American Photo: Go Pro 2011 Contest Winners

The whole point of the American Photo On Campus Go Pro contest is to help photography students get on track toward professional careers. But judging from the entrants in this year’s competition, many are already well on their way.

The 2,000-plus entries in five categories showed a remarkable degree of sophistication in both content and technique. The editors narrowed these down to a set of finalists, from which winners were selected by a panel of professional photographers, educators, curators and publishers. Our hearty congratulations go out to grand prize winner Jessica Baisden of Indiana University, who receives a Canon EOS 60D DSLR and EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM lens. In addition, the first place winners in each category will receive a Canon PowerShot digital camera.

“There’s lots of young talent out there with fresh perspectives and mucho talent,” says Boston-based sports photographer and educator Damian Strohmeyer, one of the judges. “The current pros will always be looking over our shoulders.”