WORLD’S BEST LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHERS: WAGNER, MEYERS-LUSSIER, PADIYA, MCCLURG & ARNN ARTENO
Landscape photographers from USA, India and Canada score highest in Category 43 of the 2018 AMERICAN ART AWARDS.
This year the American Art Awards (www.AmericanArtAwards.com), juried by the 25 Best Galleries & Museums In America (listed below), had online art images in 50 categories submitted from artists in 59 countries: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Great Britain, Greece, Haiti, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, Ukraine, USA, Venezuela.
The 1st Place to 6th Place winners in all 50 categories have been revealed in the news about a category a day — making this one of the longest winner announcements of any art competition in the world.
Gary Wagner Biography:
Gary Wagner’s love of the photographic image and craft began when he became the photographer for his high school newspaper in Kokomo, Indiana. He continued his education at the University of Indiana, in Bloomington eventually moving to Santa Barbara, California, to attend Brooks Institute of Photography. While at Brooks, Gary increased his artistic and theoretical knowledge of photography and the historical significance of the printed image. Earning a Master’s Degree in Photography from Brooks Institute, with the publication of his work on historical carbon printing, gave Gary a continued appreciation and passion for his artistic craft.
His photographic images have been recognized by exhibitions in many galleries, published in Lenswork magazine, Outdoor Photographer magazine and Digital Photographer UK magazine among others. Having won numerous awards including Best of Show for two years at the Sacramento Fine Art Center, accepted into the California State Fair Fine Art Show and received awards 7 years annually in Black and White magazine. Most recent achievement was the publication of his book, “Digital Black and White Landscape Photography, Fine Art Techniques from Camera to Print” by Amherst Media. Gary is also the author of three self-published books: Sierra Nevada Mountains, Sierra Mountain Wilderness and Redwood Coast: Sea and Land.
Gary’s professional career spans more than three decades and includes, fine art, portrait, and commercial photography. His knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm for the photographic image enabled him to successfully teach theory and technique at the college level and seminars in Europe on the English country landscape. Fluent with all film formats, from 35mm to 8x10, Gary has embraced the digital image and the ever changing environment of photography in the current technological age. Exploring photography using digital imagery offers a myriad of possibilities. Refining technique with the interplay of artistic expression fascinates and challenges Gary to continue his exploration of the photographic image and his study of the land and its natural elements and beauty.
For the past 25 years Gary has made his home in Northern California.
CATEGORY 43. NONMANIPULATED PHOTOGRAPHY — LANDSCAPE
1ST PLACE-TIE GARY WAGNER USA www.garywagner.com “Ice Jewels” 14.75x22” Archival ink on cotton paper.
1ST PLACE-TIE GARY WAGNER USA www.garywagner.com “Soft And Soothing” 15x21.75” Archival ink on cotton paper.
2ND PLACE GARY WAGNER USA www.garywagner.com “Lone Tree” 14.75x22” Archival ink on cotton paper.
3RD PLACE ROBERT MEYERS-LUSSIER USA www.rmlphotos.com “Muir Woods Study 17” 5472px x 3648px Photography.
4TH PLACE VIRAL PADIYA INDIA www.viralpadiyaphotography.com “Dunes At Dusk” Panoramic Photo.
5TH PLACE GARY WAGNER USA www.garywagner.com “Down Stream Bliss” 15x21.75” Archival ink on cotton paper.
6TH PLACE-TIE LANCE W. MCCLURG CANADA lancewmg@gmail.com “Sundance” 3983×3024px Photography.
6TH PLACE-TIE LINDA ARNN ARTENO USA www.ArnnArteno.com “Spring Eden” 8x12" Photo on metal.
This year’s 25 Best Galleries & Museums asked to vote on art were:
BEST IN ALABAMA — ALABAMA CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER
BEST IN ARKANSAS — FORT SMITH REGIONAL ART MUSEUM
BEST IN CALIFORNIA — REVOLVER GALLERY
BEST IN COLORADO — COLORADO FINE ARTS CENTER AT COLORADO COLLEGE
BEST IN FLORIDA — LIK FINE ART MIAMI + LIK FINE ART KEY WEST
BEST IN ILLINOIS — TRICKSTER ART GALLERY
BEST IN KANSAS — BIRGER SANDZEN MEMORIAL GALLERY
BEST IN KENTUCKY — E&S GALLERY
BEST IN LOUISIANA — NEWCOMB ART MUSEUM
BEST IN MASSACHUSETTS — BOSTON SCULPTORS GALLERY
BEST IN MISSISSIPPI — THE OHR-O’KEEFE MUSEUM OF ART
BEST IN MISSOURI — UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI MUSEUM OF ART AND ARCHEOLOGY
BEST IN NEBRASKA — KIECHEL FINE ART
BEST IN NEVADA — THE METROPOLITAN GALLERY OF LAS VEGAS ART MUSEUM
BEST IN OHIO — LEE HAYDEN GALLERY
BEST IN OKLAHOMA — JOSEPH GIEREK FINE ART
BEST IN OREGON — JORDAN SCHNITZER MUSEUM of ART
BEST IN PENNSYLVANIA — JAMES A. MICHENER ART MUSEUM
BEST IN SOUTH CAROLINA — MARY MARTIN GALLERY OF FINE ART
BEST IN SOUTH DAKOTA — SOUTH DAKOTA ART MUSEUM
BEST IN TEXAS — ART ON 5TH
BEST IN UTAH — THE LEONARDO
BEST IN WASHINGTON — MARYHILL MUSEUM OF ART
BEST IN WEST VIRGINIA — WEST VIRGINIA STATE MUSEUM
BEST IN WISCONSIN — MUSEUM OF WISCONSIN ART
Enter art at www.AmericanArtAwards.com