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:
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.