Michele Friszell’s Blue-Ribbon Shot: Rump-Showing Gorilla

Michele Friszell concedes it was a “great, great lucky moment” when she spotted a large gorilla showing his rump to a family at the San Diego Zoo—and pushed the shutter button.

Her reward in the San Diego County Fair Exhibition of Photography?

A blue ribbon in Family Moments.

The image titled “San Diego Zoo’s Solo Attraction” is only the latest she’s had accepted at the prestigious exhibit, she said Thursday at the artists’ reception.

She’s seen photos displayed for the past six or seven years—including five this year alone.

A resident of the Bay Ho neighborhood near La Jolla, Friszell has entered many categories but said sports photography has been her strong suit—until now. 

“I’ll try taking anything I love at the zoo,” she said. “I see people smiling (at the gorilla shot). ... Making people happy is a good thing.”