The winners have been announced in the Death Matters Photography Contest held by the Abbotsford Hospice Society (AHS).
AHS held the contest over the last two months to get youth ages 12 to 18 to talk about death through visual representations in the form of memories, abstract compositions or other creative forms of expression that explored the effects of absence and presence.
Judges Marion Keys, John Morrow and Dr. Lakhbir K. Jassal selected Hunter Ferris, 16, of W. J. Mouat Secondary as the winner for his submission titled Faded, which he says showcases “loved ones after death.”
Hunter won several prizes, including a one-hour consultation with Abbotsford News freelance photographer John Morrow.
Second place went to Chloe Johnson, 16, from Yale Secondary for her submission An Absent Presence, which she says captures the feeling of “misplaced emptiness that often follows the death of a loved one.”
Another Yale student, 15-year-old Kendra Sohl, came in third place with her photograph Chalk Full of Memories, which she says depicts “a kid’s drawing that is no longer with us.”
The top three photos will be displayed in the youth room at the hospice.
AHS executive director Dr. Ron Kuehl said the contest attracted several “creative and emotionally charged” entries form Abbotsford youth.
“Obviously, it signals both the creative strength that resides within the youth in our community as well as speaking to a topic that is inescapable and real. The quality of the submissions was quite impressive,” he said.
Visit abbotsfordhospice.org for more information about AHS.
