The Awards Gala for 2024 Photo-Competition took place on 2 February in the auditorium of Faculty St. Jean in Edmonton, thanks to the kind invitation by Witek Kurpiński. In spite of the very cold weather (-25C), the Gala attracted about 40 people interested in mountain film and photography.
Category R - "Reels" - Andy Rutkowski Award
1st Place - "Om Namah Shivaya butterflies" - by Piotr Rajski
Category N - "Full Movie Feature" - Boris Bokov Award
1st Place - "Hiking Tent Ridge Horseshoe Trail" - by Andy Rutkowski (25:14)
Category L - "Video with a Twist" - Beata and Andrzej Jędrych Award
1st Place - "The Raven of the Delicate Arch" - by Piotr Rajski
Category I - "The Monuments of Nature" - Barbara Walter Award
1st Place - "Two Thousand Years Old Twins" - by Basia Krzymień
Category H - "(Sexy) Man in the Mountains" - Bo Maciaszczyk Award
1st Place - "Saint Dragan" - featuring Dragan Radovic
Category G - "(Pretty) Woman in the Mountains" - Bogdan Kulik Award
1st Place (ex equo) - "Pretty on the top" - featuring Gosia Stróżyk
F – „Górski selfik” – Ela Tomczyk Award – “Mountain Selfie”
1st Place - "Selfie on Dunajec River" (Pieniny, Poland) - by Bożenna Pomorska
Congrats to Bożenna!
(PR)
Category E – „Górskie archiwalia” – Yanek Wójcik Award – “Mountain archives”
1st Place - "Mount Wilcox 25 years ago" - by Andy Rutkowski
Congrats Andy!
(PR)
Category C - "Humor górski" - Michał Trzecieski Award - "Mountain humor"
First of all, it impresses me that some of the ladies of our Club can not only jump but jump high! This must have something to do with their ferocious sexual appetites (or so I speculate). But of course, when seeing the truly masculine specimen of Dragan, it is only natural that the ladies jump ... high! (Piotr)
This photo
captures a joyful moment in the mountains on a bright, sunny day. A woman in
mid-air, jumping up on a patch of snow, her arms stretched high, casting
excitement and energy. The snow contrasts with the cloud-covered blue sky and
the peaks are peeking in a distance. Strong male partner stands poised, ready
to “rescue” her, with a playful grin on his face. This dynamic and vibrant
photo highlights their adventurous spirit and the cheerfulness of their
friendship, all against the magical mountain scenery. (Yanek)
 |
| "Hiking above the clouds" - by Mike Trzecieski The Awards Ceremony for our 11th Photo-Competition was the best ever. It was attended by about 40 people, both current and aspiring Club members. Great thanks to Polish Heritage Society of Edmonton for arranging the venue and to Polish Cultural Society for sponsoring wine and snacks. As usual, great thanks to Yanek Wojcik for preparing the slides and films presentation. The picture above won the Grand Prix and the title of "Best picture of 2023 Mountain Season." It was taken by Mike Trzecieski during his climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak of Africa, last year. This is how I justified this award: |
I could say my heart was “swayed” by this photo that seems
to have this particular message I am looking for. Though small, we humans, just
through the sheer power of our legs, can “get above the clouds.” Drawn by the
beauty of the mountains, we reach great heights, which is a testimony to our
fighting spirit, tenacity, sense of adventure and the power to transcend the
limitations of our material life. I see it all in this very allegoric picture
and that is why I give it first place. (Piotr)
