We are thrilled to announce the five photographers selected for Hey, Hot Shot! (volume iv, edition ii). Each of these photographers will be awarded a $500 honorarium and will exhibit work as part of the Hey, Hot Shot! (volume iv, edition ii) Showcase:

Yijun Liao
John Mann
Cara Phillips
Hosang Park
Donald Weber

Please join us for the opening reception of the Hey, Hot Shot! (volume iv, edition ii) Showcase on Friday, January 30th, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Jen Bekman Gallery @ 6 Spring Street, NYC. Work will be on view until Saturday, February 14th, 2009.

We owe a huge thanks to our hard-working, superstar panelists -- Jen Bekman, Christine Collins, Dana Faconti, Caterina Fake, Stephen Frailey, Raul Gutierrez, Darius Himes, Jenni Holder. Julia Leach, Nion McEvoy, Lesley A. Martin, and Kent Rogowski -- and, of course, to all of the Hey, Hot Shot! entrants. It was a pleasure to see so much great work!

Because so many of you are making outstanding work, it was incredibly difficult to select just five photographers from the contenders. We'd like to recognize several artists with well-deserved Honorable Mentions:

Jowhara AlSaud
Meredith Andrews
Luke Cassady-Dorion
Brent Clark
Davin Ellicson
Terri L Fullerton
Christopher Handran
Monika Holzner
Colin Kopp
Chris Mottalini
Dalia Nassimi
James Rajotte
James W Reiman
Tomoyuki Sakaguchi
Zack Seckler
Rebecca Sittler
Lex Thompson
Jens M Windolf

This season's Hot Shots will join the first round of 2008's Hot Shots, Juliane Eirich, Derek Henderson, Kate Orne, Roc Herms Pont, and Colleen Plumb in contention to be one of two Ne Plus Ultras. The Ultras are represented by Jen Bekman Gallery, and will work with Jen and Jeffrey Teuton, the gallery's associate director, to plan solo exhibitions.

Stay tuned to the Hey, Hot Shot! blog and sign up for our mailing list to stay up to date on all the Hot Shots, contenders, exhibitions, and future competitions.