Theme: Environmental Portraits
“This is my friend Chelsey. She is a super talented tattoo artist. I wanted to represent the long hours often found in tattooing through the lighting and serious posing. I used 3 lights, the main light is right outside the frame with a big softbox. I put a hard light outside the window gelled with a CTO to look like the sun was low and a blue fill flash for a little drama. I used some haze to catch the backlight a little more. She is sitting at her station where you can see her tattoo flash in the background.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Jyotsna Bhamidipati
Theme: Sweet Or Savory
“Sweet or savory. Sweet all the way here and an apple pie in the making!”
Micro-Grant Winner: Kim McDaniel
Theme: Reflections
“If this looks familiar, it's because I've submitted it before during a bird themed week, but it didn't win so I hope this is allowed. This was a total fluke of a shot, at the end of a long day and a long week shooting wildlife in and around Grand Teton National Park. I'm not a bird photographer, but love these gorgeous mountain bluebirds and kept missing shots because of their speed and my lack of experience. We were sitting in my bright blue truck at an overlook, windows down, engine off, deciding whether to make one more run to look for bears. I spotted this guy in the dirt next to us, staring at the vehicle that matched his feathers. He started getting closer and fluttered up onto the hood. Then he started flirting around the window, like he wanted to land on the open sill, but was afraid to get too close. I opened my door slowly, and he flew right to the opening! He started playing with the side mirror, taking off and landing again and again to see himself. I had my A9 body in my lap with the 200-600mm lens and I couldn't get to anything smaller without risking scaring him off. I pulled it up and started shooting, leaning back as far as I could to hold it to my eye, praying something might be in focus! (No bird eye AF on the A9.) After a few minutes, he started to get a little aggressive and we were worried he might hurt himself pecking at the mirror, so I shooed him off and shut the door. It wasn't until I downloaded the images to my laptop that night in our RV that I saw this frame. My husband was outside lighting the fire and heard me yell out ‘I GOT IT!!!’ And yes, it's framed and hangs in my house."
Micro-Grant Winner: Kelly Nine
Theme: Taking Flight
"I've taken a lot of wildlife photos -- including many birds-in-flight. And I'm always striving for perfect, crisp shots. But every once in a while, the imperfect shot works better for its imperfection. I didn't love this one at first, but it's a favorite among my friends and followers; and I've grown to love its softness.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Niah Aldrich
Theme: Monochrome
"Stay Wild with Monochromatic Browns, and Animal Print! This shot was shot in my studio with custom made outfits, and background to create what you see here.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Rachel Cunningham
Theme: Red White And Blue
“Red, white, and tired. I'm the new Communications Director for the Philly Fire Department and I took this photo my first week on the job. These men had just gotten done fighting a 3-alarm fire, which means - 1. They're exhausted. and 2. They were just two of the 150+ people on the scene. Fire scenes are the definition of organized chaos. As I was leaving, I noticed them sitting there silent and went to introduce myself. I thanked them for their hard work and asked to take their photo. They were skeptical at first - understandably so! I'm new, I'm not a uniformed employee, and I'm way too bubbly for my own good. After chatting for a few minutes I showed them the photo I took and they thanked me for making them look cool. As someone who suffers from imposter syndrome and anxiety, this was a vital moment in my new position because I connected with the people that sacrifice daily to keep me safe - and it clicked that my job is to show their humanity to the world.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Taylor Lundin
Theme: National Parks
“I love photographing Spirit Island in Jasper National Park. It’s considered a spiritual place for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation. They believe the mountains are representations of their ancestors and that the waters surrounding the island are healing."
Micro-Grant Winner: Katrina Thompson
Theme: Self-Healing
“I wasn't sure if I wanted to participate in this week's submission. I am new to this group and feel vulnerable. I have been flip-flopping back and forth about my participation. After almost a week of contemplation, it is important to share my story in hopes it helps someone or someone can relate and not feel alone. I gave birth to my daughter just over a year ago. After a long pregnancy with many complications and a labour that wasn't ideal, I am now suffering from Post Partum Depression. My husband tried to cheer me up by surprising me with a new macro lens in hopes it would reignite my passion for photography, and he encouraged me to keep going with my photography to help me feel like I have a purpose in life outside of being a mom. There are many times when I feel a major panic attack coming on, and I grab my camera, head outside and start shooting macro photography. This helps me be at one with nature and immersed in a smaller world where things don't seem so complicated. I can stay focused in the now, distracting my brain from the trigger that caused the panic attack in the first place. This photo is one of my favourite macro photos I have taken lately. It speaks to me because of the heart on the ladybug's back, and the heart made out of the flower. I feel like photography is saving my life."
