Photography experts from Southern California evaluated more than 75 images submitted for the Colburn School Arkatov Photography Contest. Assessing for “the spirit of the performing arts” along with technical skill, they chose the following winners for Colburn Students and External Photographers. Additionally, the program includes a special recognition for Colburn’s staff photographer.
They say a picture can capture a moment in time, but the winning images of the Colburn School Arkatov Photography Contest express more than just a single moment. They invite viewers to consider the performing arts from another’s point of view, much like the photos James Arkatov produced throughout his illustrious career.
Colburn has a long history of incorporating the visual arts into spaces throughout campus to inspire, connect, and uplift artists, students, and the community, including an extraordinary collection of Arkatov’s photography. A celebrated cellist and gifted photographer, he enshrined on film candid and personal moments amongst fellow artists as well as intimate portraits of legendary colleagues and friends, such as Isaac Stern, Igor Stravinsky, Sir Thomas Beecham, Gregor Piatigorsky, and Yo-Yo Ma, among many others.
This spring, in honor of Arkatov’s photographic legacy, Colburn sponsored the Arkatov Photography Contest, inviting students as well as professional and hobbyist photographers to celebrate the personal, human view of the performing arts in still images. A judging committee of photography experts from Southern California evaluated each image for originality, technical excellence, composition, and the ability to express the spirit of the performing arts. The winning photographs are currently on display in the Zipper Hall lobby and then will move to their permanent home near the Arkatov Collection. Additionally, they have been added to a digital photo collection of Colburn artists throughout the years, stretching from the time near the end of Arkatov’s career to the present day.
Take a look below at the winning photos and read about the inspiration behind each image.
Colburn Student Winners
Numerous students from each of the School’s units submitted photos depicting their interpretations of how music, dance, and other elements of the performing arts can be celebrated.
First Place
Six Flowers, Sixth Position by Esther Guetta, Community School of Performing Arts
Taken in 2026 with an iPhone SE 3rd generation smartphone
At just 11 years old, Guetta found a playful, yet endearing and uplifting way to showcase the character of a well-worn pair of ballet shoes.
“I was inspired by my mom’s beautiful old pointe shoes, and I wanted to combine them with nature (flowers) and something hard or strong (concrete),” she says. “The idea of finding pointe shoes outside in the sun was magical for me.”
Second Place
Assez Vif by Nathan Lau, Conservatory of Music
Taken in 2026 with a DSLR, Canon EOS Rebel SL2, EF75-300mm f/4-5.6, using ½-second exposure time
Lau, a violinist, sought to encapsulate the momentum of a fellow student’s performance and the instrument’s dynamic choreography.
“This photograph was taken with the intention of juxtaposing the motion of a violinist in performance and the artistry that emerges,” Lau explains. “With just half a second compressed into a single frame, the violinist’s movement appears like abstract chaos. Despite this, he remains precise, guided by technique, discipline, and intention. Beneath this ambiguity, art unfolds.”
Colburn Staff Photographer
The Arkatov Photo Contest also recognized the artistic contribution of the School’s staff photographer, Abby Mahler, who clicks thousands of photos each year documenting the multitude of performances, happenings, and people who create the Colburn community.
abbymahler.com
James Conlon in Rehearsal by Abby Mahler, Colburn Staff
Taken in 2023 with a 24mm, 2.8 lens Nikon D750
As a staff photographer, Mahler has access to unique moments on the Colburn campus, such as when students work with guest artists and conductors, like Maestro James Conlon. In this image, he’s rehearsing students for a Music Restored performance.
“I think there’s something about this session that I wanted to bring the energy to the photograph—you see Maestro Conlon laughing in a way that shows the kind of joy that comes during the process,” says Mahler. “Also, I think this image emulates the energy Arkatov brought to his photos that has given them staying power.”
External Photographer Winners
Photographers from around the globe submitted images that portray a diverse array of interpretations of the performing arts, from traditional folk dance to the avant garde.
First Place
Dance by Javier Arcenillas
Taken in 2017 with film
Dance is part of Arcenillas’s The Dreaming of Light series exploring dancers, their work, and the “dreams they inhabit.”
“Although there are many and varied aesthetic differences within ballet, the values and the common goal are the same: to project energy and beauty through the body on stage,” he says.
Second Place
Ballet by Olga Volodina
Taken in 2025 with a Canon 5D M2 as digital image
Volodina’s My Identity series, including Ballet, examines social and personal themes through theatrical imagery.
“Dance symbolizes a pursuit of perfection and beauty, as well as isolation from society and an attempt to escape the conventionality of reality through extreme physical challenges and pain,” she explains.
Third Place
Melody by Vitalii Popkov
Taken in 2009 with a digital SONY R-1 camera
Popkov focused on documenting the concentration and dedication a musician gives to her performance.
“The photo was taken during a rehearsal [and] the room was hot. I noticed the artist’s fingers were damp and textured, which added to the expressiveness of the photo,” he says.
“The entire Arkatov family, Jim and Salome Arkatov in particular, represents leadership, service, and compassion in the arts. The contest is a tribute to all of them,” noted Ira Krinsky and Dana Hollinger, sponsors of Colburn School Arkatov Photography Contest.
Thank you to all Colburn students and photographers who shared their personal perspectives while capturing the performing arts.