I was asked to judge at the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) National Image Salon which was held in London, Ontario of April 1-2nd.   This was not my first time judging a National Salon and I was pleased to be asked again!  To qualify to judge you must hold your Master of Photographic Arts.   There were almost 1000 entries this year.  Members of PPOC can submit up to 4 images in a variety of classes.    Winners of the different classes will be presented with a trophy.   All photographs entered are judged anonymously and if a judge recognizes the image or maker – they step back and do not judge the photograph.

There are two Judging Panels.  Each is led by a Jury Chair and 5 Judges (there is also a 6th Judge and every 10 minutes or so the Judges rotate so all get a chance to score the images presented).   There is a Commercial Judging Panel and a Portrait Judging Panel.   As a judge, you are allowed to enter on the ‘other’ panel.  For example, as a Portrait Judge I could not enter in the Portrait Judging but had to enter my images into the Commercial Panel.   These are two completely separate panels taking place simultaneously in two separate rooms.

In the end, there are 3 ‘winners’ of PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR - one in each category.

The “Commercial Photographer of the Year” finalists are chosen from the top-scoring entries based on aggregate rating, of four (4) accepted images in at least three (3) different Commercial classes: Architecture; Fashion; Illustration; Industrial; Editorial; Press; Fine Art and/or Free Style.

The “Portrait Photographer of the Year” finalists are chosen from the top-scoring entries based on aggregate rating, of four (4) accepted images in at least three (3) different Portrait/Wedding classes:  Portrait; Group Portrait (3 or more people); Child Portrait; Figure Study; Wedding Portrait; Wedding Group; Photojournalist Wedding; and/or one image from Fashion; Animal-Wild/Domestic; Fine Art.

The “Photographic Artist of the Year” finalists are chosen from the top-scoring entries based on aggregate rating, of four (4) accepted images in at least three (3) different General classes:  Pictorial/Floral; Animal-Wild/Domestic; Experimental/Unclassified; Fine Art; Free Style and/or (optional) ONE image from Figure Study.

All Awards for the Photographer of the Year will then be chosen by the judges, based on overall impact, technical merit, composition, presentation and overall variety of skills exhibited.

It was my understanding that as a judge you can submit images in the other panel but your photographs would not be eligible for any awards, you could just receive merits.  Well, much to my surprise, you can win awards!    So I was really blown away when my 4 images qualified me as only one of 3 nominees for PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR!

This was my submission of images:

New for the 2011 Image Competition was the MASTER’S  IMAGE COMPETITION.   The Masters’s Image Competition was created in an effort to encourage Master photographers to compete against other MPA’s. The intention is also to encourage non-MPA’s to continue to strive towards a higher level of achievement.

As someone who holds a 4th Bar to her Master of Photographic Arts, I decided to enter and my image (below) was also eligible for that Trophy!

The Awards Banquet is taking place on Wednesday, April 20th at the end of the National Convention coming up from April 16 – 20, 2011, held at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

I had a very special Christmas with my best friends – I can smell the goose cooking in the oven.  I saw the delicious looking Trifle that is waiting to be eaten.  I am truly blessed with spending time with people I love at Christmastime.

One of the things that I have done this past month is think about my last Disney trip which was a year ago right before Christmas.  I’ll say it again – I love Disney and spending time at Walt Disney World in Florida.  Looking through my over 7,000 images taken while there I wanted to post some of my favorites and that was very difficult. So here is a small sampling.

One of the many beautiful decorated trees in Walt Disney World.  This one is in the foyer between The Boma and Jiko Restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Breathtaking – the tree at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is almost 4 stories high.  It definitely is worth walking through this beautiful resort just to see all the decorations and hear the small orchestra and pianist playing throughout the evening.

Christmas decorations – everywhere!   This “tree” was not the traditional kind – but beautiful!

A gorgeous garland in one of the many shops in the France Pavilion in Epcot.

Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom at dusk.  Probably my favorite time to photograph – the lights are all turned on and glowing warmly – but you still see detail everywhere!

Père Noël in the France Pavilion in Epcot.

Santa and Mrs. Claus at the American Pavilion.

At the American Pavilion they have a giant Gingerbread House.  Here is the recipe:

820 lbs of sugar
135 lbs of butter
1040 eggs
150 lbs. of chocolate chips
470 lbs of flour
2 lbs. of baking soda

All the ingredients are combined and baked in a very large oven. 

Now we’re back at the Magic Kingdom – this photo was taken in front of the Train Station looking up Main Street USA – you can see Cinderella Castle in the background!

