I am fairly new to WPPI… The convention for Wedding and Portrait Photographers International. The first year I went was 2022. My favorite part of the show was being able to examine the award winning portraits printed 16″x20″. I could stand close to the print I was looking at, and see the details that scored it a Gold Distinction.
The colors, the lighting, the paper choices, were all on display. I felt like I was in a museum. A museum that actually let me get close enough to see the details of the art these world renown photographers had entered, into one of the most prestigious contests in the world.
I was so disappointed last year when the print competition was cancelled. The trade show floor was just that. A trade show for photography. I got my camera sensor cleaned and wandered around for a bit, looking at equipment I didn’t need and could never afford.
I did see some people I knew from my classes and PhotoSafaris with Garrett. On the whole, I would have rather been out in the desert that day, with the wind in my hair and camera in my hand.
This year, though, the photo competition was BACK! I was so excited to be able to watch the live judging! We spent over 14 hours watching Icon Masters discuss the top ten photos in each of the categories.
Melissa and Jerry Ghionis did an amazing job resurrecting the contest. Not only did they bring it back, they brought it back and dressed it lovingly, in grace and technology. It was live streamed around the world on YouTube for the first time ever!
They had volunteers on panels interacting with the remote audience. They had volunteers moving the prints from the Lightbox to a wall display as the next print was presented.
The prints were shown on a 80×120 inch screen so everyone in the room could see what the judges were looking at.Throughout the day the ByWinslow group was able to move up to the second row so we could see the actual prints under the light, over the judges shoulders as well as on the screen.
The images were all spectacular! No matter what the category, the expertise and artistry were inspiring. Some had grand architecture, some were funny with bright colors. All made a statement. Every statement was clearly from the maker.
I say maker instead of photographer because that’s how the judges referred to them. This was a celebration of their work, as well as a judgement. We were viewing the top ten images in each category. The images were then scored from first to third place.
The winners were announced on Tuesday night at a Grand Awards Ceremony that was also broadcast live, again for the first time ever! I watched it from my computer in my jammies… I’m not quite as young as I used to be.
After two 10 hour days at the judging, here are my impressions:
It doesn’t matter what camera or lighting you use. They are tools to create art, just as a paint brush or musical instrument. The craft comes from the artist wielding the tool. You have to know how to use your equipment from camera to edit to print.
There are a million choices that go into creating these images. The best ones capture you. They speak to you. They draw you in. They touch your soul.
Long after the seeing them I might wonder how they were made and look at the techniques used. The ones that still stand out to me days later are the prints that were able to touch my soul.
THAT is what I wish to do with my photography. I want to capture the things that touch my soul so you feel what I felt when I was compelled to create the image.
I believe with my whole heart that fine art photography NEEDS to be printed large. It NEEDS to be printed on the best paper for that image. It NEEDS to be printed by a Master Printer Fine Art Printer (ByWinslow). It NEEDS to be properly lit!
We finally got to see the prints hanging in the gallery on Tuesday morning. Even up close these amazing prints were somewhat difficult to see because they were printed to be shown under the correct lighting. The trade show floor lighting, did NOTHING for them.
Garrett was really smart and brought his own special light. I then saw many others illuminating the prints with their smart phones. Jerry and Melissa Ghionis used some pretty cool technology. Certain images had a teal dot next to them.
This meant that you could download the ICON app and scan the print. It would take you to a video of the artist talking about their print. It really made me feel even more connected to the print to hear the story of its creation.
I was completely exhausted by the emotions so many of these great photographs elicited. I am so INSPIRED to go out and create my own masterpieces. I want to capture my feelings on camera, then take them all the way through the process, to hanging on my walls, and the walls of others.
I look forward to many more years of inspiration and motivation from The Icon International Photography Awards.
TTFN Thanks For Being Here! HM Shelton
