Awards

Sep

2016

Australian Professional Photography Awards

Once again the Australian Professional Photographers Awards (APPA’s) have come around. Last year I struggled. Even though I managed to scrape together a point I failed to get any awards which was a bit disappointing for me. So this year I spent time looking into how I could improve.

I’ve learned a couple of lessons in the last year regarding the print as a product. The importance of paper choice and how it effects the final outcome of the print was my main lesson learned. Before the previous year I was rather ignorant on some of the finer points in paper quality. I printed my work on Canson Rag which although it’s a beautiful paper didn’t suit my type of work so well. It is a matte paper that gives the image a beautiful soft, almost dreamy feel with its low contrast. Great for landscapes and portraits but not so great for action sports. I needed something a bit more edgier, more contrast. I ran various test prints on various papers in the last year and have settled upon Ilford Gold Fibre Silk. It’s a semi gloss with enough contrast in it to give the print some punch.

I believe printing is a whole other branch of photography with its own unique skill sets. It’s one that I never thought I would follow but with the introduction of the rule last year whereby photographers must submit printed entries to the APPA’s, I have had to start down that path. It has been interesting learning about the art of printing. I went to a couple of print reviews put on by AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photographers) and picked up a few tips. I had them critique my previous years prints to see where I had gone wrong.

Perhaps the biggest boost along the road is to have the support of Angus from Gusha Pro. Angus spent time with me looking over my work and pointing out what I can’t see. Sometimes being too close to your own work can blind you to how others may view it. Angus’s help has also been invaluable to me as I have started on the path for printing. If you are ever looking to get high quality prints done and need some advice on which direction to choose I highly recommend getting in touch with him.

This year I am happy to say that I have walked away with 2 Silvers and 1 Silver with distinction. The gold still eludes me so I shall have to pick up my game again this year and set my sights higher for next. Gaining points in the APPA’s this year has given me the honour of becoming an associate with the AIPP which I am very happy about. Next title on the list to aim for is Master Photographer.

: Night Sessions with Tim Hughes in the rain at Oxford Falls. Silver Award

: Highlining in Australia’s Blue Mountains. Silver with Distinction.

: Racing at Thredbo. One point short for a silver.

: Fox Superflow at Killingworth on the Central Coast. Silver award.

Mar

2016

AIPP State Awards 2016

A new rule this year for entering the Australian Professional Photography Awards meant that I must first enter the NSW State round in order to qualify for the national round.

I previously did not have much knowledge of printing which let me down somewhat in the last national round. Despite it being an important part of photography I never had much of a reason to print before. I would send my photos off to clients and such and see them when they came out printed in magazines or ads and the like. That for me was the printing process. Although my prints did ok last year they fell just short of scoring a silver that i would need to qualify for this year

In order to try and improve my scores I met with some industry bigwigs and had them review my print entries from last year. All pointed to certain points in my printing that I needed to keep an eye out for and improve such as black point and paper choice.

I spent a more time choosing pictures and preparing prints this time around. My printing process and knowledge was aided greatly by the wisdom of Angus Benham of Gusha pro in Brookvale. Angus’s help was invaluable in pointing me in the right direction and helping me with everything from choosing the best paper, running numerous test prints on different types of paper and overseeing the final production of the prints themselves.

I needed at least two 80s to qualify for the national round. I’m happy to announce that out of my 4 images I selected to enter I received an 82, 81, 80 and a 76.

Bring on the Nationals!!!

If you need to get the best prints possible from your images be sure and check out Gusha Pro here for your fine art printing needs

: FreerunnerDominic Di Tomasso plays on a wall at Kirribilli

: Jacob Druce makes a crossing of the White Ninja Highline.

: The first round of the 2016 Superflow Enduro series took place at Ourimbah on the Central Coast

: Riders coming through Nyes Creek in the Willo enduro