I’ve never thought of entering to any photography related competition. I didn’t even imagine if one day I could be an award winning wedding photographer. I admire those who made it, but putting myself out of the frame.
Sometimes, if you don’t do it, you would not know actually if you could make it. Thanks for the push from Louis Pang, I finally made my first move for the first time in the competition since taking up wedding photography a year ago. I decided to take part in WPPI’s 2009 First Half 8X10 Print Competition. WPPI is one of the largest and prestige orgnisation for wedding and portrait photographers. It is set at high standard with many world class wedding photographers being as the member. To compet, as a rookie, I was purely giving a try, but putting slight hope on bagging a little award would be a good kicker to get me going further in wedding photography. I thought, ” Maybe out of the prints, just one Accolade of Excellence would do.”
I waited for the day to receive email. As our time is oppose to US, I received an email at 12.30am. The moment opening the email was like receiving my SPM final exam result 13 years ago. It was breath taking, and among my submissions, I’ve got a 1st place in wedding photojournalism category and 4 Accolade of Excellence (Honorable to Mention). 5 awards all together! Can you imagine how I felt for that moment?
I was stunned, disbelieved of what appeared in my computer screen. Having won Accolade of Excellence is more than enough, what to say 1st place in the wedding photojournalism category? My excitement could contain no more, and that woke my wife up from her dreamland.
Below are the winning images that made my day! Like what Louis said, winning is sweet. But the first one is always sweetest. I should feel proud, at least for this moment.
Award: 1st Place
Title: Father’s Prayer
Category: Wedding Photojournalism
Captured from Brian & Amreet’s wedding on 2 May 2009.
Award: Accolade of Excellence (Honorable Mention)
Title: Well Dressed
Category: Wedding Details
Captured from Chung Chieng & Aileen’s wedding, 25 December 2008
Award: Accolade of Excellence (Honorable Mention)
Title: Grandma’s Blessing
Category: Wedding Photojournalism
Captured from Blaise & Rita’s wedding on 27 December 2008
Award: Accolade of Excellence (Honorable Mention)
Title: Interview
Category: Humor
Captured from a company’s annual event on 7 March 2009
Award: Accolade of Excellence (Honorable Mention)
Title: Evidence of Time
Category: Individual
Captured from Brian & Amreet’s Wedding on 2 May 2009
It is a huge achievement for me, a great leap in my wedding photography journey. It is an important mark, but what makes it more important is for me to continue this journey and I shall not stop. It’s still a long way to go, and to maintain at similar and higher level, I know it’s gonna be challenging but rewarding.
As far as I know, Louis, Jenny, Kenneth and Andy have all done superb and bagged multiple awards from this competition. Congrats! Malaysians have done well!
Friends who encourage me all this while, brides and grooms who love my work and allow me to photograph them, thank you! I wish to show my gratitude to Louis Pang who never fail to inspire local photographers, and for his guidance. Not to forget, he is the man who encourage us to participate in the competition. My wife has been supportive all this while, and I glad she has no second word to back me up. My family, particular my parents who also feel the joy for me. Last but not least, the One above who’s watching, pouring out His blessing on me. Lord, I can’t thank You enough.
by shen yeo
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