Micro-Grant Winner: Susan Brudd
Theme: Moon Light
"I love you to the moon and back. Created in honor of my English bulldog, Winston. He passed last year but was my moon and my stars for almost 12 years.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Billie Marlow
Theme: Summer Weather
"Living in the mountains, the weather can be very unpredictable. We like to say if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes. On this day, we were out for a summer evening bike ride. Suddenly the skies turned black and we had a torrential downpour. We tried to keep biking for a bit but it became too aggressive and we pulled off to the side of the road. Not even 10 minutes later, the rain stopped and that was it- leaving us wet, cold and slightly miserable. We biked around the corner and this view made the entire evening worth it. I like to imagine that those two women had an evening they will always remember. One of those moments that stick with you. Paddleboarding through a storm and under a rainbow. I later found them and gave them some prints."
Photo by Billie Marlow. Sony Alpha 6400. Sony 24-70 f/4.
Micro-Grant Winner: Alex Kruk
Theme: Close-Up
"Living in the mountains, the weather can be very unpredictable. We like to say if you don't like the Morning Blues.. Dragonfly obsessed”
Micro-Grant Winner: Faustina Peters
Theme: Wildlife
“When I went camping in the Idaho mountains in July, I had no idea that I was about to have an amazing experience with a fox!I had gotten up and was walking around my favorite mountain lake, but wasn't finding much activity, so I headed back to camp. As I got almost there, my friend said that he'd just seen a fox and while he was showing me proof, via his phone video, she appeared! We have gone to this campground about 5 different times and have never seen one there. Well, my friend drifted away to let me do my thing with this pretty little fox and she did not disappoint. She literally PLAYED Peek-a-boo with me...on purpose! She would bounce around like a puppy, then peek out from behind some greenery, then she would stop out in the open and pose beautifully for me, only to do it all over again. Whoa! She was cautious, but curious, and let me spend almost an hour with her, without ever running away! Of course, I kept my distance and I have a 150 - 600 mm lens, so I made sure not to invade her space. Eventually, she went up into some rocks, playing and posing as she went, and found a cubby hole to go to sleep in, at which time I bid her adieu. I tell you what...it is a very special thing when a wild animal chooses to allow you to spend some quality time with them, when they could totally just run away, and my time with her can only be described as pure magic!”
Micro-Grant Winner: Kara Morgan Potter
Theme: Stop Motion
“I'm a board member and overly-involved participant in one of the most magical communities - the Gowanus Dredgers. Ostensibly a canoe club, it's a group of fascinating individuals who all care about community, the environment, civic action.... rabble rousing, poetry, music, art.... This past year has been tough, we've had a leadership change and sometimes it is tough to focus on why we're doing this, the admin work threatens to overshadow the fun. But looking back on these photos of our community, I'm reminded why it's all worth it. The thing I really love about this group is how much we care about growing. Our arms are wide open to bring in new people. Whether it's a group of student biologists or experimental musicians, or a queer-vegan-bike- nerd coffee shop crew.... I can't wait to see who else comes through our dock and hops in a canoe and stays after to help clean up and tell stories and laugh and learn and connect. (If you're in Brooklyn, come on by! I'd love to take Sony Alpha Female folks out on the water! We get some greeeaaat sunsets!)"
Micro-Grant Winner: Nicole Vergalla
Theme: Community
"When you purchase a vintage parachute you must turn it into a fashion statement.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Melissa Ware
Theme: Fashion
“I was driving to go on a nature walk last spring, and saw a bunch of ducklings right next to the railroad tracks. Obviously I pulled over, to get some shots but also to make sure they made it to the canal on the other side. By the time I grabbed my camera they had already jumped over the outside track and were in the middle. I scrambled to get in place to take some photos, which I thought would be super cute and amazing. I took a few, then noticed they weren't able to clear the other track, I'm not sure why. I could tell they probably weren't going to get over it. The momma duck (who may be Clementine, a duck who laid eggs in my backyard three years ago) was quacking in panic. As much as I wanted to get more photos of them jumping up, trying to hurdle the track I felt like I better intervene. I put down my camera and walked over to the ducklings who immediately huddled into a group. I scooped a couple up and put them on the other side, then grabbed a handful at a time to get it done faster. One made a run for it so I had to chase it a little ways down the track and catch it. The mom waited patiently for me to get the last one. As soon as I captured it and put it on the other side they all went over to the canal and got in the same spot where I took all the babies from my yard! Anyway, I only got a few photos before the mom and babies started to panic but I feel good about choosing to help them over getting shots of stressed out ducklings. The welfare of wildlife should always come before getting pics for sure. By the way, they were super duper soft and so light! I bet they were only a day or two old."
