Professional Recognition

About two weeks ago I entered the local photographic competition sponsored by the Seattle Professional Photographers Association. I really wanted to compete because the competition was being run by the national standards used by the Professional Photographers of America and all the judges had national experience which meant it would be a good competition.

After getting four of my favorite images ready for the competition, Rachele, Corri (our apprentice) and I all attended the long night of watching and learning.

There were lots of great entries and I didn't know how I would do, but then one of my prints scored an 84 and the judges really liked it. After that two more of my prints received scores over 80 and I knew that I had done well.

At the end of the night awards were distributed and to my surprise, I received the highest aggregate score for all of my prints, the best wedding image, the best pictoral image, the best female child and a judges choice award. I was amazed and delighted.

The most interesting thing about the whole night was that all the photographers kept telling me how much they loved my work and this was coming from all the photographers I've admired for the past eight years. It was a nice moment for all of us because Corri was very excited to be working with a respected photographer and Rachele was inspired to get into print competition too.

I've always strived for the best in photography and journalism. In the Army my work was recognized with many awards and it's because I wanted to be the best that I could be. As a civilian I can do the same and have it benefit our studio and clients.

I believe that we have to strive for the best otherwise it's just not worth the effort. Last December, I was invited to a retirement dinner for one of my friends, Bill Kuhns.

Bill and I worked together for almost five years in the National Guard at the Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. It was a great job because everyone loved what they were doing and over the years we were recognized for excellence in Journalism.

When I arrived at Bill's house everyone was happy to see me because I hadn't been in the unit for two years. As I surveyed the room of journalists I had a feeling of pride growing within me that kept me smiling the whole evening.

There was Bill Putnam, who I mentored for several years and did all I could to help him take on the tough assignments for his professional development. He was the 2004 Photojournalist of the Year for the National Guard, the Department of the Army and the entire Department of Defense. That's like winning the Pulitzer!

There was Randy Wong winner of several Keith L. Ware awards for excellence in electronic news gathering for his work in Iraq. He was in Fallujah with the Marines!

Then there was Bill Kuhns the guest of honor who had enough journalism awards to wall paper a small bedroom.

Finally, there was I was standing within the circle of these immensely talented people and I was one of them. (I've got a few Army journalism awards myself.) I wanted to cry because I was so proud of their accomplishments and honored to have been with them along the way.

Even though I did not go to Iraq with them they carried on the standards that Bill Kuhns and I had set for the unit. When the soldiers would bring a story for me to review or photos to look at for the paper or magazine, I would say, "Is it good enough for a Keith L. Ware?" If they knew it was the best they could do, they would come back later and then we would review it together.

As I caught up with everyone at the dinner, I started to feel better about not going to Iraq because all the soldiers came home and they were recognized as the best of the best in military journalism and I was proud to be associated with them.