RFF Member wins his first Photography Award!

[Praxis Unitas]

Hello, everyone!

I'm very excited and wanted to share that I've just won the 2009 Podesta Award, the grand prize at Photo Week DC, an exciting week-long annual festival in my nation's capital.

I was truly humbled by the talented photographers in this competition and completely shocked to win the award! Many thanks to the benefactors who made the 150 exhibitions and installations throughout DC and my generous $5,000 prize possible!

I plan to use some of the prize money to buy cameras for my artist-friends in Iraq. If you'd like to donate an old camera or sell me one at a discount for these struggling artists in Baghdad, then please contact me!

Please visit my home-page and my online gallery (click on photography from my home page).


The Podesta Award is, "for a single iconic image that captures the Spirit of Washington." My photograph is entitled, "El Jefe's Homer." I took the shot with a 1959 Rolleiflex 2.8F with Ilford Panf 50 Plus film. The image is virtually unedited.

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[Gumby]

My most sincere congratulations!

 

[Avotius]

a great photo, congrats on winning!

 

[raid]

Congratulations on such an award. You can be proud of your prize.
There are many struggling artists in Iraq, and this is a fact.
It is good to see you ask for support for them.
In a country with roots going back thousands of years in terms of art, men were always treated as second or third class citizens if they were artists!

 

[Rogrund]

Congrats! 🙂

 

[le vrai rdu]

congratulation for this award 🙂

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Way to go, Praxis--that is a terrific picture.

 

[gb hill]

Good to read an older film camera + pan f film won it for you. I hate to see shots like this minulipulated through photoshop only to lead others into thinking they are such a skilled photographer. Congratulations! Look around pawn shops for cameras to send to Iraqis. Sorry I dont have one.

 

[vkomu]

grats and keep on shooting

 

[brainwood]

congratulations its a great shot.... who said film was dead... oh lets not start that again

 

[gho]

Bravo and congratulations!

 

[kermaier]

Nice! Not that many folks capturing sports action with a TLR these last 50 years.... 😉

 

[oftheherd]

Congratulations. Many probably wonder at this being a winning shot. If they are not familiar with the DC area, they won't realize the number of people who recreate on the Mall.

Good luck with supporting those in Iraq who wish cameras. Wish I could donate. Maybe in the future. Are you looking for a specific type of camera?

 

[semrich]

Congrats it has winner all over it, a great shot/

 

[bawang]

Congratulations on the win, but more so for what your plans with it after that. Kudos to you!

 

[Ezzie]

Hello, everyone!
..... If you'd like to donate an old camera or sell me one at a discount for these struggling artists in Baghdad, then please contact me!.......

Congratulations indeed. Well done.

Good idea, the camera charity. I´m sure you´ll get some. I gave one away a couple of weeks ago to a charity in Mozambique. The idea to do so didn´t hit me, until I found it more or less impossible to sell the damn thing, and for virtually no money at all. Better it comes to use in the hands of someone who´ll give it a new lease of life. Are we talking film cameras exclusively here or can digital cameras also qualify? (point and shoot, advanced compacts or DSLRs etc). Just wondering, in case I come across a bargain somewhere.

 

[pakeha]

congrads and exellent for the way you have acheived this.

 

[smiling gecko]

ccongratulations!!!

ccongratulations!!!

wow!!!

congratulations!!!

your photograph is a terrific image. it is powerful and evocative and iconic. among other uses, it would make a great postage stamp.

please pm your address to me & I'll find a camera for you to send to baghdad.

breathe, relax and enjoy.

happy trails,
kenneth

 

[CopperB]

Hearty congratulations.

 

[Haigh]

Marvellous photo; very uplifting. Congratulations.