2023 Best In Show Photographic Print Competition

 Best in Show 2023, the largest amateur photographic print competition in the area, returned to Champaign-Urbana in what is now the 22nd year! This competition was was open to amateur photographers in Champaign County and the surrounding 11 counties and is the largest such competition in east-central Illinois. For this competition, there were 337 prints entered in 10 categories, including a new category celebrating the 25th year anniversary of the Wandell Sculpture Garden at Meadowbrook Park.

In addition to the Champaign County Camera Club (CCCC), there are nine sponsors of the Best in Show competition. The Urbana Park District assisted with all phases of the event including submission collection, hanging the prints, and communicating with participants. For information about Urbana Park District programs, call 217/367-1544 or visit the UPD website at urbanaparks.org. We gratefully acknowledge Lincoln Square Mall for providing the space for the show. Images will be displayed in the mall Saturday, February 4th through the morning of Sunday, February 12th, 2023. Larry Kanfer Gallery, Busey Bank and Illini Studio provided funding for the top image awards. Trophy Time donated all place-winner ribbons; Prairie Gardens, International Galleries, and Art Coop also provided prizes. The generosity of all these businesses is important to making this such a popular public event. CCCC thanks them all for their generosity.

All competitors were eligible for the competition’s top prizes, except those entered in the Club category.

To see the judges discuss the prints at the award ceremony held at Lincoln Square Mall on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023 see this youtube video.

Judges for BIS 2023 are Jon Dessen, Darrell Hoemann, and Della Perrone:

Jon Dessen is owner of Illini Studio in Champaign and has been photographing people for 25 years, following in the footsteps of his father the late Ed Dessen, founder of Illini Studio. In Jon’s youth he often traveled with his father to a variety of job locations during which he developed his own love for photography. Since the first portrait Jon took while assisting his father, he has photographed many of Champaign County's families, celebrities, rock bands, political figures, and much more. His work has taken him to many distant places that have made his life extremely interesting.  Jon has served as a judge many times for the Champaign County Camera Club, offering many useful insights in his critiques of the work of club members.

Darrell Hoemann retired as the News-Gazette’s first photo editor in July 2013, after 25 years. He currently is the photo editor for the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting and owns Darrell Hoemann Photography. He is an emeritus board member of the Associated Press Photo Managers, recognizing his contributions as a founding member of the organization. He continues to teach photography classes.  

A graduate of the University of Missouri, Darrell came to our community from the post of chief photographer for the Greenville (SC). A native of St. Louis, he has taught photography classes at the Greenville County Museum of Art, Furman University, and the University of Illinois. An ASMP member, he has been a member of the National Press Photographers Association since 1977 and has provided his expertise many times to Camera Club and Best in Show competitions.

Della Perrone started Della Perrone Photography in 2013 after spending several decades capturing images for performers and commercial purposes. Today, Della’s work ranges from portraiture to nature and sports to performance and events (and the occasional wedding). She serves a variety private, commercial, and institutional clients, and covers some events free-lance for the News-Gazette. Her personal work primarily reflects a passion for the natural world. Della has judged for the Camera Club on a number of occasions, including the 2017 Best in Show competition.