Even the losers...

I entered a photo contest last month; details including my submission are here.

The contest finally posted the first round of results a full week after they planned on. I like to think I messed up their system with the quality photo I submitted. Now I read the rules multiple times before entering this contest, and nowhere did it say that the entries had to be cell phone pictures, yet all the photos are exactly that.

FYI, I'm not included in the top twenty.

It doesn't matter who you are, when you put forth an effort and get nothing for that, it effects you. My confidence was a bit shaken. It might be an artist thing, it might be an Audra thing. I don't know, but at least I'm learning to take the losses in stride.

If I had allowed myself to wallow in pity and self doubt, I wouldn't have sent out an email. And if I didn't send out an email, I wouldn't have gotten one of the best compliments of my life.

You'll see. Even the losers get lucky sometimes.

I'm being judged

I entered the photo above in a contest at the beginning of the month: T-Mobile's Living the 4G Photo Contest. The description reads: "We've all got that photo, the shot that captured a concert or festival moment perfectly. Your friend on your shoulders, the crowd surfing, 20,000 people singing together with their hands in the air. Well, that photo could see you traveling to this year's hottest music festival in Coachella Valley on our dime."

I'm not so interested in the prize. Don't get me wrong, I'd be thrilled to go to Coachella. I've never been to a festival concert and there are a ton of good bands playing. I'd also win a new phone and a year's worth of service which would be sweet because I already use T-Mobile. But that's not why I entered.

The first round of judging has begun and a photographer from Brooklyn Vegan is taking a look at all the submissions. That, to me, is a better prize. If by some crazy miracle, I make it to round two, I need your help in voting for my picture. Trust me, I'll be bugging all of you.

I also submitted a picture for a cover shot for one of our yearly publications, the Milford Answerbook. It had been rejected in the past because it didn't scream MILFORD. I disagreed, but went out and reshot it.

They liked the boring cover, and I get it, but man, talk about stifling creativity. Two years later, the first shot which was deemed inferior is now "wicked awesome". Let that be a lesson to you: don't give up.