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July 12, 2007

Fair Winds Make Fine Photographs College Announces Governor's Cup Photography Competition Winners

(St. Mary’s City, MD) May 2, 2007 – Fair winds and following seas made the competition fierce, but John Esparolini of Vienna, VA, took home first and second place honors for his photographs of last summer’s Governor’s Cup Photography competition sponsored by St. Mary’s College of Maryland. John Bildahl and Catherine Day of Annapolis, Paul Mattahi of Alexandria and Susan Biddle of Silver Spring, MD, were also honored for their photographs at a reception in Annapolis last month.

This is the eight year the College has hosted the photography competition, which recognizes excel-lence and creativity in capturing the spirit of the Chesapeake Bay’s oldest and longest overnight yacht race. More than 60 photographs were entered in this year’s competition.

“The wonderful weather of last year’s race made for many beautiful photographs. We are very grateful to the photographers for the quality of work that they entered in this year’s competition,” said Maggie O’Brien, president of the College. O’Brien awarded each prize-winning photographer an engraved pewter plate. The first place winner also received a check for $250.

First and second place awards for color photography went to John Esparolini of Vienna, VA. His first place photograph captured the crew of the Annapolis racing yacht Resolute. Esparolini’s second place photograph show a racer intent on adjusting the sail with the winch and captures the strength and speed needed to win. Esparolini is a native of Washington, D.C. and works as a graphics director and photo editor for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

John Bildahl of Annapolis won a third place award for “USA 66”. The photo shows a section of the sail of Donnybrook, the largest sailboat in the race, with its green shamrock and royal blue sail. Bildahl is a professional photographer who lives in Annapolis with his wife and children. Among his assign-ments are advertising campaigns for yacht manufacturers, editorial illustration for boating magazines, and photography for private yacht owners and corporate events.

Susan Biddle, of Silver Spring, MD, is a Washington Post photographer, and was honored with a fourth place award for her shot “Hang On.” The photo captures the image of a boat coming bow first into the camera with waves crashing and crew hanging out to balance the boat.

In the black and white category, Paul Matthai of Alexandria, VA won first place with “Positioning for. Matthai used a film camera and special dark room techniques to create a dark silhouette impres-sion of the race start. Matthai is a graduate of St. Mary’s College and works for the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency. He has been a photographer since 1975 and traveled around the world. One of his current projects is to capture a series of abstract images of Baltimore City’s old and bleak indus-trial landscapes. Matthai also teaches photography at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C.

“Sunset Spinny” by Catherine Day of Annapolis, MD, won second pace in the black and white cate-gory. As the name suggest, the photograph shows a boat in a sunset silhouette with a gossamer spinna-ker and restful view. Day grew up in Ireland and began sailing when she was 5 years old. She has trav-eled around the world sailing and taking photographs. This is the third year Day has won honors in the Governor’s Cup Photography Competition. Day runs the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association.

The judges were Colby Caldwell and Catherine Dunn from the College’s Art Department. The Gover-nor’s Cup has grown into one of the most prestigious races on the Chesapeake Bay – and with the sup-port of the local sailing community, a tradition. Winning photos from previous competitions are now on display at the Maryland House on I-95 in Aberdeen

The 2007 Governor’s Cup race will be August 3-4. Registration for the race and photo competition will open in June.

St. Mary’s College of Maryland is ranked one of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Kiplinger’s. With roots going back to 1840, SMCM is the state’s only public honors college, offering the academic excellence of a top private college with the openness and affordability of public education.