The Saint Paul Camera Club has two separate award types: awards based on point totals and special awards.
Awards based on end-of-year point totals
Awards based on standings at the end of the year are currently given for first through fifth place in Open Digital, Digital Topic, Monochrome Print, and Color Print.
Follow the links to see a list of recipients for each year.
Special Awards
Special awards honor members for various reasons, from outstanding photography to outstanding service. Many of these awards have a relatively long history in the club. Awards specify print and/or projected image (rather than digital) since many awards go back to a time when slides were the basis for the projected image, rather than a digital file.
Follow the links to see more about each of these awards and a list of recipients.
Howard and Elsie Bahnemann Award
Howard and Elsie Bahnemann both personified pictorial photography as it was in the 1940s and 50s. This award, given in their name, is presented for the best traditional-style print and projected image of the year. Carrying on the tradition of photographers such as Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and Imogen Cunningham, the artistic value of the photo is expressed by its lighting, design, and composition.
Mark T. Kempenich Award
Mark Kempenich was an energetic president of SPCC and an early adopter of the type of photography we called contemporary. This award is given for the most original print and projected image of the year. It is presented for the best use of special techniques or a distinctive point of view.
Julia Herl Award
Reflecting her passion for photography, Julia Herl established an endowment for this award for the best print and projected image of an animal. Per Julia’s instructions, birds, fish, and insects are not to be considered.
Best Bird Award
Because the Best Animal Award does not include birds, fish, or insects, this award is only given to the best image of a bird or birds.
Marion Carpenter Award
Following her death in 2003, a traveling trophy was created for the best Monochrome Photojournalism Print of the Year in honor of Marion Carpenter, a member of SPCC who became the first woman photographer in the White House press corps.
Thelma Wille Award
Reflecting the interest of the Wille family to encourage and promote membership in the St. Paul Camera Club, this traveling trophy is presented to the new member who accumulates the most points in digital images, color prints, monochrome prints, or any combination of these (compared to other new members) in their first full year of competition.
New members who have previously belonged to a camera club, been active in international exhibitions, worked as a photographer, or worked in the photo industry are not eligible to win the Wille Award.
Service Awards
SPCC has two service awards that are awarded by the president.
Jack Myers Service Award
The Jack Myers Service Award is presented to a member of the club who has contributed their time in the service of the club. Often given to a ‘behind-the-scenes’ worker, this traveling trophy is one of the most valued symbols of recognition in the SPCC.
President’s Cup
This is the highest award presented to a member of the club. Each year, the president of SPCC gives this traveling trophy to a member of the club who has provided valuable assistance benefitting the membership of the club and the president in the execution of the president’s duties.