TROY, AL. – Troy University student Stephanie Spurlock was recently selected as a finalist in Photographer’s Forum magazine’s College Photography Contest.

The contest, co-sponsored by Nikon, received more than 28,000 photographs from collegiate student photographers in the United States and Canada.  Spurlock’s entry placed in the top 5 percent of all entries. From that top group, a panel of judges will award first- through fourth-place winners, along with 100 honorable mention selections.

Spurlock said she was surprised to have been chosen as a finalist because it was her first photography contest.  “I just did it to kind of get my foot in the door.  I was real surprised I got picked,” said Spurlock.

The entry Spurlock chose to submit was one she took last summer, while on a student photography trip in Kenya, Africa.  Spurlock managed to snap a full-body shot of a Cheetah.  “The cheetah jumped on top of our vehicle, so I stuck my head out of the sunroof and took a picture,” Spurlock explained.     

Spurlock, a sophomore majoring in graphic design with a concentration in photography, took her first photography course in the 2004 fall semester. Under the instruction of Bob Joslin, Troy University’s director of photography, Spurlock’s interest in taking photos was sparked.    

Joslin said that Spurlock seems to have a very creative style. “She makes good choices on subject matter and has good placement in the frame. We (the art department) are very pleased with her style,” said Joslin.     

Spurlock said she enjoys taking abstract photos and also photographs of abandoned houses. While Spurlock said she is not influenced by any particular photographer, she favors photographs taken at concerts and hopes to someday work as a photographer for Rolling Stone magazine.

As a finalist, Spurlock’s work will be published in the Best of College Photography Annual 2006.  This will allow college instructors of photography, art and graphic design the opportunity to view Spurlock’s work.

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