FORT DRUM, N.Y. --- Two Fort Drum photographers beat out thousands of people in an Armywide digital photography contest.
Sgt. Darlene Martinez from 91st Military Police Battalion and Elizabeth DeJesus Cintron from the Plans, Analysis and Integration Office both placed in the 2010 Army Digital Photography Contest sponsored by the Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command.
There were 3,691 entries from around the world - 1,348 in Division I for active-duty military personnel and 2,343 in Division II for other eligible MWR patrons. After Army garrisons selected their best entries, 664 Division I and 1,031 Division II photographs were forwarded for Department of the Army judging.
"There were many really excellent photos, which made the judges' decisions a difficult task," said Linda Ezernieks, who monitors the annual contest at Army MWR Headquarters in Alexandria. "Originality, creativity and technical quality were the main criteria in making final selections."
Winners in each category - animals, digital darkroom, design elements, military life, monochrome, nature and landscapes, people, and still life - were posted on a web site where Army Knowledge Online account-holders voted for their favorite photo in each division.
Martinez placed first in the Military Life category with her photo, "Sacrifices We Make."
"The photo was taken in September when my fellow comrades of the 511th Military Police Company, 91st Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade, said their final farewells to their loved ones before deploying to Afghanistan," she said.
Martinez said she knew the competition would be tough, but she thought the photo illustrated the sacrifices Soldiers and their Families make.
"I'm a military police Soldier but enjoy telling the story of our Soldiers for the 91st Military Police Battalion," she said.
DeJesus Cintron received an honorable mention for her photo, "Garden Angel," which she took in her garden. She submitted the photo because it is one of her favorites, and she was "shocked" to learn of her placement in the competition.
DeJesus Cintron said her love of photography goes back to her training in high school and college.
"(I love) that I can capture a feeling, emotion or thought I have that may not be apparent to the viewer of the photo," she said.
DeJesus Cintron said taking artistic photographs allow her to show how she feels without having to explain.
"To me, 'Garden Angel' is about still feeling the warmth and love from my mother who passed away. The feeling of the sun on your face during a spring evening in the middle of garden is when I feel closest to my mother and at peace."
(Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs, contributed to this article)
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