Well what an amazing week I had last week....It would have been amazing had I not won this coveted prize but winning this was the icing on the cake and I'm feeling privileged and lucky. This year I had a very good run overall with individual awards and was awarded my first Gold for Elements - Water in the Contemporary Art Category which was judged before Illustrative category. All the 4 prints that went over were awarded with the others receiving 2 Silv Distinctions and a Silver respectively. I also had 4 prints in the Illustrative category and they scored 2 Silver Distinctions and 2 Silvers and 4 in Portrait which scored a Silver Dist, 2 Silvers and a 78. This shows me that I'm heading in the right direction and gives me a better idea of which 4 I should enter into the National Awards in September. Its always a bit embarressing writing these posts but as I've had to go back and check which prints went in where plenty of times before, its essential for the diary (which this is). However....the week was amazing for other reasons too....and especially Wednesday where people just came out of the woodwork with good wishes and kind gestures.

During what was probably the most adrenilin fuelled week I can ever remember people gave me flowers (thanks Karen and Waz xx), Perfume (Coco Chanel from Jules which is divine x) Food and Wine, Mum fixed my dress with Simones straps, and babysat (thanks to both xx) and Marguerite did my hair at Mosaic with hardly any notice and then wouldn't charge me xx which is truly appreciated. Loads of encouragement from the Supreme Goddesses as always and also from the overall photographic community of whom we all are there for each other during these times and it makes the week very memorable. It was more enjoyable, and almost as sweaty, watching my friends get awarded for their amazing work and talent and also a great learning experience from the fabulous judges.

Huge congratulations to the other Category winners and specially to Hilary Hann who took out 3 categories and the overall prize of SA Photographer of the Year with a portfolio of African animals (most of whom are endangered)...and I look forward to seeing these images used to help animal preservation in the future.

Because a fair chunk of the week was lost as far as work goes I had to hit the ground running with shoots hence its taken a week to get to write up the blogpost...and there a lots of images to include in it which it is nice to be able to share at last...

Winning Portrait Category Entry...on exibition at the Wine Centre until the end of the month

Finalist in the Contemporary Photographic Art Category on exhibition during August at the Light Gallery

My Illustrative Entries which scored 2 Siv Dist and 2 Silvers

The Result of a lot of hard work...couldn't be happier!