Better late than never...

Local Photographer's Work Goes to International Exhibition 

I am happy to announce my recent award received this summer in the Professional Photographers of America’s 2017 International Photographic Competition. 

A panel of 33 eminent jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from nearly 5,800 total submitted entries at Gwinnett Technical College in Georgia. Judged against a standard of excellence, 2,660 images were selected for the General Collection and 644 (roughly 11 percent) were selected for the esteemed Loan Collection—the best of the best. The Loan Collection images will all be published in the much-anticipated "Loan Collection" book and over 200 selected General Collection images will be published in the "Showcase" book by Marathon Press. (My image below will be in the "Showcase" book)


Each year photographers from around the world enter images to be judged.  Many will shoot images specifically for this competition, however, I choose to enter images that were created during my third world travels on personal projects.  These images are some of the most challenging portraits I have ever created and to receive recognition for this work is of great personal meaning to me.

Jon Johnson, an IPC Juror with PPA comments in his IPC Critique of my image, Hiding Behind the Hands Of Time: “92 congratulations, awesome score…a merit towards that master of photography degree in the general collection...Wow…great job, great score too!  I remember this image coming up…absolutely gorgeous, so well done, the lighting the tonality throughout is handled so, so well…beautiful”.  He zooms in on the image and continues his commentary; “I love the texture and detail throughout, wow this is amazing!”

“92 is an amazing score, I just don’t know how to go even higher..this outfit is the only distraction…this right here is unbelievable (as he circles around the face)…making this outfit solid or a black drape I think would have taken the image to the next category…but absolutely gorgeous job…wow…love it…what a story you see in these eyes..incredible, incredible image.”

The image scores a Merit in the General Collection, however, the outfit took away from the image.  This image was created spontaneously in a small village in Granada Nicaragua, just a slice of time that I encountered.  Yes, the clothing may be distracting..but it is the epitome of the decisive moment. I do not pose nor am I creating a scene for my photojournalistic portraits. So no “loan” collection here for me…but I will take it as it is an image I am very proud of nonetheless.

The search for new competition images will commence soon as SEPPA, Southeast District Photographic Competiton, the precursor to IPC is right around the corner...I will keep trying for a Loan this year and gain credits towards my Masters of Photography Degree with the PPA.

100 - 95: Exceptional

94 - 90: Superior

89 - 85: Excellent
84 - 80: Deserving of a Merit
79 - 75: Above Average
74 - 70: Average
69 - 65: Below Exhibition Standards