Newsletter Issue 18
Another Best-In-Show
My third one this year out of five competitions.
Ok... this needs context because I don't think it'll mean anything to you if I don't qualify this flex. In my 5 years of being a professional photographer and a member of Professional Photographers of SD County, I have never seen someone win this many competitions in a year. That's HUGE to me and I cannot understate how unprepared I felt about these wins.
I think my impostor syndrome is showing a bit because I have moments of not quite believing my own achievements... or believing that they are justified.
At the moment of submitting the images for the competition, I was in a rut creatively and felt uninspired because much of my work energy was focused on promoting "Portraits of my father" rather than on creating new work.
I knew this photo was special -NO DOUBT about it- but my own insecurities were making me doubt everything I was doing... in conclusion: the life of an artist. But I submitted it anyways and the feedback and the compliments I received from the judges during the competition were rather overwhelming and I am very grateful that an image that matters to me a lot received the props it was due.
Some love
Just above, I mentioned that I have been putting a lot of effort into promoting the project I have been going on and on about (much to your chagrin I assume). Well, sometimes it pays off in spades.
some time ago, I pitched my story/project to a magazine I love and respect called Fujilove. Not only did they print the photos and the article I wrote for them in their June issue, but they also gave me the incredible honor to put one of my photos on the cover of issue 63.
If you follow that link, it'll send you to my blog where you'll be able to see and read the article. It would make me really happy if you did.
Thanks to my friend Chris and his son Pierre for sitting for me.
Seeing the validation from a year and a half of work like that makes me want some more... Yes, I am an artist and I crave attention.
Gee-zus Antoine, can you BE anymore typical? (a nod to the "Friends" fans out there).
Yes... I'll be chasing that dragon from now on.
Some more love
I shit you not... the same day that I received the news about the cover, I received a message on Instagram from none other than the gold standard of photography in San Diego, the mother f****g Museum of Photographic Arts San Diego (MOPA for short) said they wanted to feature my project on their social media for fathers' day.
That's right, you read that right. The MOPA wanted to put my humble little project on blast on social media. It may have been hard to contain my own excitement that day.
Stay tuned for an update on the best newsletter on the internet around Father's Day.