Twenty-five members of the local Boys & Girls Club have their photography on display at the Tooele City Library as part of a nationwide competition.
The competition is part of the Boys & Girls Club of America’s ImageMaker National Photography Program. The program begins at the local level and then moves on to regional and national levels.
The local level includes the Tooele Boys & Girls Club as well as three clubs from the Salt Lake area. A total of 89 photographs have been entered in the local competition and will be on display at the library until March 13.
“We’re hoping kids take an interest in photography and learn how to develop skills with framing and story telling using photography as a medium,” said Amanda Hughes, director of community relations and special events for the Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Salt Lake Area.
All photographers are judged by age groups and categories. The age groups are ages 6 to 9, 10 to 12, 13 to 15, and 16 to 18. The categories are culture and tradition, surroundings, portraits and “What Moves Me,” which is a photograph submitted along with an essay or poem.
“The photographs are being screened by local judges who are photographers, but the judges haven’t been chosen yet,” Hughes said. “The judges will be there on Thursday to choose the winners. Whoever is selected as a winner will have their photo sent to the regional competition.”
Hughes said first, second and third place winners will be chosen in each age group, as well as in each category.
The Tooele Boys & Girls Club has 478 members who range in age from 6 to 18. This is the club’s 10th anniversary year in Tooele. “We wanted to celebrate 10 years of community, which is why the exhibit was chosen to be displayed in Tooele,” Hughes said.
“There are lots of activities being held this year to celebrate Tooele’s 10th birthday.”
Jami Carter, Tooele City Library director, said the library is excited to host the exhibit.
“I encourage the community to come and enjoy the work of these talented young photographers,” she said.