2024-2025 Round 3 Competition – Judges’ Bio

Chris Goldsmith

I went to McMaster university in physics and completed a masters and most of a PhD in astronomy.  I have been an avid amateur photographer for the past ~45 years with a preference for landscape and nature photography.  I belong to the Photo Arts Club of Newmarket, where I live with my wife and two daughters.  I have worked for IBM as an IT specialist since 1993.  Thanks for the opportunity to judge your competition.

Mandy Samarzija

I’m a Design Consultant by trade and have always had a passion for pretty things.  I’ve been interested in fashion, furniture design, architecture, photography, etc. as far as I can remember.  I received my first Canon camera (a bday gift) more than 15 yrs ago. I’ve been shooting ever since.

I’m a Humber Digital Photography graduate.  Portrait photography is my passion.  I love capturing images of people that allow them to see themselves in ways they could never have imagined. Some of my work is published and can be found in Borealis Magazine (2017, 2019).  Honored to be awarded O3C Open Challenge “SPECIALIST IN PEOPLE” 2021, CAPA Gold 2021 Monochrome Division, CAPA Digital Salon 2024 – Honorable Merit for Open Monochrome, ECC Award of Merit Architecture 2022-23, ECC 3M Award for Image Of The Year 2024-25, and others.

I take inspiration from everywhere. Pictures I see on the internet, magazines, books, galleries & museums. All this visual information I have consumed throughout my life becomes a part of my photographs. It influences me to make certain choices about the way I style or shoot images or the way I post-process them. Some of my favourite portrait photographers are; Albert Watson, Gregory Heisler, Peter Lindbergh, Lindsay Adler, Annie Leibovitz.

Mark Girard

I am an active member of the Richmond Hill Camera Club, at the Masters level.  I am an accredited judge with OCCC, and have been judging for approximately 15 years.  I have held several positions with the RHCC, namely Treasurer, Competitions Chair, Photoessay Chair, Vice-President and President.