Local photographer recognized at state level
Parker and Drake Ginther were the models used in Chris Mattson’s photograph for the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s annual state photo contest. “Is that good?” was runner up in one of the categories, allowing Mattson’s photograph to be displayed at the Missouri State Fair this year.
Chris Mattson, a photographer from Conception Junction, recently had one of her photographs selected as runner-up in the 2016 Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest put on by the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
“It’s exciting,” Mattson said on hearing about her photograph’s success in the statewide contest.
Mattson has entered photos in the contest before, and even had one selected to be a state fair poster.
This year saw a record-breaking 980 photos submitted by photographers across the state of Missouri.
Submissions by individuals 13 years old and older were placed into five categories: Beauty on the Farm, Faces on the Farm, Farm Selfie, Farmer’s Life, and Pride of the Farm.
The 12-and-under photographers entered their shots in the Children’s Barnyard category.
A panel of judges selected the 25 top winners who will have their photos on display in the agriculture building throughout the August 11-21 Missouri State Fair. The winners will also be recognized at the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture December 14-16 at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach.
Mattson’s photo was runner-up in the Faces on the Farm category. Her photo, “Is that good?” was taken of her grandsons, Parker and Drake Ginther.
Although Mattson takes many photographs, she doesn’t consider herself a photographer.
“I don’t do it for the recognition,” she said of her entries into the annual contest. “It’s just fun to take them and when you love a picture, you want to share it. It’s exciting to be recognized though, and I know my grandkids find it exciting to see my pictures of them shared.”
For Mattson, it’s the memories made in those photographs that she cherishes the most.
“They’re my grandkids, and I love to take pictures of them,” she said. “I just take them out to the farm and follow them as they run around.”