AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHY
I strongly believe that entering photographic competitions increases the skill of a photographer. Competition pushes the creative envelope and and encourages new techniques and skills. The images below have been entered in to different competitions from local to international in level and have either won ribbons or have achieved merit level. I have enjoyed creating them and hope you enjoy viewing them.
Forgotten Notes
2024 Image of Excellence and First Place Winner for Portraits in Georgia Professional Photographers Print Competition - This was an out take image from a client session. This woman is actually quite sharp but I caught this expression that reminded me of when my mother had dementia as she was waiting while I was testing the lights. It just touched me. It was taken in the clients home with a Nikon Z6 and won an Image of Excellence Award in the Professional Photographers Image Merit Review.
A Brush With Nature
2024 First Place Winner in the Artist Category for Georgia Professional Photographers Image Competition and PPA Merit awarded in the artist category. This image is a composite of 6 images and I made a big mess in my studio trying to get the paint drips correct.
Mint Condition
2024 First Place Commercial Illustrative Image winner for GPPA Image competition and PPA Merit Image - Another image that was redone more than once. I spray painted the one mint with a metallic paint and then lined them up. It was shot in studio with a Nikon Z6 and won a merit in the Professional Photographers of America Image Merit Review.
The Sous Chef
2024 Merit awarded by Professional Photographers of America. This little guy is the perfect example of not giving up. I reworded this imaged probably 5 or 6 times before it was awarded a merit. This is the pet of a client who was willing to go along with a vision I had.
An A-Peeling Proposal
2024 Professional Photographers of America Merit Image in the artist category. This was a composite of three images including my grandmothers engagement ring and also lightly painted in. Photoshop.
Supper Time
2024 First Place in Children's Portraits in Georgia Professional Photographers Image Competition. This is another image I had a vision for and had a client bring their child in to create it. The grape vine crown was made by me. I also photoshopped in birds that I had taken pictures of off the back deck of my house.
Rooms for Rent
2024 First Place in Wildlife Illustrative Category for Georgia Professional Photographer's Image Competition. This is a composite of three images take at Gibbs Gardens.
Forever My Heart
2024 Third Place Winner in General Portraits Category for Georgia Professional Photographers Image Competition. I normally don't include third place images but not only do I just love this image from a client session but it was a miracle that I got this because the child literally would not sit still. There were bribes and tears and threats, but mom really wanted this and I am so proud we got something that she loved.
Green River
2023 Image of Excellence - This was actually a really old picture that was taken at the botanical gardens years ago. I recropped it and worked on editing it again. This image received an Image of Excellence from the Image Merit Review with Professional Photographers of America. So save those old images!
Striking Out
2023 Merit Image - This is one of those images that I reshot multiple times before I got it the way I wanted it. It was taken in studio with a Nikon Z6 and was awarded a merit in The Merit Image Review with Professional Photographers of America.
Food For Thought
2023 Merit Image - This image came as a continuation from the image "Soul Food". It was taken in Studio with a Nikon Z6. It earned a Merit in the Image Merit Review with Professional Photographers of America.
The Kitchen Help
2023 Image of Distinction Award from TPPA. This image was created in studio during the shut down in 2020 and this is the first time entered into competition. It was inspired by the still like photography of Joel Grimes and was taken with a Nikon Z6.
Morning Chaos
2023 Image of Distinction in TPPA print competition. This is just one of those image ideas that popped in to my head. It was taken outside with additional off camera lighting. The cup is one from my grandparents china given to them as a wedding gift in 1920. Taken with a Nikon Z6.
Sweet Smell of Summer
2022 Image of Excellence with Professional Photographers of America's International Print Competition
Taken with a Nikon Z6, in studio, Flashpoint strobes and a lot of patience.
Soul Food
2022 Team USA image for the World Photography Cup of Photography
2022 Grand Imaging Award Nominee
2021 International Print Competition Image of Excellence Award.
2020 First Place winner in Georgia Professional Photographers Print Competition in the category of Illustrative Commercial Photography.
It was taken in studio with a Nikon Z6
Team USA wins the 2022 World Cup!
Love Grows
2022 Merit with both Georgia Professional Photographers and Professional Photographers of America Print Competitions.
2022 Distinguished Image Award GPPA
Taken with a Nikon Z6 in studio with strobe lighting. Handmade head piece. Background overlay was taken at Gibbs Gardens.
Dragon Song
2022 Merit Image for Professional Photographers of America's International Print Competition and 2022 TPPA Texcelence Award Winner.
2022 distinguished Image Award GPPA
Taken with a Nikon Z6 in studio with strobe lighting and reflector.
A Ravenous Reader
2022 Merit Award with Professional Photographers of America International Print Competition.
This image was taken as part of a pet fundraiser that I did in 2021 and the name of the snake is Sampson.
