Sheridan student wins coveted International Photography Award

Fourth-year Sheridan Bachelor of Photography student Ashley Ciona earned an impressive second-place finish at the 16^th annual International Photography Awards in New York City on October 28.

Her winning submission, a series of four dance photos called ‘Ghost in the Wind,’ finished second in the sports category at the Lucie Awards, a premiere annual event honouring superior achievements in photography.

The International Photography Awards conducts an annual competition for professional, amateur and student photographers and recognizes extraordinary talents who play a significant role in shaping the future of the industry. Winners are selected by an international jury comprised of more than 70 artistic professionals, including gallerists, photo editors and art collectors.

“It’s a tremendous honour to receive this recognition – especially since there were over 2,000 photo submissions from around the world,” says Ciona. “It’s a dream come true that I’ve been able to combine both of my passions: dance and photography.”

Ciona credits her creative upbringing and competitive dancing history for her love of art and photography. She currently teaches dance at Waterdown Dancers Inc. and often captures her students as her photo subjects.

“Everything came full circle in a way,” she says. “The subjects of the award-winning photos are my students, and they are the ones that helped send me to New York City to receive the award on stage. I couldn’t afford to go on my own, but the team at Waterdown Dancers Inc. helped raise the money so I could attend the ceremony.”

Ciona has received numerous awards for her portraiture work, including the 2017 “Best Overall Student” and “Portrait of the Year – Student” honours from the Professional Photographers of Canada. In February 2018, she mounted her first professional gallery exhibit in Edmonton, Alberta as part of the inFocus Photo Exhibit, where she took home the 2018 inFocus People's Choice Award.

“We are thrilled to see the proactive and engaged attitude that Ashley has brought to her studies and her practice,” says Donna Braggins, Associate Dean, Design, Illustration & Photography. “Her winning image synthesizes strong technological abilities with creativity and innovation and reflects her passion for both photography and dance. We are immensely proud of our students who continue to apply their high-level, innovative skills and receive remarkable recognition on an international stage.”

Photography at Sheridan College

Sheridan’s Honours Bachelor of Photography program is the only business-focused professional photography degree program in Canada and continues to rank as one of the leading photography programs in North America. Students are provided with opportunities to fully immerse themselves in the industry through hands-on training using state-of-the-art equipment while honing essential entrepreneurial skills required to run a successful photography business.

Pictured top right: Ashley Ciona. Pictured above: the winning series of four dance photos by Ashley Ciona, called "Ghost in the Wind."