Micro-Grant Winner: Nette Shaff
Theme: In The Moment
“I was driving to go on a nature walk last spring, and saw a bunch of ducklings right next to the railroad tracks. Obviously I pulled over, to get some shots but also to make sure they made it to the canal on the other side. By the time I grabbed my camera they had already jumped over the outside track and were in the middle. I scrambled to get in place to take some photos, which I thought would be super cute and amazing. I took a few, then noticed they weren't able to clear the other track, I'm not sure why. I could tell they probably weren't going to get over it. The momma duck (who may be Clementine, a duck who laid eggs in my backyard three years ago) was quacking in panic. As much as I wanted to get more photos of them jumping up, trying to hurdle the track I felt like I better intervene. I put down my camera and walked over to the ducklings who immediately huddled into a group. I scooped a couple up and put them on the other side, then grabbed a handful at a time to get it done faster. One made a run for it so I had to chase it a little ways down the track and catch it. The mom waited patiently for me to get the last one. As soon as I captured it and put it on the other side they all went over to the canal and got in the same spot where I took all the babies from my yard! Anyway, I only got a few photos before the mom and babies started to panic but I feel good about choosing to help them over getting shots of stressed out ducklings. The welfare of wildlife should always come before getting pics for sure. By the way, they were super duper soft and so light! I bet they were only a day or two old."
Micro-Grant Winner: Allegra Hutton
Theme: Aquatic
“Arriving home from the most amazing two weeks in the South Pacific where I got to spend my days in the water with these gentle giants. I think mama humpbacks can teach us all a little something. The ability to be both fiercely protective and entirely vulnerable enough to trust us to be in the water with her calf is such a beautiful thing."
Micro-Grant Winner: Grace Hsieh
Theme: Long Exposure
"Blue hour fog weaving through the shimmering city lights. After 7 years of living in the Bay Area, I was fortunate enough to experience the surreal magic of the fog last year. What’s even better was being able to learn from and enjoy the moments with some of the best photographers in the area. This was my first time capturing the Bay Area fog and inversion on Mount Tam. I’ve heard of how magical it was to be up there to experience the clouds below the mountains. It was unforgettable, and I’ve been chasing similar conditions since then.”
Photo by Grace Hsieh. Sony Alpha 7 III. Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master.
Micro-Grant Winner: Mika Geiger
Theme: Abstract
“Aquatic Elegance: Koi’s Brushstrokes As I watched some beautiful koi swim languidly around a pond, I couldn't help but notice how their tails swept through the water like gentle brushstrokes. I used a slow shutter speed to illustrate the motion and added texture to give more dimension to the abstract photo.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Kaylee Greer
Theme: Pets
"There is something so remarkable about the magic of dog. The wet noses, the sparkling gemstone eyes, the way their warm fur feels between your fingers… I often ask myself what in the world we have ever done to be lucky enough to share this planet with them. To ride this rock through the galaxy with these angels by our sides. I think - what in the heck we have ever done to deserve them?… The unending selflessness, the spirit of adventure, the purest friendship, and the physical manifestation of the most authentic kind of joy - all wrapped up into wiggling, furry little packages. They’re truly a wonder. And that is precisely why I feel so indescribably lucky to spend my life pointing my camera in their direction. All of the above and more boundlessly applies to this incredibly special canine trio pictured here. Say hello from left to right - to Envy, Trek and Zain. I drove 6 hours out to Pennsylvania from my home in New Hampshire for this shoot. I knew of this crystal clear reservoir where we could make this half underwater shot happen. The only snag in our plans was — what was forecast to be a sunny summer day, turned ominous, dark and cloudy within minutes of us arriving on-location on the afternoon of the shoot. (Cue some comment about Murphy’s Law and a tiny sad trombone here.) Add to that the winds whipping up in a pre-rainstorm dance and you suddenly have one very wavy and splashy body of water that was otherwise serene and still. It was an interesting set of challenges for us to navigate - especially since underwater visibility is key in split shot photos like this one. But thanks to the impeccable skills of these three rockstars, we were able to get in the water, make some serious magic happen, and get out before the first raindrop even fell! In the end, it turns out - things don’t always go according to plan. But sometimes….just sometimes…. dark, dramatic skies and whipping winds may just be just exactly what you didn’t know you needed.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Denise Johnson
Theme: Connection To Landscapes
"Embarking on my first photography workshop in Iceland in the summer of 2022 was an unforgettable experience for me. During the trip, we ventured to the outskirts of Vatnajökull National Park to capture the mesmerizing mountain peaks of Vestrahorn reflections in the black sand. The sight was breathtaking and left me in awe of the natural beauty that Iceland has to offer. This was my shot!”
