One of my favorite photographers wrote a great blog on the subject of entering competitions, Guy Tal says "To compete is to strive to be better than others by the arbitrary opinion of some arbitrary judge or panel, or by popular appeal.  Competition implies placing greater importance on how you measure up to others, or how others perceive your work, rather than on the personal, inner, rewards of engaging in creative work..."  
All this said, I often wonder, if I had not won my first competition, if I would have had the courage to try again.  I continue to have a love/hate relationship with competitions, but they motivate me to practice my art, to be the best that I can be, But in the end, I photograph simply because I enjoy the process.  It takes me to a happy place.  

	Jefferson County Photography Club 2015 - 1st Place Overall Manchester Arts Focus 2015 - 2nd Place Overall Framations Beyond the Lens 2016 - 3rd Place Overall Studio Altius Seen 9 - Accepted in Juried Exhibition Viewbug - Contest Finalist Covers Photo Contest Vol 23, October 2015 Viewbug - Contest Finalist in Fog, Clouds and Mist Photo Contest, January 2016
Acadia SunsetSunset along the beaches of Acadia National Park in Maine, October 2015.	SEEN8 Studio Altius 2015 Juried Exhibition Jefferson County Photography Club 2015 - 3rd Place Landscape Category
Sunflower and Blue SkySunflower as viewed looking up against the sky, the sun casting a glow around a single leaf. Photographed in St. Louis, part of the Delmar Sunflower Project. The Delmar Sunflower + Project, is an outgrowth the Sustainable Land Lab, a partnership between Washington University and the City of St. Louis aimed at rethinking vacant land in St. Louis. The goal of the Delmar Sunflower+ Project soil remediation, community building, and ultimately to spur redevelopment of these long vacant parcels	Jefferson County Photography Club 2014 - 1st Place, Flower Category
Red Barn at SunsetRed Barn located off Highway 94 in Marthasville, Missouri, Warren County.	Mid-Missouri Fine Arts Photography Competition 2014 - 1st Place Jefferson County Photography Club 2014 - 1st Place, Amateur Category