For this year's juried photography exhibition, we chose the theme Identity Maps, featuring works by Great Lakes region artists that explored the dynamic interplays between identity, community, and place. Prizes to the top three artists were awarded by juror, celebrated Detroit photographer Amy Sacka, at the opening reception, held on Saturday, September 21.

Sacka is a documentary photographer and writer whose work celebrates the culture and environment of Detroit and the Great Lakes at large. Amy is a two-time National Geographic grantee and two-time Critical Mass Finalist, whose documentary work has been featured in publications from National Geographic to The Washington Post, the Guardian, Detroit Free Press, and LensCulture.

Below, she reflects on jurying the Identity Maps exhibition and her thoughts on the award winning works, including two honorable mentions!

What spoke to you about our exhibition Identity Maps? How does the theme relate to your own body of work?

I was really pleased to jury a show about environmental portraiture because so much of my own work is about being a Michigander and my own identity as it relates to the environment around me. I worked on two projects for National Geographic on Great Lakes ice cover, which originated as an idea because my father ice fishes on the Great Lakes. One day, I decided to go out with him with my camera, and I really started to learn about our cultural identity on the ice and the fact that the ice is disappearing. So many of my photos for that project are about Michiganders and their love of the ice and our connections to the environment, so being asked to jury a show of Great Lakes artists all about how our identities are influenced by our environment was the perfect fit for me.

On first place winner, Stephanie Cope, and her piece "Lake Michigan Cowgirl #1":

I thought it was a stunning photo, it was taken at the perfect time. You could tell that the photographer was in the water, the position of the horse's leg and head...it just drew you right in to the subject. My favorite photos are the ones that take my breath away, which this photo did for me, but also those that have this air of intrigue. I'm not very familiar with this cowgirl community but this photo made me want to know more. I think Stephanie Cope did a wonderful job of creating a photo that makes you think, that draws you in, and leaves you wanting more. I was super impressed by it.

On awarding second place to Cameron Wilcox's "Fishing for Stars":

So much of my own work is about ice-fishing on the Great Lakes and when I saw this, I thought, "Wow, this is so good! I wish I had something like this photo that could have been a part of my work for National Geographic on ice cover." I think my editors would have absolutely loved this photo. Composition-wise, you have the cracks in the ice that are filling the entire frame and leading right to the subject. It gives you a feeling of mystery and solace. Plus, the photo has a beautiful title "Fishing for Stars" — I think a lot of ice-anglers could really relate to that title because fishing is oftentimes elusive and there's a magical quality about it. This photo elicits wonder and awe from the viewer and it gave me a strong sense of "this person is a Michigander."

On Briana Platt's series "Mirror to Mirror Untitled No. 4, 20, 21, and 24", which one third place:

This series of portraits showed four different ethnicities and each one had different pieces of the person reflected back in the photo. The compositions were just so beautifully done. I am really drawn to photos that ask more questions than they answer and these photos certainly did that for me. They made me think a lot about my own identity, identity within a community, the photographer's identity and how they related to each person in the portraits. A really well shot series of photos.

On Christopher Caspar's "Modern Family," which received an honorable mention:

This family photo makes us think about identity as it relates to the "modern family" - both the photographer's and our own.

On AJ Jensen's series "US 41 Stumps #1, #3, #5," which received an honorable mention:

Without even showing people the stumps photos the relationship people have to the environment, and the mark we leave on the Earth.

All artworks are on view through November 2, 2024 in the Bonfield Gallery as part of Identity Maps: Juried Photography Exhibition.