fine art photography

I am fresh back from a whirlwind, super-fun three days in Sydney at the PMA Imaging Expo and the AIPP Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPAs). For many photographers, the APPAs and the PMA expo is a not-to-be-missed annual event; an awesomely fun trip away with friends, the chance to meet loads of new people working in the same industry, an endless sea of inspiration and possibilities, an opportunity to talk to the vendors and suppliers who support our industry, a place to research, try and purchase new equipment and other important things, and the honour of watching the judging of thousands of images created by photographers around the country.

I was SO happy to be there with a gorgeous, talented and uber-supportive bunch of photographer-friends, most of whom received AMAZING results during the APPA judging. It was exciting, thrilling and inspirational watching prints being judged that belonged to some of my closest friends, and also those belonging to the many amazing photographers who lead our industry and inspire the hell out of the rest of us (not to mention, nerve-wracking, emotional and exhausting waiting and listening to my own prints being judged!).

I was utterly thrilled to receive 3 out of 3; two silvers and one silver distinction, with a score of 88 (my first ever print in that score range!). The judges were very divided on my first two images (below), and although I had two judges on each panel score in the silver distinction range (85-89), the other judges disagreed, so they remained at silver. Of course, it’s wonderful listening to your print being fought for, but disheartening when it’s criticised! (We all pour our hearts and souls into our work and so sometimes entering the awards can feel a bit like voluntarily standing on stage in your birthday suit!)  There are many factors that make up an award winning image and many factors that judges use to determine scores. It’s a fascinating process to watch and be a part of, and I would encourage any and every photographer, enthusiast or professional, who has never been or seen it, to come along next year. The judging is open to the public at both the state and national awards, and you can stay posted on dates and times via the AIPP website.

So, I made a complete fool of myself during the judging of the last print by bursting into tears of joy and gratefulness! I was so fortunate to have Jesh De Rox on the panel at the time it came up. Jesh saw something in this image (below) that not all the judges on the panel saw at first, and he argued passionately for it. When the re-score came up I nearly fell off my chair – the scores were 89, 89, 88, 88 and 88. I had one wish this year for APPAs, and that was to outdo last year’s results. This cinched the deal and I just couldn’t be happier!

The APPAs are held each June, and are national, but before the APPAs come around, every state holds their own AIPP print awards – it’s a great opportunity to put some work out there and see how it goes, without the stress and pressure of the nationals. So back in March, I entered several images in the ACT/NSW AIPP Print Awards, and was stoked to receive 5 silver awards. I didn’t post my winning images at the time, as I wanted to wait until after the APPAs. So here are the remaining two award images from the state awards which I didn’t enter in APPAs.