One of my favorite hang-outs The Arlington Museum of Art hosted their very first photography contest. Aptly named, the “Image as Art Photo Contest: The Landscape”. The contest allowed entries for a fee during the early winter months. Anonymous judges screened art-worthy photographs to display in the final part of the contest. Over 200 entries came in and only sixty reaped a place on the museum walls. These finalists display in the downstairs part of the museum just in time for the Ansel Adams opening – May 3rd, 2014.

Of course, I entered. I mean, why not? We encouraged everyone in our Chics Who Click photography group to do so. Go beyond snapping the shutter and FRAME it. Be proud. Let others see. Let others judge. It takes a lot of work to go from camera to wall. Be fearless.

And the girls did not disappoint.

Many of the Chics featured an image to display as a finalist in the competition. Too many to even count or keep track of. But if I had to guess, I believe the number of finalists (just chic who click finalists) were around fourteen. About fourteen of us get to show with other artists in the museum. All we had to do is take our digital image selected by the judge and have it printed, framed, and delivered ready for the wall.

And I just made it…

I mean like heart-hammering, overnight shipping on the framing, and dropping the image off as they are hanging the others.

Thisssss close…Phew!

I could kick my procrastinating self, and maybe I will do that tomorrow. Heh.

My work of art “Sol de Flare” or back of the sunflower.

My sister from Houston enjoyed seeing the exhibit and her sister’s work of art.

Images as finalists in the contest.

One of my all-time favorites by a sweet friend and super talented travel photography.

A reception at the end of the display week is held to decide the winners – by one judge – for first, second, third, and fourth place, along with eleven honorable mentions. ALL winners, places and mentions, will display ALL summer with Ansel Adams.

This is quite the honor. I mean….Ansel Adams? And one of us? Or maybe not one of us, but to already be hanging in the same museum at the same time as his works of art?

How incredible is that?

Let me tell you, more than you can imagine, and you know what? I already won. I don’t care what the judge says, or who he picks. I have WON.

My image is on the wall of a museum, and not because I bought space, but because someone PICKED me as a favorite.

But it gets better, it is not just the prestige, but monetary prizes too.

Amazing.

So, do you want to know what happened?

Well, I got super sweaty. Nerves. Excitement. That darn glass of red I should NOT have had, because red wine makes me an inferno from the inside out. I love it, but I need to just accept our relationship must end. It’s just too hot for me.

So while, I am dabbing the sweat off my brow, and holding my daughter’s cold coke on my neck. I hear it…my name…they said…MY NAME. I hear lots of hooting and hollering. Then, my photographer teacher is next to me and escorting me on stage to accept my win as an honorable mention. Me? A winner? But, I already won. I am here and that’s enough.

But nooooo, I win. Officially, as in all summer, with my buddy Ansel. I take home prize money and have a chance to sell my image.

GET OUT.

All this for something I love to do. I took this photo at a local park after a client session. Of course, I couldn’t just leave, I had to explore and take photos. I found a lovely bunch of sunflowers.

Seven us from my photography group took home prizes and places. Seven of us will show all summer.

I don’t know who was more thrilled, the seven of us on stage holding our certificates, or the photography teacher who got so fired up, he dropped his camera (and broke it!).

Now, that is some kind of show.

I hope you enjoy my exciting work of art, if you would like to see more, please visit this week’s WordPress Daily Post- Weekly Photo Challenge – Work of Art for more fabulous works.