APPAs 2015. And earning my Associateship.

Each year photographers of the AIPP look through all their images and lose sleep over working out which ones are their best. They spend hours looking at them, deconstructing them, finessing them. It can become all consuming. A bit fanatical or OCD. 

Why? For some awards called APPA. Australian Print Photographic Awards. 

We can walk away with grand titles like Travel Photographer of the Year, State Commercial Photographer of the Year. Categories include everything from Nature and Science, Commercial, Wedding, Documentary, Sport to Illustrative. Play well and work hard, and eventually, with enough points earned, we receive titles such as Grand Master Photographer, Master Photographer or Associate Photographer. These are hard earned and can take years. Years of money, emotion, time and work. To gain Associate, you need to earn 10 points in 5 years. 1 point for Silver, 2 points for Gold, .5 point for 78 or 79 which they say is nearly award standard.

Peers judge our work, some of the best in the industry. And some days it can be brutal. Photography is so personal; it can seem like they are talking about us when they discuss our work. Our judgement, our ability, our thoughts. Not to say they are right or wrong in a larger context of our world as many prints that are shown, and don't 'rate', have won other awards or been bought by clients for hundreds (if not more) of dollars.

I have been entering these awards for some years. Five or so. I always thought it was 'nice' to have my work reviewed by peers - but some years I left feeling like a failure, never good enough and perhaps needing to find a new career. But it's not like that. These awards are tough. My prints were getting professional standard with the occasional Silver Award (which means above pro standard). Of course, though, I'd look at others, and see their work as so much better and wish I could be more like them. Each year there are only a handful or so of Gold awards handed out from the thousands of submissions. Perhaps I'd browse these Gold prints that were hung up after each category and dream one day they would be mine up there with them. 

This year I entered the awards with three prints that had received Silver status at the State awards. I also then rummaged through my archives and chanced across a sand dune shot from Kangaroo Island. A quick tweak and I sent the images off to be printed and shipped to Melbourne for awards. I thought I had a nice portfolio of subdued, quiet images that would definitely get me over the line for my Associate - at least three Silvers.

I didn't go over for the awards but watched via live streaming. It was a Saturday night when I caught up with my prints. I would sit holding my breath waiting for the scores. When the final score came up, I'd slump and begin to pity myself. I'd miss out on a Silver by a few points, and the score variance was crazy. Some judges were awarding one print just below pro standard to Silver award standard. I guess that is the subjective matter of photography. 

So I sat for a few hours, waiting for image after image, hoping to get some Silvers or better. Two images were just below award standard, and needing 1.5 points to get my Associate, I was getting nervous. I saw my third come up and waited anxiously. At first I got Silver, but with Darren Jew believing it was worth more, a discussion was started. After what felt like hours to me, it was re-scored and received a Silver Distinction. Yay! My first ever! Now I just needed .5 point to get my Associate, and I'd be a happy lady.

The last print came up, and it was gone before I could think what happened. Apparently it was nothing special, being awarded Pro Standard. I was bummed. I missed out on my Associate by .5 of a point. I didn't know if I wanted to continue with these awards. I poured a glass of red wine. Why do I put myself through the emotional turmoil? Why do I spend so much money on these? Is it worth it? I don't need to have my ego patted - I should be happy with who I am and what I'm doing. I'm earning money; I love what I do, what else do I need? The questions ran wild. But I didn't have answers.

Two nights later and my phone dings with a Facebook message. Peter Barnes, another Adelaide photographer, was at the Awards Dinner. He's heard my name called for gaining my Associateship. I question it, but later find out he is, in fact, right. Yay! A .5 point that I thought was going to be dropped off (expired) didn't. Now my questions are definitely without answers. I'm still not happy I only received one Award, but I have learnt from it.

1. Look at my images throughout the year
2. Choose something that is quirky/different
3. Don't stress about retouching. Sometimes simple works.
4. Go with my gut

SAPPA 2015 (SA AIPP Print Awards)

I thought about it. 'No, don't think I'll do it.' I thought about it some more. 'Ok, I'll give it a go.' Then I thought about it again. 'No, no. I'm not.' And so the story goes on. One week before the deadline, I email Atkins and ask if it's too late to get prints done. It's not - as long as I have them submitted that day. Argh! The Mad rush to finalise the selection of prints, tweak said prints and send through. 

Over the weekend, judging took place. I was coughing way too much to go but watched via streaming. It's just as scary and nerve-wracking watching from home as it is watching in the audience. I got sweaty palms. I didn't want to watch. I did want to watch. I held my breath. I tried to think positive. 

My first print judged, a blue volcano, got Silver. Yay! Now - just continue like this, I beg. My next two prints rate in 'professional practice' - my heart sinks. 'Why can't I get it right?' But the judges make comment, and I realise, what they are saying is right. In my heart, something didn't sit right with these images. I tried hard to make them something more than what they were - pretty pictures.

The last print up was probably the print I was most concerned about. 'Does it tell enough story?' But I entered it anyway, and it got Silver! Yay again. 

Of course I wanted more, we always do. But I am happy with what I have got. And more importantly, I have a takeaway from these Awards. 

Listen to your heart. Don't close the door to what your heart is saying. Trust yourself. You know what is best.

SAPPA and APPA photo awards 2014

The results are in. Over the last couple of months many photographers have put their hearts on photographic paper and entered the AIPP (Aust. Institute of Professional Photography) APPA (Aust. Professional Photography Awards) and SAPPA (SA Pro Photog. Awards) awards. I was one of them. And although I may not be completely happy with my results, I know I should be. These awards are hard. Getting an award is something to be celebrated.

Below are my prints that I entered in the APPA's. (These all received Silvers at SAPPA). At APPA all received Professional Standard, with one gaining Silver. One other image was one point off Silver too. They were judged by the best of the best of my peers, so to impress them is something.

BE DETERMINED TO MOVE ON AND UP… ALWAYS BE READY TO LEARN. EVEN FOR THE MASTERS.

SA AIPP Awards 2014 and APPA National Awards 2014

I entered these pics in the SA AIPP Awards a while back… and did well. Silver awards for the family legs on the beach, cafe window, SUP'ing at Glenelg and the life savers packing up at the end of a long day.

The rest were awarded professional standard - which of course, I'm very happy about. This weekend, my four silvers are in Sydney being judged for the National Awards. Fingers crossed for me.

I'd love to hear what you think… everyone has their own opinion.

Strathalbyn paddocks

Silver Award winning photograph in the Landscape category. Australian AIPP Awards in Melbourne, September 2013.

Let the debate begin. With a varying score with a difference of over 10 points, this image sparked a lot of chatter between the judges. After many comments were made, some loving the sense of miniature this image conveys, it was awarded. Thank you!

Woodcroft Community Centre

Silver Award Winning image at the Australian AIPP Awards held in Melbourne, September 2013. Very happy.