Micro-Grant Winner: Alex Eischeld
Theme: Inner Demons
“Another self portrait that relates to the joys of being a woman. The past few years have been awful for my body. The older I get, the more hyper aware I am of my body and all of its changes. I'm also now aware of how (most) men get to float through life completely oblivious of their own bodies. Women are given bandaids. You're in pain? Here, take this pill everyday but give it at least six months. That didn't work? Here, let's shove this thing in your uterus but again, give it at least six months. Oh and it may cause x,y,z side effects. Waiting months and months to see a new doctor that will advocate for you and actually listen. I love being a woman! Truly. But it really sucks sometimes. At least 7 days out of the month. Or almost 3 months out of the year. Or about 84 days out of the year. It sucks."
Micro-Grant Winner: Azure Mahara
Theme: Sidewalk Stories
"As a child I would often look out the window of our van and wonder what everyone's story was. I have always had a genuine interest in the complexities of all the different faces and stories. So it's no wonder that I grew up and found a love for street photography. Looking past whatever you have going on in your life, taking a deep breath and taking a moment to observe. To observe the lives, expressions and gravity of all the lives of the people around you is something I wish more did on a regular basis. Community is stronger when we step outside ourselves.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Alexandria Torrescano
Theme: Fall Vibes
"Fall in Oregon. Extremely grateful to be an hour from the Columbia River Gorge and all its beauty & so excited for this week’s theme. I absolutely love fall! The crisp air, the changing colors, winding down to the holidays… it’s a beautiful and cozy time of year. I love drinking coffee by the fire and the contrast of the red and yellow and orange leaves against the gray sky during my commute. Soup szn, sweater weather, raindrops on the roof… it’s the best.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Jessika Jionni
Theme: Moments of Gratitude
“Looking back at this year, woven with threads of challenge and change, I discovered the profound truth that within the chaos lies the power to shape our destinies. As a symphony of uncertainties played, they echoed the melody of growth and resilience. Amidst the discomfort, a hard lesson unfolded ~ embracing the shadows is the only path to the radiant light residing in the depths of our souls. A captured moment, a family self-portrait, became a canvas of revelation. Despite its inherent difficulty, messiness, and imperfection, it served as a testament to my ability to navigate the tumultuous currents alone. This image, etched with the brushstrokes of courage and bravery, paints a portrait of welcoming the unknown ~ a masterpiece of love.”
Micro-Grant Winner: Michelle Jacqumet
Theme: Favorite Place
"I was lucky to grow up visiting Yosemite National Park every year with my family. My grandparents started camping before they had children. It became a family vacation destination once children were in the picture. I have a few cherished film photographs that my Grandfather took of my Grandmother with her Aunties. They had snowball fights, visited Jeffrey Pine, and the Native American Village of the Ahwahneechee. My parents made Yosemite our annual summer holiday which started when I was just a baby. As a young pre-teen, my love for photography blossomed in Yosemite Valley. I was always carrying around a film point and shoot camera. It was common for me to get up before sunrise to shoot long exposures of the Merced. I skipped dinners to shoot alpine glow on Half Dome. My husband and I were excited to share Yosemite with our son last fall, when he was 14 months old. He loved throwing rocks into the Merced and watching the ripples in the water. He found joy in picking up leaves and playing in the dirt."
Micro-Grant Winner: Audra Day Allen
Theme: Togetherness
"We rescued this guy during the pandemic and he is so much fun to train using all hand signing due to him being deaf. It's really a treat to communicate in complete silence out in nature and not use our voices. He also has better recall than all the hearing dogs I've had. Deaf dogs rock!"
Micro-Grant Winner: Jennifer Peterson
Theme: Starry Sky
"This image captures a beautiful spring evening, emerging like a dream after a long rainy winter. The much-needed rain has soaked the Earth, breathing life into the lupine and saturating the colors of the landscape parched by consecutive wildfires. I was easily captivated by the interaction between the lupine and the stars above. The blue and white of the lupine mimic the stars, their radiance reflecting the wonder of a dark night sky. It is a convergence of the two realms, as if the lupine's flowers have absorbed the light of the stars. The south fork of the Trinity River is a wild and scenic river in the northern part of California. A remote and rugged landscape has been created by the movement of this river over time. I am fascinated by this unique biome and by the dark night sky found above. This image is a composite. The foreground is a blue hour focus stack. The sky was tracked with the move shoot move tracker. I moved my tripod about 10 feet to a more comfortable spot to capture the 3 minute sky exposure. The images were edited in Lightroom and blended in Photoshop."
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