I love the balloons!

City Hall, Main Street USA – Magic Kingdom … at dusk.

Our last evening at Epcot – just leaving when I turned around and saw Spaceship Earth in the background with ‘snowflake’ patterns on the ground.

Signs.  I love photographing signs!   This is the entry to the Africa portion of Animal Kingdom.  I think I love Africa as much as I do Disney.  I know – two total opposite destinations – but they’re both very special to me!

Another sign indicating where the telephones are located.  Probably will be a unique sign one of these days – since everyone carries a cell phone!

In Epcot – the entry between Future World and World Showcase this – this was displayed on one of the Gift Shops.  Very retro looking!

Another interesting sign – gorgeous artwork inside!

And then we come to Mickey’s House – love the tree outside!

For those of you who have been to Disney – you know there are ‘Hidden Mickeys’ found everywhere and part of the fun is finding as many as you can.  I love this quite obvious Mickey Ears on display at the Moroccan Pavilion.

So I decided to create my own Mickey Ears! 

But this probably my favorite ‘Hidden Mickey’ I saw!  I so tempted to do this for my next trip!

And, of course, you can’t forget the characters!  We found Alladin and Jasmine at Epcot near Morocco.

And Sleeping Beauty dazzled everyone in front of France.

We saw Mary Poppins in front of… you guessed it … the United Kingdom Pavilion!

And, Mickey Mouse himself – in the “Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade” at Animal Kingdom!

I just love photographing “Spaceship Earth” at Epcot.  One year I took over 250 photos just of the big ball!   This time I used a 16 mm lens to capture this image.

A 200 mm lens was used to photograph the dancing fountains behind Spaceship Earth.

More photos at dusk – taken at the Moroccan Pavilion once again…

And then there are the wonderful ‘Cast Members’ that work at WDW.  This is Nelson – who works at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom.  They are photographed so often – they pose as soon as you point a camera at them! 

Two very friendly waiters at Morocco.

One of the drummers in ‘Africa’.

And, our favorite Cast Member this trip was Mark!   This is a photo of my best friend, Inge, who accompanied me on this trip.  Mark was the host of the “Keys to the Kingdom” backstage tour that we took.  It was absolutely fascinating and I would recommend everyone that has never been to the Magic Kingdom to make sure they take this tour – it is well worth the $70 price – which includes a 5 hour tour plus lunch.

Okay – so we’re both photographers and wanted a photo of the two of us – so we cleverly improvised and found a mirror to do a photo of the two of us together! 

One of the Disney Photographers at Animal Kingdom saw my Nikon D700 camera and immediately came up to me to chat.  They’re assigned D90′s and he was drooling over my camera!  I asked him if he wanted to hold it and check it out and, of course, he jumped at the chance – and he took our photo!  How sweet!

Here is a photo of my friend Inge taken in the Magic Kingdom.

That’s me in Animal Kingdom!  One of my favorite parks!

Inge photographed me on the balcony of the Japan Pavilion – what a breathtaking view from there!

Gotta have fun – here I am riding Cinderella’s Golden Carousel – so much fun!

This was one of my first trips that I tried to photograph after dark – I love this shot taken in front of the France Pavilion!

And, to end it all – ‘Wishes’ fireworks over Cinderella Castle.  A MUST see.  It is breathtaking!

I’m hoping that next time we can convince Michael, Inge’s husband, to join us!

I would love to hear from you – which is your favorite image?  Any comments and questions are welcomed!

All the best to you in the New Year!

Thank you to Inge Skliros for taking this photo of me at Walt Disney World!

This one is taken by the Crystal Palace in Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park.  Gorgeous flowers!

Taken at the Pirates of the Caribbean ride – with some added textures!

Spaceship Earth at Epcot – taken with a 16 mm Fisheye Lens – probably my favoraite photo of Spaceship Earth (thanks to Bruce for lending me the lens!)

Love the pattern in the water that the duck made!  Taken between Main Street, USA and Tomorrowland in Disney’s Magic Kingdom.  Probably my favorite image!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park – words can’t describe this image!

Also taken at Animal Kingdom – in the Asia part of the park.  Loved watching the monkeys!

Now this is just too cool!   I should consider doing this next time I visit Disney!  That’s true Disney spirit!

Baby giraffe – taken from our balcony at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Photo of me in front of Cinderella Castle!

This photo taken by one of the Disney Photographers in Disney’s Animal Kingdom in front of the “Tree of Life”.  Marino, the photographer, was happy to use my Nikon D700 camera!  Thanks Marino!

What a great trip!