Sarah Bartnicki’s photograph hit the spot with voters at Taste of Clarkston, choosing the Highland Township resident’s entry as winner of All Saints Cemetery’s Student Photographer of the Year contest.
Bartnicki won a digital camera and $250 for the program of her choice, St. John Elementary School Scholarship Fund.
“We displayed Sarah’s photo among 10 others,” said William Burr, All Saints Cemetery director. “The citizens of Clarkston and surrounding environs voted for the winner.”
She took the picture, depicting flowers adorning a gravestone, at the end of July. She used her digital, Sony Cyber-shot camera and photo editor software to crop, fade, and texture the image.
“I though it was really cool, the flowers and angel put together with the flowers,” she said. “It was an opportunity to mix photography with my religious faith.”
“I liked her photograph since the very beginning,” Burr said. “There were a lot of clever photos this year.”
“I liked the thought she put into it, the colors fading into black and white,” said Izzy Selimi, family services counselor with All Saints.
This is All Saint’s second annual photography contest, and first at Taste of Clarkston. It was at the Oakland County Fair last year.
“This is a bigger venue,” Burr said.
The International Academy West student is the daughter of Louise and Joseph Bartnicki.
‘I’m very proud of her and very grateful to the cemetery,? Louise said.