2008 Virginia Press Association Award Announcements!!!

I still don’t believe it…

At the Virginia Press Association’s annual convention and awards ceremony held in Norfolk this weekend, I received the following recognitions:

First Place – Sports Feature Photo

First Place – Pictorial

First Place – Photo Illustration

Third Place – Pictorial

Third Place – Portrait

I am truly stunned. The VPA made significant changes in the competition this year, and I didn’t think I stood a chance. Because of changes to the competition calendar, we could only enter works published through November, which meant losing a whole month of possible entries. They also combined the second and third circulation tiers, which meant that instead of competing with 25-30 publications, I would be competing with 50-60 publications, half of which were much, much larger in terms of circulation and resources. I really felt the odds were against me.

It just goes to show that it doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing. If you go out and treat every job you have like you’re working for a major publication, you will produce at a higher level than if you treat your job with the attitude that “it doesn’t matter…it’s just a weekly.”

A couple years ago, after winning a pretty nice recognition, I ran into a writer at a media event. While I was typically over-shooting the event, she gave me a good ribbing, reminding me that, “you can’t expect every shot you take to win a prize.” Even though she was and is right, that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try, that I’m not going to treat each opportunity to shoot as an opportunity to try to make something happen. Sure, in some situations I might be kidding myself, but, all the same, I think the mindset I take into an assignment gives me a better chance of coming out with something that might actually have a chance.

As always, I am everso thankful to all those who make this possible. Thanks Lakeway Publishers for all their support, and a huge thanks to Herald-Progress Editor Greg Glassner for getting me going and sticking by me all these years. Thanks also to Bob Brown and James Wallace at the Richmond Times-Dispatch for all the opportunities they’ve given me. Thanks to all those art directors, editors, and photo directors that have given me the chance to shoot for them. Thanks, also, Dan Beatty! A special thanks to Melissa Pinard, editor of the William & Mary Alumni Magazine, for not just the opportunities to work with her publication, but also for trusting me to chase my visions. Thank God for leading me this way, and thanks to my family, especially my wife and partner, for supporting me on this journey. What a trip!