Gail Cushing Photography Blog: International Competition

A little over 4 years ago, I joined Professional Photographers of America (PPA). This organization is dedicated to helping professional photographers learn, grow and continually improve in their chosen art form, not only in artistic and technical aspects, but also in ways that help photographers grow their business. It has been an incredibly inspirational resource for me and joining PPA is one of the best things I have done since I have decided to become a professional photographer.

Each year, PPA holds its international competition with thousands of professional photographers from all over the world participating. Images scoring a certain level of points earn merits that we photographers need in order to obtain our Craftsman Degree from PPA. Earning the Craftsman designation is a goal I am pursuing. This year...I'm ready to compete among this esteemed group of professionals and earn those merit points.

It is a daunting proposition....putting images that I have created and that I love in front of a group of very demanding judges for their critique. (Not something for one who can't handle criticism well). In striving to be the best professional photographer I can be and in preparing for participation in this competition I have taken numerous technical workshops, read countless books on art and photography and lighting and posing and the entire process of creating beautiful and impactful images. I have mentored with some of the best photographers around and have found a network of colleagues to provide support and advice and sometimes even a kick in the butt.

Choosing the images was also a challenging prospect. Of the thousands of images I have taken, I can only enter four. The following four are what I feel are the best of my work to date. I have met with competition advisors asking their thoughts, opinions and advice, have shown them to my closest champions, have worked with these images to take them to their highest level for show.

And now....I'm ready.....
Ready, good or bad what the judges say. (of course I hope for the best). I know my work can stand against those of the best in the business.

But participating in this competition is not just about having my work judged...it is another step in my learning process as a professional photographer. I will listen to the judges comments (I am having the critiques videotaped and I think I'll have a glass of wine before I watch those tapes! LOL!), I will learn from them. I will see the work of other amazing professional photographers and learn what makes what they do special also.

Am I nervous? Of course, it is not easy to put one's art, one's self on the line for others to judge. But I am doing it because I want to create the most beautiful images I am capable of...and I will never stop striving for excellence. Carpe Diem!!

Wish me luck! And have a fabulous day!

Peace and Joy,
Gail

Competition Image #1: Pinkalicious