CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Pictured are the Central Iowa Fair’s “Best of Show” photographs. These pictures are on display through Oct. 4 in Conference Room A at the Fisher Community Center.

TIMES-REPUBLICAN

The top-rated photos of the 2018 Central Iowa Fair’s Open Class photography entries are on exhibit in Conference Room A of the Fisher Community Center now through Oct. 4.

One hundred forty photos by photographers from seven area communities were submitted for judging in the 2018 Central Iowa Fair Open Class division, with the top 15 percent receiving “Best of Show” designation. Those top-rated photos are now on display at the Fisher Community Center in Conference Room A and are available for viewing by the public through Oct. 4.

“Open Class photography is a popular category of entries at the Central Iowa Fair,” said Mary Giese, one of the organizers. “Photographers appreciate the opportunity to receive feedback on their pictures from a panel of knowledgeable judges, and fairgoers enjoy looking at the variety and quality of photos submitted each year.”

Photos were entered in classes according to the main subject matter of the photo. They could be color or black and white prints in the following classes: people; places and landscapes; things and still life; plants, flowers and trees; animals, insects and wildlife. The images must have been taken during the past year by the exhibitor.

Photographers of any age who live in Marshall County or any of the surrounding counties were eligible to enter their photos in the Open Class competition. This year’s entrants ranged in age from 6 years old to senior citizen and included 29 photographers from seven area communities: Marshalltown, Albion, Gilman, Melbourne, Conrad, Haverhill and Laurel.

The photos were judged on their impact or interest, composition and the photographer’s technique by a panel of three judges: Mary Ann Gardner and Dr. Mike Meetz from Nevada, and Walt Huffaker from Marshalltown.

The 2018 winning photographers were Layken Eastman, Linda Eastman, Quinn Eastman, David Giese, Rosemary Lyle, Katie Meester, Beth Murtha, Vicky Otto, Doni Sheldon and Amy Snyder.

To learn more about the exhibit, the open class photography division of the Central Iowa Fair, or the Central Iowa Camera Club, contact Mary Giese at mcgiese@mchsi.com or visit the camera club’s website at www.centraliowacameraclub.com.