BUHS graduate is finalist in national photo contest

Monday October 22, 2012

BRATTLEBORO - A Brattleboro Union High School graduate is one step closer to Hollywood after her photograph was named one of the finalists in a nationwide contest.

Kayla Rice's photo, which is titled "Pause," was chosen as one of 91 finalists in the Canon U.S.A. "Project Imagination," which asks Hollywood stars and directors to produce short films based on the winning photographs.

Rice's photo, a black and white shot which shows a snowboarder who had fallen, struggling to get back up, was chosen in the backstory category, which directs the filmmakers to come up with a script based on what might have happened before the photo was taken.

Rice says the photo was taken while on assignment at a

night time ski area in New York state. She was shooting the mountain and the riders and skiers when she saw the man who had fallen. She took the shot and realized later that catching him struggle to get back up, determined to keep on learning, told a short story in itself.

Her photography teacher agreed and she entered the photo in the contest. Now the short drama could be a part of a film.

Rice's photo was chosen through an online vote that had people across the country deciding which photos would make the best film.

"I was surprised. I never expected to win," Rice said about the decision. "It's exciting."

Rice graduated from BUHS and is a senior, studying anthropology and photojournalism, at Syracuse University.

She

is interested in photojournalism and says the Canon contest helped her think more about her photography.

As a photojournalist she said it is always important to consider the backstory, and to try to show more in the photograph than just what is happening at the moment.

"It gives more confidence as an artists to know that other people appreciate my work," Rice said. "It feels good that other people see something in my work."

Rice's photo made the first cut when it was included as one of 30 photos in the backstory category.

Now it is one of 10 that will be considered by the filmmakers.

As an added bonus, Rice also is going to receive $500 in Canon equipment. And if her photo is used, she will be put up in a hotel for a film showing in July, though organizers have not yet decided where it will happen.

"As a finalist it does get more serious," she said.

The filmmakers who will be working on the project include Ron Howard, Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx, Biz Stone, Georgina Chapman and James Murphy. The filmmakers will now produce the short films based on 10 of the photos.

Along with the backstory category, the photos are also arranged under character, mood, goal, setting, obstacle, relationship, the unknown and time. The winning photographs can be seen at imagination.usa.canon.com.