If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the new "Woman as Photographer" exhibit could fill volumes.

During the opening-night party at the Mpls Photo Center, gender was the focus both behind and in front of the camera.

For the exhibit, curator Christina Chang received 1,300 entries from 14 countries and 25 states, which she painstakingly whittled to 125 images. Her selections ranged from tender family moments, including a mother breast-feeding her baby, to a female soldier giving a buzz cut to one of her colleagues. "I wanted to make sure we represented the full diversity of the submissions," she said. "I didn't let my own limitations get in the way."

The first-place prize went to Risë Ferster of Minnetrista for a self-portrait. Ferster said using a camera to do a self-portrait is challenging.

"It's tricky, but controlled chaos," she said. "Sometimes serendipity works in your favor."

Sara Glassman • 612-673-7177