Some news from several weeks ago that just needs to make it here onto this blog.
"Sentinels" the winning image of the Botanicals Category of the African Photographic Awards 2010. (This image is available in print from fineart@livingcanvas.co.za with REFERENCE NO: X3050)
I attended the Africa Photographic Awards 2010 hosted by Nikon South Africa and partnered by leading publications and companies on the 12th of August at MonteCasino in Fourways.
I had entered a number of images into the competition and had several of my images reach the finalist stages but until the actual awards event I had no idea of where I was placed in the absolute finals.
The awards ceremony flowed quite nicely and luckily did not drag on with too many speeches etc and overall there was a very relaxed feel throughout. The vibrant and colourful african icon Kingsley Holgate gave a brief talk about how the 2011 awards are partnering with United Against Malaria and he really is such a wonderful man to listen to, he could have gone on for hours and everyone would just keep listening.
After a brief interval the second half of the awards ceremony continued. The Botanicals category was eventually announced and there stood my “Sentinels” image bang smack in the center, that relaxed feel I mentioned turned to a bit of anxiety for a moment and then my name was announced as the winner of the Botanicals category. This image was one of my earliest entries into the competition and was selected as an Editor’s choice and printed in Africa Geographic Magazine in December 2009.
I am incredibly pleased with this award and would like to thank Nikon SA, the prize sponsors and media partners for this much prized and valued recognition. All the proceeds from the 2010 awards went to the Tomorrow Trust and it’s great to see the Photography Community doing such great work for charity.
Nikon promises next year’s awards to be even bigger and better and considering that this year’s competition had prizes totalling over 3 Million Rand, it’s going to be interesting to see how they raise the stakes in 2011. This year’s top prize was a Toyota Landcruiser and Jill Sneesby walked away that night with this brand spanking new vehicle for her winning Nature Portfolio, a really big congrats goes out to Jill for this achievement. I would also like to extend my congratulations to all the finalists and category winners for their achievements.
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These beautiful old trees remind me of Enid Blytons Magic Faraway Tree. I feel that I can climb the tree keeping a look out for and avoiding the wishy-washy lady’s dirty water and then meet Moonface have one of his toffees and then go and spend some time on the land that is at the top of the tree.