Having been told that my work was on a par with award winning photographers’ work, I decided to compete and see if that was so. I have learned A LOT in this endeavor. Competition has NOTHING to do with what the clients want. It has all to do with what the judges expect. In my first endeavor, I entered four items, and they were not mounted in the way that is prescribed for competition; however, the judges decided that “the maker” (that would be me), must be new to this, and the photography was award-worthy, even if the mounting was not. I was able to capture a Top Ten Photographer of the Year award in 2006 having entered only one salon out of three that year. I was thrilled!!
So, in 2007, I decided to enter more salons and did much better, with proper mounting, etc. Again, I captured a Top Ten Photographers of the Year, but moved up the ladder to number 5. That was great, but I wanted to be in the top three where I would receive one of those classy engraved glass trophies, so I put more into it in 2008, and captured Number 2, the Becker Award. (This one also had a name to it.) I did not compete in 2009. However, I have become the President of the Professional Photographers Guild of Florida for 2010. I might have time to compete this year, but who knows??
Pikes Peak (not a contender)
