ECI in Focus: Directions 2012

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WINNER | Best Amateur Photo

ANNA BEACHPhotographer Anna Beach, 11 years old, captured this photo visiting the Jacobs’ Family Orchard

DIRECTIONS 2012

The best of East Central Indiana captured through the lenses of

Star Press readersSunday, March 18, 2012

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We didn’t know what we were getting into when we asked readers late last year to submit their favor-ite photos that showed quintessential East Central Indiana. Within days, dozens of photographs flooded our inbox. Within weeks, hundreds more arrived.

One would think the sheer quantity would make it impossible to whittle down to a consensus what it means to be a Hoosier in our communities. Not so.

From the get-go, several obvious themes rose to the surface.We learned from this project that ECI is all about the people, their comfortable places and the natural environment that surrounds us

— whether that’s the city streets of Muncie or the farm fields of Selma.

I would venture a guess that had this same contest been held 40 years ago, many of the same images would have been submit-ted.

Our children still find joy in the great outdoors, their soccer games and visits to the pumpkin patch.

Corn fields, hay bales and wooden barns still dot the coun-tryside.

And nothing beats an early morning sunrise over those same fields — and above our city streets.

For all that has changed, what really matters has stayed the same.

Out of all the photographs we received, however, it was one from an 11-year-old girl in Muncie that seemed to sum all of our communities up best.

“On Top of the World” highlighted family, friends, the out-doors and making the most of every moment. Anna Beach of

Muncie may only be 11, but her photo shows that her priori-ties are in the right place. Narrowing the hundreds of photos that we received down

to 60 finalists and five winners was no easy task. Much like the variety of photos we received, so was the variety of “ECI experi-

ences” our judges took into the room.For me, it was the people. I returned time and again to the kids at

play, moms and dads at their favorite getaways and the beautiful faces of our grandparents weathered by time.

Others were mesmerized by the gorgeous nature that surrounds us, which is so easy to miss in our fast-paced lives. Something in each and every photo connected with our own favorite memories, whether we’ve lived here four years or four decades.

I’m grateful to have spent the last few weeks sharing in your memo-ries and getting a glimpse into your lives. To those photographers who opened their family photos to our readers, a sincere thank you.

And to those who’ll be seeing these images for the first time this morning — enjoy.

— Lisa Nellessen-Lara, executive editor

AMATEUR WINNERS:• First place: Anna Beach (photo on cover of Section 1)• Second place: Stephanie L. Webster-Koontz (photo shown on cover of Section 3)•Third place: Daniel R. Wasson (photo shown on cover of Section 2)

SMARTPHONE WINNER:• Rachel Wagner (photo shown on page 4 of Section 1)

PROFESSIONAL WINNER:• Amanda Kishel of Kishel Photography (photo shown on page 6 of Section 1)

ECIin focusDIRECTIONS 2012

The best of East Central Indiana captured

through the lenses of Star Press readers

To see more photos submitted to the ECI in Focus Photo Contest, go to www.thestarpress.com/photogalleries

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ECIin focusThe best of East Central Indiana captured through the lenses of Star Press readers

WINNER | Best Smartphone Photo

RACHEL WAGNERPhotographer Rachel Wagner enjoys a sunny day in July 2011 at Prairie Creek Reservoir with her best friend, Hannah Deffendall.

ALSO SUBMITTED BY THE WAGNER FAMILY IN THE SMARTPHONE CATEGORY Cheerleaders Kendra Thornburg, Abbie Bradley, Hannah Deffendall, Megan Barnes, Rachel Wagner and Mikaela McGrath

participate in Cheer for a Cure in October 2011 on the Monroe Central Football Field in Parker City Photo by smartphone photographer Nancy Wagner.

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WINNER | Best Professional Photo

AMANDA KISHELSeniors: Fran and Jane Cinque of Muncie celebrate Fran’s 91st birthday with their son, Mark Kishel, daughter-in-law Amanda and

grandson Hudson. Fran and Jane will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary this summer.

