Blackford Forest by Laura Bell

October is almost upon us and soon the chill of the autumn air will set in. The trees will become barren; dusk will creep in earlier and earlier. Blackford Forest, by Laura Bell, with its mysterious, slightly ominous feel, is the consummate harbinger of the month ahead.

Blackford Forest comes from a body of work which has already produced two other editions, Gust of Wind and Ferry from Ardrossan Harbor. Inspired by her time spent living in Scotland for two years, the Pennsylvania-based photographer drew from the Old Masters and her adopted home's rich past to create The Alba Series, likely named for the ancient Scottish Gaelic word for the country. Like her other works from the series, Forest is evocative of mystery, of the supernatural, of that time in Scotland's history when magic and lore fascinated its people.

From the lighting to its shape and moody subject matter, Forest is a striking photograph. Laura's attention to crafting a beautiful picture—referencing Vija Celmins, Nadav Kander and Jan van Eyck—impressed the Hey, Hot Shot! panel, earning her the title of 2010 Hot Shot and "an onslaught of interviews and posts all over the internet," as Sara recently wrote.

So, photographers, take note: Hey, Hot Shot! will soon (very soon!) be accepting submissions. Those of you interested in the perks that come with being selected a Hot Shot (including participation in a group exhibition at Jen Bekman Gallery and being in the running to win the grand prize of $10k) should sign up for the HHS! low-volume newsletter to find out when the competition opens.

— Charlie