An image by Kenneth Wendall Jackson of Hilo was selected by photography contest juror Alvis Upitis to appear on the cover of a 2017 calendar of images captured in Lili`uokalani Gardens.
“Every show distills out a single image that represents the body of work and draws the viewer in for more,” said Upitis. “Angel Crossing” was that iconic image for me. Like a movie still frame, it asks from me a soundtrack, perhaps “Aloha `Oe” played on grand piano.”
“Angel Crossing” appears on the cover of the first Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens photo calendar and as the main image for the month of June. Another of Jackson’s images, “Winter Day 3,” was selected for the month of November.
Kenneth W. Jackson took his first photograph at the age of 8. He spent 37 years running a successful photography business on the mainland. His work experience is in the U.S. Navy as well as in utility services, soils and concrete testing, and sewer main inspection for several mainland companies. He moved to Hilo in May 2013.
Juror Alvis Upitis is a working commercial photographer with 40 years experience shooting for Fortune 500 companies and top advertising agencies worldwide. He has BS and MFA degrees in photography. He taught photo art and techniques at the college level for 10 years.
The contest attracted 90 entries for a 13-month calendar. Images not chosen for the main month page went through a second selection for potential inclusion as a thumbnail image. In all, 39 different views of the gardens are included in this first Friends of Lili`uokalani calendar competition.
“We are thrilled with the quality of images selected,” said Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens president K.T. Cannon-Eger. “So much so that a separate display of calendar contest winners will appear in the Banyan Gallery Saturday, January 14, from noon until 6 p.m. as part of the Banyan Drive Art Stroll.”
Banyan Gallery outside of the Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel will display calendar winners on Saturday, January 14, from noon until 6 p.m.
“We owe deep gratitude to photo calendar juror Alvis Upitis for bringing his professional expertise to a difficult selection process,” said photographer and videographer Kenneth Goodrich of Volcano, who organized the competition.
Goodrich of Hawaii Photo Retreat also is the calendar’s graphic designer. Printing and production was done locally by Hawaii Printing Corporation.
Jackson will receive the grand prize of a ride along with Mick Kalber and Bruce Omori from Paradise Helicopters. Prize presentation will take place at 2:00 p.m. at the Banyan Gallery.
Grand Prize in the photo calendar contest is a ride along with Mick Kalber and Bruce Omori courtesy of Paradise Helicopters
Other photographers featured in the calendar and the month of their image are: Paul Miyasaki for “Lili`uokalani Nene” (January), K.T. Canon Eger for “Nagasaki Lion Picnic” (February), Kornelius Schorle for “Walk With Me” (March), Steve Godzsak for “Nature’s Shapes n Colors” (April), Alan Lakritz for “The Bridge of Tides” (May), Toby Hazel for “Tea Room View” (July), Debra L Newbery for “Bamboo Pagoda” (August), Steve Pollard for “Wahine Hula” (September), Alan Lakritz “Hilo Bay Serenity” (October), Valerie A. Victorine for “Lili`uokalani Shrine” (December), and Vernon L. Enriques for “All the Park” (January 2018)
Copies of the fund raising calendar will be sold to benefit projects in Lili`uokalani Gardens. For more information, please refer to the Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens Facebook page.
Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens, P. O. Box 5147, Hilo HI 96720
U.S. Japanese Gardens 