What a Year

And so far it is only May.

Starting last September I went for and got my Licentiateship Panel with the Royal Photographic Society. The judges were more than kind - one judge tried to give me 200% . . . head swelling stuff . . .  and I was encouraged to go for my Associate Panel asap based on my Licentiateship Panel. My panel was of my earlier shoots of my Raindrops on Grasses with a few extra bits to show variety.

So hugely encouraged and armed with a 'rough panel' plus spares of my Wild Grasses I went to the Advisory day in Scotland in January . . . and got shot down horribly in flames - no need to widen the doorways after this critique I could crawl under the gap in the door, regardless of whether there was even a gap. I was told I was doing nothing new . . . all been done before . . . blah blah - completely the opposite of my previous experience. I felt so discouraged I stopped taking photographs - what was the point - `i was carp after all . . . unoriginal . . . boring . . .

However, shoulders slumped I did manage to go with my rough panel and layout to see my mentor . . . brilliant man - talks to me how I imagine House might!!!!!! We get on really well!!!!!!!! It was decided with my passion for my grasses that my panel was better suited to Contemporary Arts than Visual Arts as an Associate Panel - plus it kept me away from the judge who clearly was not impressed with my work. Still feeling very discouraged and not really expecting to pass I waited for the 21st April . . . judgement day . . . sigh . . . I didn't think my passion for my subject was going to count for much this time.

All day long I kept checking for the email that would tell me if I had passed, or not . . . nothing . . . nothing on the web site . . . sigh . . .  I cleaned the house to within a molecule of its dust . . . and then at 17.41 when I'd given up all hope . . . WHOOP WHOOP . . . Gillian Hunt ARPS - I'd passed. Lots of running around in circles and screaming ensued for a number of days. HS was away on the Isle of Aarron doing a photography shoot so I was forced to celebrate with Lixtroll . . . oh and we really did celebrate. Serious bout of wine flu caught up with us the next day.

And it went on getting better . . . the RPS liked my panel enough to want to hang onto it and use it for workshops. Plus I was asked to send electronic images in as well to go onto a CD for presentations . . .  my images were (along with others) also being sent to Japan . . . and I was asked to do a brief talk on my panel in May at a RPS meeting . . . BIG SMILEY FACE.

Quite enough for one year!!!!!! Yup. Except I had been short listed for the International Garden Photograher of the Year competition  . . . and then I became a finalist . . .  berlimey and then on Sunday 25th April I got an email saying I had won my category of Wildlife in the Garden. http://www.igpoty.com/competition03/winners_LifeGarden.asp?parent=winners WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

So I am now back taking pictures - I have learned a really good lesson - believe in what your doing and don't always expect everyone to think you are good - they won't . . . for whatever reason . . . but equally learn to be your harshest, but most constructive critique . . .  I love what I do and nearly gave it up because of someone's careless remarks . . . never again . . . unless of course I lose it and really do become crap . . . every artists dread . . .