Best of Colorado 2012Newspapers/Newsmaga

zinesTop PHOTO/GRAPHIC

ILLUSTRATION, and EDITORIAL CARTOON

entries, comments from judges and support materials

Photo/Graphic Illustration (5A)Arapahoe HS – The Arapahoe HeraldEmerald O’Brien & Madi Bates

The judge wrote: A photo or graphic illustration is a great way to give a story a visual element and the best examples are clear and simple and well-executed. To make this type of art work, you need to have a clear concept that will let you readers know just what they’re digging into.

NOTE: Not an easy topic to illustrate, but clever cropping allows the photo to tell the story without causing the reader to focus on exactly who the student and teacher might be.

Photo/Graphic Illustration (5A) North HS The North Star Selena Gomez – 2nd PlaceNOTE: The illustrator took a rather mundane photograph and gave it some depth and intrigue with the Photoshop background work..

Photo/Graphic Illustration (5A)Castle View HS The ViewRyan Costanzo – 3rd Place

NOTE: A super close-up of money allows the illustrator to make the coins and bills at least twice the size of the real thing, which avoids any legal issues.

Notice the shallow depth of field, putting much of the bills out of focus slightly and allowing items in the foreground to really pop. The artfulness of the bills being folded and crumpled adds some interest to this still life image.

In classes 3A and 4A, there were no place winners, according to the judge, although some honorable mentions were awarded. The judge just didn’t think there was enough quality (and there were relatively few entries.

Editorial Cartoon (4A)Conifer HS – The Lobo LegendMeagan Webber

The judge wrote: The best entries in this category had a clear message and point of view. Drawings were original and well-executed. Type/writing was easy to read. More clarity in lettering and attention to how drawings will reproduce will help the cartoons have even more impact.

NOTE: This cartoon accompanied a column on sagging pants and takes advantage of one of humor’s most basic tools: hyperbole.

Editorial Cartoon (3A)Kent Denver School – The Sun Devils’ Advocate Blaine BrophyNOTE: Current events are the bread and butter of editorial cartooning, and finding ways to quickly convey complex issues is the challenge.

Editorial Cartoon (5A)Rocky Mountain HS – The Rocky Mountain HighlighterReanna Nelson

NOTE: Timely cartoon, with humorous text that highlights a serious issue. Texting while driving is a national issue, but the cartoonist reminds us of larger issues.

Editorial Cartoon (5A) Rock Canyon HS – The Rock Zach Anderson – 2nd PlaceNOTE: A timely comment on the dependence of some people on Facebook to establish their self-worth. We recommend use of shading, cross-hatching, etc. to provide more depth to this sort of cartoon. Otherwise we end up with everything in just two dimensions and the art comes across as a bit “flat.”