World’s Best Animal Photogs: BANNON, CHOLWICH, MEYERS-LUSSIER, DOYLE, MINN, LEE, SHEA / 2022 AMERICAN ART AWARDS Winners

Thom Bierdz
6 min readSep 28, 2022

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20 of USA’s Best Galleries & Museums vote in the AMERICAN ART AWARDS, arguably the most prestigious online art competition. In 2022, painters, sketchers, digital artists, photographers and sculptors from 69 countries submitted JPEGs for the 50 categories — to win gallery affiliation, career launch, high scores, great press and/or $5,000 in prizes.

Here are the winners in CATEGORY 41, NONMANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY — ANIMAL

1st Place Bio: TANIA CHOLWICH

My African dream can be captured as the magnificent beauty and behavior of the wildlife, the African sun tingling on my skin and a camera ready to capture the unique moments which last a lifetime.

I absolutely love what I do but am not your run-of-the-mill photographer. My passion for nature and wildlife photography stems from my natural love for Africa and all of her breathtaking beauty.

Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, I see the broader African continent as my home and have an insatiable desire to travel and explore the African continent.

I fell in love with photography 10 years ago and I have never looked back since. Through my photography I share the wonder and awe that I feel when I am in Africa’s wild and mysterious places.

I draw inspiration from being surrounded by nature. The tranquility and the vastness of the true wilderness makes me want to capture the split-second moments to the best of my ability.

I come alive behind the lens of a camera. I see the world from a different perspective through my camera. I am never more comfortable than when my camera is in both hands, fearlessly clicking away, capturing moments.

I love adventure. I love trying new and exciting things — it revives my soul and I am blessed beyond words to be able to do what I do. https://taniacholwich.com

1st Place Bio: KAREN BANNON

I am a small town country girl from Oklahoma.

In 2012 I was diagnosed terminal and given a year to live with a very rare lung disease. 3 months later my breast cancer came back, aggressive stage 3. With double threats on my life, I moved to Lake Arcadia, Arcadia Oklahoma, closer to the hospital. I started forcing myself to walk just outside my RV. At first just getting down my steps was all I could do.

As I would sit to rest, I noticed beautiful sites, and began shooting with my cell phone and posting on Facebook. I found peace in a world full of medical mayhem.

I did almost die quite a few times, even in a 13 day coma once. Another time 3 months in a nursing home. I have had a total of 42 surgeries just to stay alive. I am not even a senior yet.

Each time I was in the hospital, my driving force was to get out to shoot again. My style is completely unschooled and as my moods takes me. I just go with whatever is in front of me and how it takes me. There is nothing forced, it’s just a creative release.

God has sustained me. He blessed me with this wonderful talent and gifted me peace in doing it. What more could a person ever ask for! All glory goes to God!

CONTACTS — — — — —CATEGORY 41. NONMANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY ANIMAL

1ST PLACE — TIE KAREN BANNON USA Karenbannon266@gmail.com “The Landing” Photo.

1ST PLACE — TIE TANIA CHOLWICH SOUTH AFRICA https://taniacholwich.com “Elephant Family” Photo.

2ND PLACE ROBERT MEYERS-LUSSIER USA www.rmlphotos.com “Monterey Bay Study 6” Photo.

3RD PLACE — TIE DENNIS DOYLE USA http://dennisddoyle.com/ “No Fences” Photo.

3RD PLACE — TIE TANIA CHOLWICH SOUTH AFRICA https://taniacholwich.com “The Kill” Photo. Non-Manipulated Photography

4TH PLACE — TIE DENNIS DOYLE USA http://dennisddoyle.com/ “Cinnamon” Photo.

4TH PLACE — TIE KATE MINN USA kateminn@gmail.com “Watching” Photography.

5TH PLACE KATE MINN USA kateminn@gmail.com “Butterfly” Photography.

6TH PLACE — TIE SOOHOON LEE USA sunnyshlee07@gmail.com “Home” 6x8” Photography.

6TH PLACE — TIE KATE MINN USA kateminn@gmail.com “A Blue Bird” Photography.

6TH PLACE — TIE BONNIE SHEA USA Childonlineprotection@yahoo.com “Freedom” Photography.

More winners from USA because more entered from USA.

100 ARTICLES on the 50 CATEGORIES of the 2022 AMERICAN ART AWARDS WINNING ARTISTS will be here: https://www.americanartawards.com/2022-press-on-artists/

COLLECTORS wanting to acquire these pieces or contact the artists can get direct links here: https://www.americanartawards.com/2022-winning-artists/

This is the 14th anniversary for the American Art Awards organization which selects the 20 Best Galleries and Museums each May, who decide the world’s best artists in Autumn.

American Art Awards 20 Best Galleries & Museums for 2022, in alphabetical order of state, who were asked to vote on art submissions:

BEST IN ARIZONA — Exposures International Gallery Of Fine Art

BEST IN ARKANSAS — Fort Smith Regional Art Museum

BEST IN CALIFORNIA — Exclusive Collections Galleries

BEST IN COLORADO — Mirada Fine Art

BEST IN DELAWARE — The Delaware Contemporary

BEST IN FLORIDA — MAC Art Galleries

BEST IN GEORGIA — Westobou Gallery

BEST IN HAWAII — Sunshine Arts

BEST IN INDIANA — Lubeznik Center for the Arts

BEST IN LOUISIANA — Arthur Roger Gallery

BEST IN MICHIGAN — LaFontsee Galleries

BEST IN MISSOURI — Hilliard Gallery

BEST IN NEBRASKA — Kiechel Fine Art

BEST IN NEW HAMPSHIRE — Rochester Museum of Fine Arts

BEST IN NEW MEXICO — Blue Rain Gallery

BEST IN NEW YORK — Center for Exploratory & Perceptual Arts

BEST IN OREGON — Bronze Coast Gallery

BEST IN SOUTH CAROLINA — Mary Martin Galleries Of Fine Art

BEST IN SOUTH DAKOTA — South Dakota Art Museum

BEST IN WEST VIRGINIA — West Virginia State Museum

Among other criteria, gallery & museum selections are based on years established, industry reputation, online interest, location, size, socially relevant exhibits, motivational and educational programs, represented artists as well as artist, client and visitor references.

Enter here: https://www.americanartawards.com/register-to-enter-3/

or get a gallery to rate and price your work: https://www.americanartawards.com/gallery-ratings/

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Thom Bierdz

One of Medium’s TOP ART CONTRIBUTORS, award-winning author, actor, film-maker, painter. 12 books: 6 on art. President of WAA & AAA & ACCA.