Print Competition

Once a year pro photographers gather from around Washington and many from Oregon for the Professional Photographers of Washington educational conference. The highlight of this event is print competition, where each photographer submits four photos to be judged and the best receive a trophy or honorable mention. Most of the prints are mounted 16x20s and displayed under glaring lights for about 15 seconds. There are hundreds to judge, so it moves along pretty briskly. I love watching the judging and I learn so much from the judges' comments.

The first hurdle is scoring high enough to "hang," which means to be displayed at the conference. The second is scoring high enough to be reviewed for a possible trophy (each category has the potential for one trophy and two honorable mentions.) Then at a banquet, photographers are honored for service and for advancing in their degrees, and the trophies are awarded. Last year the pinnacle for me was receiving my Fellow of Photography Degree, which represented service hours and many prints over the years scoring high enough to hang.

This year all of my prints hung, and to my great joy, I earned a trophy for Best Unclassified Portrait for my print, "Run like the Wind." I love my clients so much, and deeply value their admiration and appreciation, and then having my own peers add this honor was like dessert after dinner - sweet, satisfying and savored. And of course, longing for more!