ALSO SUBMITTED BY AMANDA KISHEL:Above left: Ashlyn Walker of Muncie loves the outdoors in the fall.

Above right: Rachel White and Josh Conner of New Castle enjoy an afternoon on the horse farm.

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FINALISTS | The people of East Central IndianaTop left: Willoe Cunnington got a sweet surprise when this butterfly landed on her forehead taken by amateur photographer

Wednesday Cunnington. Above left: A baby enjoys a refreshing drink while playing at the park in this photo taken by amateur photographer Megan Hamilton. Top right: Rival Central and Southside high school basketball players battle it out during a game at the Muncie Fieldhouse in this photo taken by professional photographer James Garringer. Above right: Benjamin Smith uses his

smartphone to shoot this photo of his daughter getting a hug from Charlie Cardinal at a recent Ball State University basketball game.

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FINALISTS | The people of East Central IndianaTop: Talia Gillum met robots for the first time when her grandfather, George Kane, took her to the Robots exhibit at Minnetrista in Muncie. Photo by Amateur photographer George Kane. Above left: While walking behind her nephews along train tracks in

Muncie, amateur photographer Kristy Phegley was struck by the realization that “being a Hoosier is taking the road less traveled, but having a good Godly path and heritage to follow.” Above right: Professional photographer Shawna Pierson captures Carl Woodruff

taking his sister Mariann’s hand to walk the nature trail during the Hartford City Civil War Days Re-enactment in October 2011.

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FINALISTS | The people of East Central Indiana

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Amateur photographer John Disher photographs the band Eight Stories High performing at the outdoor pavilion at Morrow’s Meadow in Yorktown as part of the ‘Taste of the Valley’ event in September 2011.

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FINALISTS | The people of East Central IndianaAbove left: Amateur photographer Mary Beal took this photo of a family/neighbor cider-making project. Pictured are Mary’s

husband, Don, and son, Jim, of Hartford City. Top right: Amateur photographer Colleen Pierce took this photo on the Cardinal Greenway in Westside Park. Above right: Amateur photographer Megan Hamilton photographs a young girl enjoying a ride on the

carousel during the Parker Fair.

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FINALISTS | The people of East Central IndianaAbove left: Amateur photographer Lisa Shaw took this photo of her nephew on a visit to his grandparents’ house in Selma. Top right: Kristin Lansing, 15, is photographed by amateur photographer Brian Hollars as she races her horse during the Delaware County Fair in July 2011.

Above right: Margaret Hosey snuggles with her great-great-granddaughter, Aubrey Smith, during the baby’s baptism in June. Margaret was 92 and Audrey was 6 months old when this picture was taken by amateur photographer Jennifer Smith.

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FINALISTS | The people of East Central IndianaAbove left: Amateur photographer Mark DiFabio shows Korten Rhonemus with the best seat in the house during the rodeo

competition at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. Top right: The Ball State University band walks past amateur photographer Jo Tuite while performing during the annual homecoming parade. Above right: Autumn Gable, 9, can’t resist sneaking a piece of popcorn

for herself while feeding the ducks along No-Name Creek in Muncie. She was caught by amateur photographer Scott Gable.

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FINALISTS | The people of East Central IndianaKodie Corbin, dad Craig and their dog Rex enjoy an afternoon at Boggs Lake. Photo by amateur photographer Sheila Corbin.

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FINALISTS | The people of East Central IndianaAbove left: Amateur photographer Robin Lett shows Dylan and Hudson Kittrell conquer the hay bales on a trip to the pumpkin patch. Top right: Isaiah Bowdell enjoys his first visit to a corn maze with his Aunt Samantha Thomas, photographer, at Sue Myers Farm in Bryant in October 2011. Above right: Amateur photographer Brandie Johnson catches Thomas Johnson really digging the

corn from Boondocks Farm in Knightstown.

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ECI in Focus: Directions 2012

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