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Local photographers take state's top 4-H honors

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Kevin Albright of Milton took this photo while on a family trip on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. It won first place in this year’s state fair 4-H photography competition.

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Submitted photo

Kaitlyn Bluemel of Brodhead took this photo of her mother, Heather. It won eighth place in this year’s state fair 4-H photography competition.

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Submitted photo

Jocelyn Bold of Janesville took this photo of her friend Ashley Messier while downtown. It won ninth place in this year’s state fair 4-H photography competition.

JANESVILLE — One in the top 10 is pretty good.

Two is even better.

And three is amazing.

This year, three Rock County teens are in top 10 of the state's 4-H youth photo display at the Wisconsin State Fair, said Linda Marshall, Rock County 4-H program assistant.

Top local entries are:

First place: Kevin Albright, 17, son of Joyce and Bill Albright, Milton.

His photo was taken on a family trip to Scotland and Ireland. The family was on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. The tour bus had stopped to let sheep to cross the road, and Albright jumped out and snapped a few quick shots.

Eighth place: Kaitlyn Bluemel, 13, Spring Valley 4-H, daughter of Heather and Kevin Bluemel, Brodhead.

She took a picture of her mother.

Ninth place: Jocelyn Bold, 15, Badger 4-H, daughter of Kevin and Traci Bold, Janesville.

Her photo is of Ashley Messier, one of Bold's best friends. It was taken in downtown Janesville.

More than 11,500 Wisconsin youth participate in 4-H photography programs. At each year's county fair, winning photos are sent to the state fair in November, and 150 photos are picked to be in the next year's state fair show. The state's 4-H photo advisory committee then picks a "Top 12."

This year's photos were displayed at the 2008 Rock County 4-H Fair, Marshall said.

"Photography helps young people observe and appreciate their surroundings," said Wayne Brabender, state 4-H photography specialist.

"Looking through the camera makes them isolate a subject from the rest of the world, forcing them to really ‘see' the subject and the world in a new way," Brabender said.