Love and Lullabies
This image won first place in Georgia Professional Photographers 2021 print competition in the category of Infants & Children. It was taken at a client newborn session with a Nikon Z6.
Summer Maidens
2021 merit image in Professional Photographers of America's International Print Competition. It was taken at Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, Georgia with a Nikon Z6.
SERGEANT AMY
2021 Merit image in the portrait category at the Professional Photographers of America's International Print Competition and 2019 merit image in Georgia Professional Photographers Print Competition. Amy Dies is a sergeant at the fire station in Acworth, GA and was kind enough to suit up and pose for this portrait for me at the station. It was taken with a Nikon Z6 with portable strobe lighting.
Garden Fresh
Garden Fresh was honored by being accepted into the prestigious Loan Collection in Professional Photographers of America's 2020 International Print Competition. It was also given a award of distinction in Georgia Professional Photographers Print Competition in 2020.
Rebuilding
This image was created during the shut down and has won several awards. It received a merit in the 2020 Professional Photographers of America International Print Competition, an award of distinction in the 2020 Georgia Professional Photographers Print Competition along with the Judge's Choice Award. It was fun (and challenging ) to put this one together. The background is actually a sky that I also photographed and printed out and used as a backdrop. It was taken in studio with a Nikon Z6.
Solitude
This image was accepted into the prestigious Loan Collection in Professional Photographers of America's 2020 International Print Competion. It was created in studio using an HO scale figure on white paper with a Lume Cube light with a snoot attachment.
Strawberry Pop
This is my second most award winning photograph. This image won first place in the commercial category with Georgial Professional Photographers 2019 print competition. It was achieved a high score in the 2019 Professional Photographers of America's International Print Competition putting it in the loan collection and was on the cover of the March 2020 edition of PPA monthly magazine. It was taken of a strawberry dropped in tonic water with a piece of pink scrapbook paper behind it. I used a Nikon Z6 and two Flashpoint 200 strobe lights in studio.
Stacked
2020 Distinguished Image award in the Illustrative Commercial Photography category in the Georgia Professional Photographers Print Competition
WOMAN OF THE CLOTH
This image was taken of Mother Mary, the priest at the Church of Ascension in Cartersville, GA. It won first place in the category of portraits in the 2019 Georgia Professional Photographers Image Competition. It was taken with a Nikon Z6 at the Church of Ascension with natural window light and a white reflector.
BEST FRIENDS FOREVER
This image won first place in the category of Illustrative Image in the 2019 Georgia Professional Photographers Image Competition. It was taken of my daughter and her friend on a foggy morning in December on the street we live on. I probably embarrassed her by asking her and her friend to get up and put on gas masks because I had this idea for an image. Once I went through my creative editing process they both loved the final image. It was taken with a Nikon 7100 with natural light.
BEAUTY FROM WITHIN
2019 merit image in portrait category for Georgia Professional Photographers Print Competition. This image is of my daughter taken with a Nikon Z6, in studio with Flashpoint strobe lighting.
SEA OF DAYDREAMS
2019 merit image in the category of children's portraits at the Georgia Professional Photographers Print Competition. This is a image came from a client session for a little girl who was turning five and loved mermaids. I have been photographing this family for several years and they always open to super creative sessions for their daughter's birthday portraits. It was taken with a Nikon 7100 with natural light.
CATCH OF THE DAY
Another 2019 merit image with Georgia Professional Photographers in the landscape category. This was take at Mediera Beach in Florida at sunset with a Nikon Z6.
RIDE TO THE TOP
Merit image for PPA's International Print Competition. This is part of my miniature photography collection. I used HO scale figures with a back ground of an image I took at a carnival and printed out. It was taken with a Nikon 7100 in studio with studio strobe lighting.
DREAMS OF TOMORROW
Another award winning image from a client session. This image won first place in the category of portraits of women in 2018 in the GPPA print competition. It was taken at Frost Chapel at Berry College in Rome, GA with a Nikon 7100 with natural light.
MY PAD
This cute little guy had his portrait taken at Gibbs Gardens in Ballground, GA. He won third place in the category of nature in GPPA's print competition in 2018. It takes a good eye and a lot of patience to find one of these little fellows. This image was take with a Nikon 7100 with natural light.
WAITING
Multiple award winning client image. This image of little Cito at his family's farm won a honorable mention at the Downtown Gallery Winter 2018 Photography Exhibition and a merit winning image in GPPA's 2018 print competition. It was taken with a Nikon 7100 in natural light.
BEFORE THE STORM
First place winner of the Booth Photography Guild and the Bartow History Museum's photography competition "Barns of Bartow County" 2018. Taken with a Nikon 7100 with natural light.
BANANA BIKERS
Although not actually an award winner, this image was one of only 20 images juried into the Cartersville Photo fence exhibition. Another of my miniature photography collection and one of my personal favorites.