The judges have spoken, and the winners are … the readers of South Carolina Living magazine.
In competition with statewide co-op magazines across the nation, South Carolina Living earned six 2022 SEA awards for photography and design. The credit for the awards belongs to a trio of contributing photographers—Mic Smith, Milton Morris, Andrew Haworth—and art director Sharri Wolfgang.
“We are privileged to work with some of South Carolina’s best photographers and a truly talented designer,” says editor Keith Phillips. “Their hard work is a big part of why co-op members enjoy reading the magazine cover-to-cover each month.”
Please enjoy this gallery of their winning work.
Best Photo. Mic Smith’s arresting shot of the surf at Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management Area, featured in the September 2021 issue, won top honors for Best Photo. Judges praised the technical excellence and creative techniques required to capture the scene, but also its humanity. It’s hard not to look at that image and feel transported to the shoreline. “An all-around great photograph,” the judges said. “The technique of dragging the shutter to provide the movement of the water against the stillness of the person and trees, along with the splash of red to focus your subject, makes for a great composition. Well done!”
Best Photo Essay. Andrew Haworth’s images from the Black Cowboy Festival, published in the May 2022 issue, earned top honors for Best Photo Essay. Haworth also wrote the accompanying feature story that included short profiles of the cowboys and cowgirls he met at the event, including S.C. rodeo legend Harold Miller, shown here. Sharri Wolfgang’s design of the article elevated Haworth’s work to win the top award in the category. “The photography and layout speak for themselves,” the judges wrote. “Great use of color and composition in the photos and design of the pages.”
Best Portrait Photo—Award of Excellence. For our profile of S.C. corn dog king Cliff Daley, published in the October 2021 issue, photographer Milton Morris went big, rolling out his complete mobile studio that includes a massive lighting rig and a portable generator to run it. The set-up allowed him to blend artificial and ambient light and create his signature portrait look. The judges didn’t know those background details, but they could see the results, calling the shot, “technically excellent. The use of off-camera light made for a strong image with great color.” They also praised the emotional feel of the shot. “A great photo that engages the reader. The pose of the subject was inviting and told the story. Made me want a corndog. Well done!”
Best Portrait Photo—Award of Merit. Mic Smith conjured up this award for his photo of Charleston magician Howard Blackwell. The magician gave Smith and writer Hastings Hensel unprecedented behind-the-scenes access during one of his shows for the February 2022 cover story “Party Tricks.” As a showman, Blackwell also knew how to mug for the camera in this portrait shot—right down to his colorful shoes. The judges called the portrait “an all-around great photo in lighting, color and composition. The styling gave the image a mysterious feeling which draws readers in.”
Best Cover—Award of Excellence. Mic Smith and Sharri Wolfgang teamed up on this award-winning cover for the April 2022 Spring & Summer Travel Issue. Patriot reenactors participating in the annual Battle of Camden event—photographed in “golden hour” light against the woods of Kershaw County—set the scene for the rich Revolutionary War history featured in the issue. “Great photo that tells you what the story is about,” the judges said. And that is exactly what a magazine cover should do.
Best Magazine Design—Award of Merit. Congratulations to Art Director Sharri Wolfgang for a steady stream of great issues cover-to-cover and month-to-month. Readers have come to expect excellence from her work in the pages of the magazine, and they are never disappointed. The judges put it this way: “South Carolina Living is always a force to be reckoned with. Every issue offers stunning covers, beautiful and functional page designs, and outstanding readability and consistency. In particular, the contents pages, cover story layouts and food pages are exceptionally strong and appealing—some of the best in the competition.”