I received my delivery confirmation today for my submission to the 2007 Nature’s Best Awards. This international competition has been for some time the most prestigious nature photography event in the country and arguably only second to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition in the UK. One never expects to receive any recognition from either of these very competitive events. I have however twice received Highly Honored Awards in the Nature’s Best competition which included a cash prize and inclusion in their extraordinary publication, Nature’s Best magazine.
My first award came in 1997 and the second in 2003. The really exciting thing about the 2003 award was that my image was also included in a special Smithsonian Institute exhibit of a subset of winning photographs. I convinced my wife to drive down to the Award Ceremony and exhibit opening and back the same night (about 7 hours driving total). The award presentation was followed by a presentation by Art Wolf and then the reception for the exhibit opening. My image, which is now offered in print form as “Rising Through the Mist” (middle bottom image in photo below), was printed for the exhibit quite large. I am very happy with the somewhat smaller size printing of the image I do which is remarkably similar in color to the printing done for the Smithsonian exhibit.
It was a great exhibit and exciting reception as winning photographers and reception guests enjoyed the prints and sipped wine. I had the opportunity to see the other award winning images and speak to some of the guests about my image as well.
It’s always impossible to know how judges will respond to any particular image, but until the final selections are announced, I’ll hold out hope for 2007.
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