Rangefinder Magazine
April 2006

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2006 Hy Sheanin Memorial Oliver Gettell
Scholarship

This year marks the 3rd annual Hy Sheanin Memorial Scholarship and honors another emerging photographer.

The scholarship, named for Rangefinder Publishing founder and WPPI co-founder Hy Sheanin, was developed to provide exciting opportunities to people new to professional photography—assistants, recent graduates and those just starting out in the business.

Each year, the scholarship recipient is invited to attend the WPPI Convention in Las Vegas.

As in previous years, many applicants answered the call. Each submitted a portfolio of 10 images (8x8 or 8x10s), a cover letter explaining why the applicant wanted the scholarship and a brief resume. In addition to registration for the WPPI 2006 Convention, the scholarship recipient receives round-trip airfare to Las Vegas for the convention, lodging for eight nights at Bally’s, a one-year membership in WPPI and a subscription to Rangefinder.

This year, New York photographer Catherine Hall received the Hy Sheanin Memorial Scholarship. On her website, Catherine says, “My passion for photography goes beyond artistic expression, with hopes to give the viewer a peek into another world, while showing similarities in the common thread of life that connects us all.” This passion is evident in all of Catherine’s images. A graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Department of Applied Art and Design, Catherine has worked as an assistant at a number of photo labs, studios and galleries.

Her images have received a number of awards and have appeared in numerous publications, including National Geographic Traveler, the Sydney Morning Herald and American Photo. Moreover, she has traveled the world both volunteering for non-profit organizations and taking photographs along the way.

Catherine has photographed throughout the United States, Central America, South America and Asia. She says, “While travel ing, I immerse myself in each culture before depicting my subjects through my imagery.

I volunteer in their hospitals and study their medicine and religions. I am not only an observer but also a participant.”.

Catherine’s desire to connect with people has also led her to wedding photography. “After assisting my first wedding,” she says, “I became enticed by the available imagery found on such a profound day and instantly knew I wanted to pursue a career in wedding photojournalism.”.

Catherine feels that wedding photography combines the challenges and rewards of fine art photography, photojournalism and portraiture. She also finds photography rewarding for personal reasons. Whether she is donating her time and images to non-profit organizations, providing a glimpse into another way of life or creating something that people will cherish forever, Catherine’s photography is always about helping people.

For the WPPI Convention, Catherine chose to enroll in Jerry Ghionis’ Plus class but has the option of visiting the other Plus classes during the day. WPPI will also provide her with the opportunity to learn from photographers like Joe Buissink, whose work she describes as “amazingly beautiful.” As she says in her cover letter, “The wealth of information, state-of-theart instruction, and guidance of established and experienced photographers at WPPI will help prepare me for the challenges ahead.”.

Catherine currently works with Getty Images and Steve McCurry Studios in New York. In addition, Catherine is starting her own studio, Catherine Hall Studios. Her advice to aspiring photographers is simple and sincere: She encourages new photographers not to give up, to follow their intuition, and not to undervalue themselves or their work. “Keep shooting,” she says, “and everything will come together.” Visit Catherine’s website at www.catherinehall.net.

WPPI intends the Hy Sheanin Memorial Scholarship to encourage beginning photographers in their love of photography. This scholarship opportunity for new photographers is meant to advance photographic excellence through education—a goal of Hy Sheanin’s that has been, and will continue to be, a tradition at Rangefinder and WPPI. WPPI uses this scholarship as one way for the organization to continue that tradition, and an opportunity for beginning photographers to express their love of photography—and perhaps receive something in return.