Just got the results from the NJ Professional Photographers Association (PPANJ) print competition. I entered four images this year and each image earned a Red Ribbon-just below the higher honor. The judging is tough and the competition fierce, so I’m pleased.

Entering competitions keeps this NJ photographer sharp! The very first image I entered in a competition was 30 years ago– that photo of an American flag reflecting back into the window of a white colonial house won first prize in a State of Connecticut tourism contest– $500 was a fortune back then!!

The image above shows two dancers from the very talented Amalgamate Dance Company of NYC. Taken with ambient light only during a live performance. Next is a “Kiss to Remember” shot in a backyard at an at-home Bat Mitzvah party.  I used my Canon 5D Mark II and enhanced the image in Photoshop to highlight the viewer’s attention on those sweet faces. Also  using the same camera and window light only is the tender moment between the husband and his very pregnant wife. The contrast between his “roughness” evidenced by t-shirt contrasts well with her dreaminess and softness.

Finally, the image of the solo dancer was taken at an outdoor evening performance in 1982.  I pushed the black and white film to its limits and pushed the processing in the dark room. The image remained very grainy until it was converted to digital and met up with Photoshop where the grain was softened and the satiny light enhanced. To do this day it remains my all time favorite image. By the way, feel free to contact me about purchasing any of these images.