The Professional Photographers of Ohio (PPO) is one of several professional organizations that I belong to, along with PPA and NANPA. Staying active and participating in the annual conferences and meetings of these organizations has been a great source for photography education, networking and inspiration. PPO hosts both an annual convention and trade show each spring and a fall conference and trade show every November. The March convention had been held each year in Dayton, but starting in 2011 it will be held in Sandusky. I’m a bit bummed about that change because the Dayton Convention Center was only about a 15 minute drive from my home studio. The November conference is held each year at the Easton Town Center in Columbus.
One of the benefits of staying involved in PPO is the opportunity to submit my work in both the annual convention print competition and the fall conference digital print competition. Photographs are judged by other professional photographers, many of whom have impressive backgrounds with years of pro shooting experience and established credentials within the craft and business of professional photography.
The print competitions are a great way to measure progress as a professional photographer and where you stack-up when compared to your peers. This was the second year that I’ve entered work within the nature/landscape category. Last year I won both 1st and 2nd place. At this past weekend’s conference in Columbus two of my five images that were submitted won both 1st and 3rd place in the nature/landscape category. Granted I know that’s an area where I have the most experience. My next step is to begin entering images within the category that’s a bit more competitive – portraiture. However, with a recent jump in activity in my work with family and senior portraits I’m confident that I will have images worth submitting for competition come next spring.
Below are the two nature/landscape images that won 1st (Sunflower Form) and 3rd place (Hunters Moon), respectively, in the Digital Print Competition of the 2010 Fall Conference of the Professional Photographers of Ohio

