This is not meant to be a “tooting my own horn” thing. That is not something I do. In fact, I don’t even own me a horn. This is just a statement of facts for interested parties. Both of you. You know who you are.
Several weeks back I selected and put together my entries for the State Fair Photography Salon. A couple weeks back I got the card in the mail that tells you if you got any photos in and if you did, how many.
This year the card looked something like this:
I can’t mention success without mentioning failure. Success leads to backslapping, which leads to complacency, which stunts growth. For the last 4 years, the card said “Get out of here kid. You got no future!” So while this year’s card might not be that motivating, it was a more pleasant read.
Again, I’m not bragging. I’m not an award person. Awards don’t factor into my motivations in anything that I do. Whatever award I get will go into the photo contest trunk with all the other past photo contest pictures and awards. But I do want to give you some statistics and then you can determine if this was an accomplishment or if this was just luck.
Last year a little over 1,500 people entered this contest. 8 people got all 4 of their pictures accepted for display. I don’t know how many people entered the contest this year, but only 5 people got all 4 of their pictures accepted for display.
For having all of your pictures displayed, you get the Superintendent’s Award of Merit. I assume that is the award I got, but it is feasible that one of my pictures got another award of some kind. The Award Ceremony is this Sunday, but I won’t be able to attend. I had already made my vacation plans for that day, so I’ll be celebrating by having brunch with Jill at Hell’s Kitchen while the ceremony is going down. Or we might be at an Arts Festival in Minneapolis. It depends on how the day lines up, but I won’t be able to make it to the Awards Ceremony.
Wondering what four pictures I entered? The only way to find out will be to go to the State Fair and see for yourself. However, I will give you a one word clue for each picture:
1. Daisy
2. Foster
3. Barn
4. Jill
Good luck finding them!
As Paul Rhoads would say “I am so proud of you”. Not to toot your horn as I know you are typically scared of loud noises anyway, but that is quite the accomplishment. You are kind of like the Abraham Lincoln of photography. Great job dude and I look forward to seeing the photos in their glory at the state fair!
I am so proud of you..Keep up the awesome work you do, and I hope that this makes you realize that you have a God given talet!!!
I am so very proud of you! I am more excited this year to go to the fair than any other year just to see your photos. Great job! Why not toot your own horn? You deserve this recognition!! You are very talented–of course, you got that from me.. kidding…. Love ya man!
I can’t wait to go and see them! Thank you for making it fun to do a hunt and seek. You are a humble man of God and I am sure He appreciates your unpretentious demeanor. You are talented and what a wonderful way for the world to see your gifts. God Bless! I am so happy for you!
That is a huge accomplishment, and well-deserved! I am so impressed – for those of us who can’t make the fair, will you share them here later?
Extremely impressive accomplishment and way too humble of an attitude. Embrace your inner Kobe. Stand near your photos at the photo fair and quietly mumble, “This guy is like a young Ansel Adams.”
Jesse, I’m the Abraham Lincoln of photography? A statement like that would seem to require some backing documentation.
Andrea, I know that is God given talent. Perhaps there is some of that photography talent coming to the church during a remodeling project in the near future.
Teresa, the world is already filled with people talking about how great they are. Besides this is external validation which is something I’m not all that into. I toot my own horn when I think I have made a great photo, not when 3 strangers think I have. Really, what I’m saying is that these 3 people actually have a little taste.
Sheri, if the challenge becomes too difficult, you can ask the person at the table and they will point them out to you. I’ll give you a hint. 2 of the pictures are really close to one another. A third picture is on a wall.
Angie, nope. Well, probably not. But I might share them on the Photography 139 Facebook page. But that is a maybe as well. You have already seen all the pictures before any way.
Russell, that is a great idea. Except for the being like Kobe part. The true part of photo contests that I enjoy is watching other people react to my photos. Although I don’t get much of a chance to do that at the State Fair. One, because I usually get the shaft and two I can’t spend all my free time hanging out in the Cultural Building. Not when there are so many things I need to do when I’m at the State Fair. I will probably only make it to the Fair twice this year. Once to see Maroon 5. Once on the last day of the Fair to pick up my pictures. But if I get a chance, I will make your Ansel Adams comment.