What better way is there to kick-start 2017 than to pick up two photographer of the year awards at the Societies convention awards evening held in January at the Hilton Hotel, London England.
I had been nominated six times in five categories for the highly prestigious photographer of the year award at the Societies from an initial entry of over 10,000 worldwide entries from professional photographers.
To be nominated for such a title is a huge success in itself, but to actually win the titles and take the awards really is the icing on the cake.
The nominations are taken from a culmination of selections made by a pool of 44 judges throughout 2016 from an entry of over 10,000 images.
My nominations were made in the categories of Sport, Landscapes, Media and Documentary x 2, Pictorial and Fine Art, and Nature.
The nominations converted to Media and Documentary photographer of the year 2016 and
Pictorial and Fine Art photographer of the year 2016. I was also the Societies 2nd place overall photographer of the year for 2016.
Pictorial and Fine Art
I am truly honoured and humbled to have had judges select and award my work throughout 2016. Photography is often a lonely hard profession, that requires many different skills beyond operating a camera, and having work recognised and rewarded at the convention was a great experience.
Media and Documentary
A huge thank you goes to The Societies staff that work throughout the year to facilitate working photographers with a great service. Much of the work is unseen and they deserve a lot of credit for what they do. And also a huge thank you to the sponsors of the awards, Loxley Colour, Bjorn Thomassen Training and Zenfolio.
Ben Jones the Societies News Editor