2nd place
silver star award
Valerie Franc-Houge
united states 
title
Stone Creatures
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entry description
I recently discovered a spot in the Snoqualmie river where the reflection of rocks in the water makes for odd little characters with a personality of their own.about the photographer
Valerie Franc-Houge is a Seattle-based fine art photographer. In her late teens, Valerie was fascinated by the arresting and dramatic quality of Ansel Adams’ majestic black and white landscapes, but ironically, it wasn’t until well after college, in the Fall of 2008, that she finally took the plunge and taught herself the basics of photography. The catalyst was a workshop organized by the city of Cannes, France, during the Royal Regattas, one of the foremost Classic Yacht events in the world. Val's background as a linguist and a jazz saxophonist, as well as her keen interest in design, helped shape her creativity and art. Aside from those magnificent vessels, Val is also inspired by wildlife and travels. More recently, she was drawn to the expressive power of long exposure black and white photography as a fine art medium. "While black and white photography has the ability to kindle the imagination and soothe the soul, long exposure imbues images with a beautiful dream-like quality."back to gallery
