Congratulations Kristine Kohl--January 2020 PFRE Photographer of the Month!

Congratulations to Kristine Kohl from Kennewick, WA; January 2020 Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was twilight and I had 70 entries from around the world; by far, the most entries ever! As always, a big thank you goes out to everyone who participated and to the jurors who continue to volunteer their valuable time and thoughtful insights.

Please feel free to view and comment on any of this month's entries here.

Here are the top five entries that the jury awarded points to:

1. Kristine Kohl #57
2. Danielle Robertson #32
3. Scott Basile #69
4. Tim Cotter #47
5. Jordan Powers #19

Here's what Kristine had to say about the win:

I’m blown away to be chosen among so many beautiful photographs.

This shot has a fun story behind it. My good friend Tacey Jungmann was hired to shoot this spectacular property (for a second time) and she invited me to come along. I was happy to make the trip, as I find so much can be learned by photographing and exchanging techniques with those whom you have admiration for. I went with the intent of making artwork for myself as well as sharing the duties of the twilight shooting for the property. I kept my eyes peeled throughout the day for spots. The true beauty of this image lies in the magic of the immense trees and spectacular surroundings. I wanted to show the scale of those pines in relation to the home. This spot obscured the driveway and gave peeks of the water. The luck came when the door was left open by Tacey because I kept getting locked out! Funny, it turned out to be a welcoming gesture that gave the image that little bit extra. I made this shot then ran to the back of the home to photograph what I “thought” would be the hero shot. Turns out the hero was this image.

When it came time to process, I made the decision to add the light rays in post. I felt they were an appropriate touch, like adding just the right sky. It was an artistic choice because first and foremost we are all artists.

Tech specs: Nikon D810, 16-35mm lens set to 21mm, ISO 250, F-11

I’d like to thank the panel for taking time to give thoughtful and constructive feedback. I will be tweaking the image a bit more now. I’d also like to take the opportunity to encourage others to go out and photograph with people whom you respect and who challenge you to grow visually. The exchange of information and the camaraderie in this community is a wonderful thing that should be utilized. It doesn’t have to be a spectacular estate... invite friends and go learn some new skills to add to your bag of tricks. Most of my days are filled photographing normal family dwellings, but if you are constantly making strides to learn new approaches, asking for help with the things you struggle with, and putting time in to hone your skills, amazing properties will come.

PFRE Photographer of the Month Winners:

• March 2020 PFRE Photographer of the Month
• February 2020 PFRE Photographer of the Month
• November 2019 PFRE Photographer of the Month