And the winner is, me!
On Saturday I went to the Shepton Mallet 2012 Digi Fest as I had been shortlisted for photography and digital innovation. Before my wife and I drove over to the ceremony I had a good look at the other finalists and was pretty certain who I would choose to be winner, (which wasn't me!) So you can imagine how brilliant it feels to be chosen over works which you admire, respect and rate considerably higher than your own.
Now I am not one to bang my own drum, as I would rather be humble than showy, but every now and then I get pulled up short and this is one of those occasions. I am really pleased with the story walks works I have created, and feel they are new and progressive in my own way, but to get high calibre names reinforcing that is just wonderful.
On the night, before the awards were given one of the judges Angela Williams (below) came up and said some really positive and encouraging words to me, which I took as 'you've got some great work so don't be too despondent when you don't win!' So you can imagine how chuffed I was to be stepping up onto the stage receiving the award for Fine Art Photography a short time later.
But then came the award for the overall best in show for 'photography and digital innovation', and I was called up again! So I now have book ends, and lets just say that there are not many trophy's in my history (none) though I do remember winning a ribbon for speed walking at my primary school though I'm not sure if I can put my hands on it just now.
But the real key part of the night, wasn't the award, but the people, those who you respect and admire have just turned around to me to say they like what I am doing. So thanks to every one, I am keen to stay in touch and do some work with this storywalk player. No point in leaving it idle now, that would be criminal!
