Captiv8: January 2007

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

16th January Back to Reality

It's been a crazy week, and it's back home now. I had an amazing week and have made some wonderful new friends from all over the world. I went to talks by Michael Redford(USA), Patricia Fernandez (Eng), Martin & Ryan Schembri (Aus), Tony Corbell (USA), David Anthony Williams (Aus), Gordon McGowan (Scot), Doug Gordon (USA), Peter Prior (Eng), Dino Cappalletti (Italy), and Jerry Ghionis (Aus). Some of which were quite brilliant. I took part in a private shoot with Martin Schembri, as well as inpromptu shoot at 2am in the bar with Ryan Schembri, Sean Kelly (USA) and David Beckstead (USA). The trade show was great also, and my clever tactic of leaving my wallet in the hotel safe the first 2 occasions I visited worked well, and meant I didn't go completely mad on new equipment I didn't need!!
4600 people attended the convention apparently, and it was a wonderful event. I am going back next year, providing the hotel haven't run out of Jack Daniels.
Highlight of the week was obviously winning the award, but apart from that, there were too many special moments to mention. Unforgetable!!

14th January London Awards Night

Well....... I have had a great year in the monthly print competition but never expected one of the big ones. UK Photographer Of The Year for Wedding Portfolio. I am still in a state of shock and struggling to take it in. Here's me still shell-shocked with Phil Jones of SWPP and my award. What a feeling. For a relative newcomer from Caithness to walk up in the footsteps of some massive names was an incredible experience.

The wedding portfolio category involves entering a CD with 10 images from one wedding. I had 4 monthly winners over the year, but it was my October entry featuring Nicola Falconer and Scott Farquhar which won the award. Here are the ten images:

13th January London

Just found out that no less than four of the six 20x16 prints I entered in the International Print Competition here, are hanging with merit ribbons on them. There are some really big names hanging up there alongside mine, and it makes me very proud. I really didn't expect anything from this competition! These are the four winners.....