2024 Best In Show Photographic Print Competition

 Best in Show 2024, the largest amateur photographic print competition in the area, returned to Champaign-Urbana in what is now the 23nd year! This competition was open to amateur photographers in Champaign County and the surrounding 11 counties and is the largest such competition in east-central Illinois. For this competition, there were 327 prints entered in 9 categories. Scroll down to see all the winners!

In addition to the Champaign County Camera Club (CCCC), there are nine sponsors of the Best in Show competition. The Urbana Park District assisted with all phases of the event including submission collection, hanging the prints, and communicating with participants. For information about Urbana Park District programs, call 217/367-1544 or visit the UPD website at urbanaparks.org. We gratefully acknowledge Lincoln Square Mall for providing the space for the show. Images will be displayed in the mall Saturday, February 10th through the morning of Sunday, February 25th, 2024 at noon. Larry Kanfer Gallery and Illini Studio provided funding for the top image awards. Trophy Time donated all place-winner ribbons; Prairie Gardens, International Galleries, and Art Coop also provided prizes. MTD provided advertising space. The generosity of all these businesses is important to making this such a popular public event. CCCC thanks them all for their generosity.

All competitors were eligible for the competition’s top prizes, except those entered in the Club category.

Judges for BIS 2024 were Fraya Replinger, Lou McClellan, and Ray Silva:

The Best in Show competition depends on having competent and knowledgeable judges donate their services. All our judges have provided their insight many times for the Champaign County Camera Club, including previous Best in Show competitions.

See the public critique of Best in Show 2024

Fraya Replinger is a local artist, born and raised in Urbana. Her award-winning images capture landscapes, skyscapes, and the great outdoors explored from fresh perspectives to convey her visions of beauty or emotional impact. Her fine art photography is exhibited at local markets and art shows throughout Illinois, and she has pieces on permanent display on the donor wall at Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, IL.

Lou McClellan was also born and raised in Urbana. His first "real" job was as a staff photographer for the Champaign-Urbana Courier while attending the University of Illinois. He alternated earning a Psychology degree with covering war protests and mass arrests during the late '60s and early '70s. Later he earned an M.S. in Journalism. McClellan made a transition to Portrait and Commercial Photography in the early '80s. He joined forces with Jerry Thompson to form Thompson-McClellan Commercial Photographers a short time later. They are still partners, specializing in photos of "people on location" for various publications by clients like Lake Land College, Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, 1st Mid Illinois Banc Shares and the University of Illinois. Over the years, McClellan has won State, Regional and National awards for Photojournalism, Portrait, and Commercial Photography.

Ray Silva is a renowned nature photographer, well known for his photography in Georgia and central Illinois. You can view his work.

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