You're to be commended, but...
This year I entered the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2018 competition , following general encouragement of the 'nothing to lose' variety (I assumed, self-effacingly) from serial winner and free radical photographer Tim Clinch (http://www.timclinchphotography.com/). Two of my shots were then shortlisted [WHOOSH, blood rushing to the head; quick make hi-res copies you're going to need them. Where are the finals, in London? Get speech ready, ditch it, ad lib, keep your cool!].
It's the first time; how else do you react?
A mere four days later this:
"Dear James,
The Finalist images for Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2018 have now been selected and successful Finalists have been informed.
While your entries made it through into our Shortlist, I am sorry to inform you they have not progressed further in this year’s awards...."
Now that the dust has settled and the finalists, placed entries and winners announced (congratulations, Tim! - 2nd in the 'On the Phone' category), it turns out the entire shortlist is represented in the Commended Gallery on the Pink Lady website here: https://www.pinkladyfoodphotographeroftheyear.com/commended-gallery-2018/
So thanks to Pink Lady for what is a great competition, and here, in their full glory, are my first two PUBLISHED images, logoed by Pink Lady for greater certainty:
Taken in Bulgaria last year during a wonderful 5 days, hosted and guided by the Clinch himself.
This is my observance at the altar of pork butchery: these little Scottish piggies went to market, having made the greatest sacrifice of all...
Commendable, however.....
NEXT YEAR, this little Scottish piggy is going wee wee wee all the way home to the finals in London!
And I get to put a new page on my website: RECOGNITION!!! When I get round to it.
And on another matter:
The garden's coming on nicely this year. These taken in the gentlest of morning light this week.
