Do you enter photo contests? I like to say that I shoot for myself, but I suspect that is not the whole truth. I know that I also derive pleasure from sharing my thoughts and my images with others. There is something really gratifying and uplifting about feedback that suggests that I have touched someone else in some small way, that I have caused them to stop for a moment to consider the beauty that surrounds us.
Several months ago I saw a notice that the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park organization was sponsoring a photo competition. Regular readers of this blog know that Huntley Meadows Park, a Fairfax County-run marshland area, has become my favorite place to photograph a wide variety of wildlife subjects and I post my photos regularly to a Facebook page for the park. The only stipulation for this contest was that the photos had to have been taken at the park.
Sure, I have taken a lot of photos in the park, but were they good enough? I had never before entered a photo competition, and I guess I sometimes feel a little insecure about my photography. The competition required me to submit matted prints and I hadn’t for the most part seen my work in printed form.
I decided that if there were ever a competition ideally suited for me, this was the one. My mentor, friend, and fellow photographer Cindy Dyer helped me to prepare my prints. I submitted four prints, the maximum number that I was permitted to enter. (I’ll probably do a post soon with the four entries, so that you can decide which one you like best.)
A reception was held last week to open the photo exhibition and announce the winners. I was in Vienna at the time, so I learned from a friend that I took second place in the competition with a macro shot of a Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum ambiguum) that I titled “Baby’s Got Blue Eyes.”
One of the coolest parts of the competition is that the judge shared his/her comments about the winning entries, including the following assessment of my image (check out the Facebook page of the Friends of Huntley Meadows Park for more details on the competition):
“The contrast of colors is stunning, with the iridescent blues, greens, and reds of the dragonfly beautifully contrasted with the earth-tone browns and grays of the leaves behind. The use of narrow focus of this macro photo is done perfectly, bringing the eye and wing of the dragonfly into sharp focus that stands out from the pleasantly soft focus background. It gives the photo a great three dimensional effect. The composition is also compelling.”
Wow! I was worried when I heard that we probably had only a single judge for the contest, but if that was indeed the case, the judge really “got” what I was trying to achieve with the image. In some ways, I was surprised at the result. Insects have a kind of niche audience—some people just don’t like insects—and macro subjects sometimes have trouble competing head-to-head with stop-action wildlife shots.
My biggest takeaway from this competition, though, has nothing to do with the competition itself. I’ve learned that there is something really special about seeing my photos printed. The images look good on the computer screen, but it is much more exciting to be able to show someone a print, knowing that I have created that image.
As I think about this coming year, I see myself having a whole lot more of my images printed and maybe even having to courage to enter additional contests.
Baby’s Got Blue Eyes
At the exhibition. (Photo by Cindy Dyer)
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
It’s not surprising to me that it won, Mike. It’s a beautiful photo that has winner written all over it and I’m surprised it didn’t take first place. Congratulations!
Thanks, Allen. There are a lot of talented photographers who shoot at the park. The winner was a shot of a Barred Owl sitting on a snowy branch that was pretty awesome.
Many congratulations Mike but I agree – I think the patience to capture the detail of such an amazing creature is really special.
Thanks so much. I consider patience and persistence to be my strongest traits as a photographer and they definitely help with a subject like this one.
Congratulations Mike. Great shot the angle infers action.
Well done Mike – congratulations and you really should not be surprised. We knew it was a winner! It is wonderful to see your work in print and very special to get the acknowledgement.
Congratulations! You take many superb photos, but this one deserved an award. Keep up the great photos.
Congratulations Mike. It’s a well-deserved honor.
Congratulation Mike. Great photo and accomplishment.
We went to see the show yesterday. The competition was very strong. The winning entry was beautiful and so well framed with the tree, owl, leaves, snow.
I also like the one with the heron that lost the fish. All the photos were really beautiful and so telling of the park. There’s a lot of activity going on.
Congratulations and no surprise, as your posted images have consistently been most impressive. Merry Chriastmas, Mike. M 🙂
Congratulations! It’s so surprising to hear you express any insecurity at all about your photography. I love your photos and have always assumed your knowledge and experience would equate to complete self-confidence about your work. It’s reassuring and inspiring to see that you worry about these things the same as I do. Thank you for sharing that!
Congratulations, Mike! It’s great to see that others agree that you get some amazing photos.
Good for you.
Congratulations Mike, nicely done. You have taken quit a few amazing pictures over this past year in my book. Keep up the great works that you do! Have a Marry Christmas and a Happy New Year, MT 🙂
Congratulations on your well-deserved win! You should definitely enter more contests. I used to participate in photography contests back home in Scotland with my Camera Club as, aside from any success I might have, the feedback from an independent judge was always informative.
Congratulations. It is lovely to see your work hanging. I think sending in work for a competition would inspire one to push that little bit harder and get some constructive criticism. I would like to try but I have nothing local. Your award is an inspiring Christmas present. Amelia
Hey Mike, Congrats…on a great picture and the well deserved award.
Congrats.. 🙂
Thanks, Ed.
Kudos to you, Mike! Well done!
Thanks, Sue. As I recall, Sue, you were one of my earliest subscribers, so you have been with me on my journey into photography longer than most. It’s nice to stop for a moment to celebrate this moment, but the journey continues.
Oh, I didn’t know that. Well, we have been on this journey together then, because I had only started taking photos with a “real” camera about then, too. I think we’ve learned a lot!!
Congratulations, Mike! It’s rewarding to see my dragonfly protege receive some well-deserved recognition.
Thanks, Walter. You’ve both pushed and pulled me to pursue dragonflies and I’ve learned a lot from you, despite my occasional stubbornness.
[…] several years ago for a macro shot of a Blue-faced Meadowhawk. (Here is a link to the 2015 posting Second place in a local photo competition that shows that prize-winning entry and tells some of the back story of the […]
Bravo! And now for the encore… 😉
[…] several years ago for a macro shot of a Blue-faced Meadowhawk. Here is a link to the 2015 posting Second place in a local photo competition that shows that prize-winning entry and tells some of the back story of the […]
Woo-hoo! Congratulations Mike. A stunning photo and really clever, amusing title. What a wonderful accomplishment.