Sunday, August 22, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Wheel Turns.....
How funny life is. So everyone by now knows that I had a blow-out at the Shootout. Fortunately life finds other ways to pat us on the back and keep us going. Guess what. Check this out! And the Winner is.....
http://www.africaphotographicawards.com/picsites/PHP/odac_hs.mp?sth=8
A couple of years ago I had an awesome experience at Doodles. We were at Ponta on a company breakout weekend and I was mostly busy helping new divers. The last day I decided to do some shooting as the conditions were good and everyone was by now cool underwater. We went down to the little Ponta house reef. We had seen a turtle there on previous dives. Now everyone that knows me will tell you, "Clive loves turtles!'. So there I was shooting the large snapper school when this fellow approached and approached, right through the school of blue banded snapper and right onto my lens. I could not miss :"Sit and shoot" "Do not forget press the button Clive!"
I only looked at the shots when I downloaded back home and suddenly I felt quite good, some nice shots were taken, I showed the shots around [ my peers were lukewarm...]and had a mixed results. Dave at College of Digital Photography liked the one shot and it landed on their web site [for a while], so it gave me some confidence with that shot. I liked it and it has in fact featured on my Face Book page. Earlier this year I was desperately looking around for shots that made the Africa Photographic award cut-off. I took "that" shot and a few others and forgot about it. All the other entries made Round One, then failed Round Two, except for "Doodles". "Doodles" kept going through .......and then it went silent. On 10 August I got three emails,,, people at the competition were definitely and desperately looking for me. Then someone phones and told me I am one of the FINALISTS and will I not attend the award function. Of course I will, what a question!.
Quite chuffed I called my friend Chris. (Wife Sue away at the moment..)..Arrange that we meet up and go and see what was up at Monte Casino on the 12th, at the Ball Room nogal. They said it was to be formal, but sadly my tux is a few sizes too old so I settle for a black suit and hope for the best.
Got there and my name is not on the list. "Confidently" I tell Chris that I spoke to them and it must and can only be a mistake. Was that turn in my stomach some butterflies,,,, Some well known and published photographers check in, Their names are on the list, I am now very certain that they only wanted people to pay and come to the ceremony. Chris and I have a second drink and pass on the canapés. I think I am nervous. I gatecrash the briefing ceremony. Fortunately they do not check names again. I go and sit and there is one more finalist sitting next to me in our category. We speak a few hollow words. Our section is before the interval.
The ceremony starts. They have some pretty girls singing, a comedian is master of awards and Kingsley Holgate delivers a great "United against Malaria" speech. Does everyone know he has had malaria more than 50 times! I am definitely going to switch from Jack to Captain. It must the Captain that keeps him alive on his fabulous journeys through Africa. Obviously best to drink safely under a net!
They start handing out prizes. The pictures are fabulous. What the heck am I doing here? Friend Chris must think I am balmy! The last category before the interval: Aquatic Wildlife. They call my name as well as others. I shake hands with one of the other finalists who did not sit with us (I actually know someone!) as I walk sheepishly to the stage. We smile as the funny man (He surely is making another joke) announce: And the Winner is.....I cannot believe it, "They call my name", applause and more photo's. I am by now walking on air as I get showered with good and best wishes.
I have learnt some lessons from this escapade: (On reflection and looking back makes for wiser words)
- Always give yourself a chance;
- Never give up;
- Always come back from disaster (as quickly as possible);
- You do not have to shoot a whale shark to win;
- Trust your gut;
Enjoy, one for the memory bank! I am now planning a trip to Kenya. Eat your heart out! Thank You Doodles!