(PHOENIX, Ariz., March 9, 2004) – Phoenix College photography student, Zachary Jensen was selected as a finalist in the 24th Annual Student Photography Contest for Photographer’s Forum magazine, which was sponsored by Nikon, U.S.A.

Jensen, a part-time student for five years at Phoenix College, has taken photography classes for four years while at the college. Although his true interest lies in traditional photography, Jensen plans to major in photography and pursue a career in commercial and digital photography. He is captivated by night photography, which is a major theme in his work.

"The first roll of film I shot, was at night," he said. "I went out to the country and shot a few photos of car headlights driving along the canal. I thought they were interesting and I was very excited. Everything looks so different at night."

Jensen submitted several pieces of work including a portrait, night photography, a landscape and a piece from his Vulture Mines series. However, the portrait of his nephew, "Malakhai in the coffee shop" will be featured in the upcoming Photographer’s Forum’s Best of College Photography Annual 2004 edition.

The magazine received more than 31,000 photographic entries from student photographers from across the country and Jensen’s work, along with other selected photographs of all winners, honorable mentions and finalists will appear in the Best of College Photography Annual 2004. Additionally, images winning first through fourth place will be published in the May/Summer 2004 issue of Photographer’s Forum magazine.

Judges for this year’s contest included:

Nick Dekker – Faculty - Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara
Everard Williams – Interim Chair of Photography Department – Art Center College of Design, Pasadena
Armando Flores – Nikon U.S.A.

Ironically, Jensen has only submitted work to two major photography contests: Photographer’s Forum magazine’s 24th Annual Student Photography Contest and the Phoenix Downtown magazine’s annual poetry and photography 2002 competition. As the third place winner, his work was featured in the July 2002 edition of Phoenix Downtown. Additionally, in 2003 he was selected to show at the Phoenix College Western Eye Art Exhibit and in August 2003, his work appeared in the Paper Heart Gallery’s Annual Complete Photographic Exhibit.

Jensen is extremely excited about being a finalist in Photographer’s Forum magazine’s contest.

"The best thing about being selected as a finalist is having my work published to a broader audience," Jensen added. "It allows all kinds of people to see the world through your eyes."

For more information about the Photography Program at Phoenix College, please call (602) 285-7281.

All photography was submitted by Jensen.

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