Siena International Photo Awards
This was my first year entering the Siena Awards so when I discovered my image had been shortlisted I was naturally delighted!
Siena International Photo Award is one of the photo contests with the highest international participation ever. 2019 edition has received nearly 48.000 images from amateur and professional photographers from 156 countries worldwide.
As a photographer and a creative it’s hard not to criticise your work and beat yourself up with doubt and inadequacy. It’s a constant battle but one I think you also need in order to progress and ‘up your game’.
Entering awards such as this and qualifying removes some of that doubt, at least for a short period of time anyhow. It validates you and your work in a way that others cannot. I think the fact that it’s judged by such revered figure heads in the industry, they demand a certain respect and to be honest I crave the approval. I know they are looking at my work and I know they have no idea who the hell I am but are judging this one image amongst thousands of other amazing images. For them to select that image, for it to be good enough to reach the next stage and then the next, wow.
Anyway - enough blabbering! Here’s the image ‘Honey Cake’ awarded Highly Commended in the Food & Beverage category.
The Festival
"Siena Awards" Festival represents an unmissable occasion for all the photography lovers who will arrive in Siena from all over the world. An entire month of Festival, during which many photography events will be organized: the “Imagine all the People Sharing all the World” exhibition with the most beautiful images presented at the contest Siena International Photo Awards, unique tours around Siena, post-production courses, workshops, conferences given by famous photographers and more exhibitions held by important international authors. An unforgettable experience realized and tailor-made for photography lovers, which will let you discover one of the most interesting places in the world, with wonderful events linked to photography. The Festival’s goal is to lace a cultural and international initiative to the name of Siena, a city of extraordinary inspiration for photographical research, beginning with the unique Festival which gives us the most intimate representation of the city: the Palio.
This year would have been the 6th edition of both the awards and the festival which has sadly been cancelled due to the pandemic.
I can’t wait to enter again next year and with any luck be making it to the awards festival!
Pink Lady Food Photography Awards 2020
This year so far has been a very strange one - for obvious reasons and a year so far of mixed emotion. To find out I had 3 images shortlisted for the prestigious Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year awards was just such an amazing feeling. To then find out and 1 of those 3 was a FINALIST image - I just couldn’t stop smiling! Anyone that knows me knows I have coveted this accolade for some time now and this was my year to finally get through.
My husband and I ready for the ‘party’!
I was disappointed but not surprised to hear they wouldn’t be hosting their usual annual awards ceremony at Mall Galleries in London due to covid-19. They did however broadcast an online version of the awards for everyone to watch - not quite the glitz and glamour of London but we brought London to us that night! My husband put on a suit, I did my hair and make up (first time in weeks due to quarantine) and I donned a nice dress albeit with no shoes on lol. We cracked open a bottle of Prosecco, plonked ourselves on the sofa and tuned in. As my category came up I was nervous with excitement as the winners were announced.
Elderberries - Finalist image Highly Commended
Category Food Bloggers
When my image (above) came up on screen with my name next to it and ‘HIGHLY COMMENDED’ it just meant the world to me! The recognition from such a prestigious photography competition in the world of food photography has been the highlight of my career so far.
Black Sesame Ice Cream - Commended
Category Food Bloggers
I want to thank Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year . This is a year that has so far been a very trying and testing one for many across the globe. For me this has made 2020 memorable for all the right reasons.
Category Food Bloggers
Huge congratulations to all those who got through to the final and to the overall category winners - some amazing work from extraordinarily talented individuals.
Now to start filing away images for next year’s competition!
Stay safe, stay well.
Love Sharon