Grand Slam Night - winning vs. pride

Is it luck or is it just getting better?...

Recently at the camera club (Livermore Valley Camera Club or LVCC), my 3 entries were all selected. People often ask "Do you get any price for winning?"

At the club, it is all about recognition. When selected as 1st, the maker will be entitled for short commentary about the image. Any 1st and 2nd placer will be sent to the council (Northern California Council of Camera Clubs or N4C) to compete with the other winning pictures for the monthly and annual competition ~ it's the club's rule but sometimes there are rules that need to be broken like this one:

John (my favorite Master photographer and club's events manager) told me that night: "You keep on winning Marichu. I know we have rules, but I need to promote you to the next level. "

Winning makes me proud and happy. BUT I'd definitely rather be proud of my work, more creative, $uccessful, happy and content than obsessed with winning. The real enjoyment is derived from the joy of creating something new and something better from the joy of my passion (photography). If I focus on creating fantastic photos then winning will take care of itself.

Wynn At Night

1st place Travel Basic Projected 09/07/09

The Road To Lassen

2nd place Travel Basic Projected 09/07/09

The Squatter's Living Situation In Mountain Province, 1st place Journalism Basic Projected 09/07/09

“A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.” ~ Larry Bird

[click on the image to enlarge, click the underlined above title Grand Slam Night to see all my winning pictures].

So In Love - when creativity kicks in

So it shows, when two people are
So In Love...

One relaxing night, Ludwig van Beethoven's Violin Concerto in the air - the music that gives mental appeal whenever I want to start a project. My mind is already in tune with the music but the mood isn't there yet. So, I let my eyes wandered: looking to the earthtone colors in my dining/family room, the Diego Rivera's Flower Seller painting, the indoor plants as if they're also enjoying the music and my cat sleeping peacefully in her pink bed ~ with enough inspiration, I then, let my sense of Creativity kicks in.

My goal that night was to blend few pictures into one with such an impact and style! After grouping some images together with the same color (blue sky and the red rose) and same theme (the kiss, the hug, and holding hands), the So In Love collage was created not only as the wedding signature mat picture but at the same time as my 1st winning entry to the camera club Creative competition (August 3, 2009 LVCC 1st place for the Creative Basic Projected Image).

Today, September 5, 2009 Sam & Selam's wedding day in Ethiopia. I couldn't be there to "document" their matrimony as I am right now, in my biggest adventure for 2009 - a 10 day hiking trip exploring the wilderness of Canadian Rockies...Yet, the engagement pictorial is enough to witness two beautiful people who are So In Love.

To Sam & Selam: It's my great pleasure to take your pictures together. Best Wishes!

[click the collage to enlarge, click the underlined title So In Love to view Sam & Selam's Engagement Pictorial, click play button for I.Perlman - Beethoven Violin Concerto ]

Livermore Art Gallery Exhibit 2009

An Invitation

Livermore Valley Camera Club Exhibit

Livermore Civic Library - Art Gallery

September 1-30, 2009

*Open to the public. Free Admision*

Address: 1188 South Livermore Avenue, Livermore CA 94550
Directions: from I-580 Take the N. Livermore Avenue Exit, head South toward the center of Livermore. Civic Center Library is 2.5 miles from the North Livermore exit on the left hand side of the street. College Avenue is the nearest cross street. City Hall and the Police Station are on the left immediately before the Library.

Library Hours: Mon-Thur 10am-9pm; Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun noon-6pm

#28 The Light In The Church Hallway (27x30) - 2008 winning pix

#29 Orange Dusk In Baja Coast (16x20) - 2009 winning pix

#30 The Shroud Of The Missions (8x10) - a personal fave

[Click the above title Livermore Art Gallery Exhibit 2009 for Livermore Civic Library info. Click on the images to enlarge.]