The Raleigh-area group for photography enthusiasts held its first Digital Juried Competition this year. Here are the winning images.
by Ayn-Monique Klahre

Raleigh is a city of creatives, and sometimes the best way to see that spirit is through a lens. For
 more than 40 years, the Capital City Camera Club (CCCC) has been a gathering place for local photographers — hobbyists, professionals and those somewhere in between — who share a passion for capturing the world in still images. What began as a small group of enthusiasts has grown into a vibrant nonprofit, complete with twice-monthly meetings, speakers, competitions and field trips.

“We’re a close-knit group — we do outings and pull in speakers, and we challenge each other to improve our photography,” says longtime member Lynne Necrason. This fall, the group held its first Digital Juried Competition. Designed to celebrate the art of digital photography in all its forms — from vibrant color to moody monochrome — the competition welcomed entries from across the Triangle. Participants could submit up to three images, each evaluated by professional jurors with an eye toward both technical excellence and artistic vision.

They received close to 200 submissions with photographs that covered a range of subjects, including nature, portraiture and architecture. “It was hard to decide what to submit, but I think the judges can tell when your heart is really in it,” says Necrason, whose image of red crown cranes on a frigid morning in Japan won second place in the color category. “It was so ethereal, I was out there for hours in below-zero temperatures because I was so wrapped up in the beauty of the scene.”

The competition was juried by Ray Pfeiffer, the founder/director of A Photographers Place, a gallery, maker and community space; Susan Bailey, a photographer and former coordinator of the Triangle chapter of the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association; and Laura Wall, the creative director of WALTER magazine. “I was very impressed by the quality of the submissions for the CCCC competition,” says Bailey. Adds club member William Blaine, “It was amazing being able to sit in on the conversation of the final judging. I learned a lot!”

Below is a gallery of work that demonstrates the skill and diversity of Raleigh’s photo community including the winning images and additional finalists in the Color and Monochrome categories. Through Dec. 2, these photographs can also be viewed in-person at NoRa Cafe (12333 Strickland Road, Suite 100). 

This article originally appeared in the November 2025 issue of WALTER magazine.