Didn't See That Comin'
"Didn't See THAT Comin'" - Merit Image 2020 PPOC-BC Image Salon, Merit Image 2021 PPOC National Image Salon
So what makes a Merit print? According to Professional Photographers of Canada website:
~~ About Image Salon: Submitted images are judged by a group of very highly qualified, trained judges, all of whom have already achieved their PPOC Craftsman of Photographic Arts or Master of Photographic Arts designation. They have completed a PPOC Judging Clinic to prepare them for the process of objectively judging the images without any personal bias. This is not an easy task and PPOC is constantly striving to nurture and develop a strong group of qualified members to take on this difficult and taxing responsibility.
From those submitted images deemed worthy of inclusion in the final Salon, there are tiered levels of acceptance. The first level is simply known as "Accepted" and denotes that the image is of a high enough level to warrant being displayed in a prestigious national display of photography by the members of PPOC. The next level is known as "Merit" and indicates a clear step above the first level of Accepted. The highest level is known as "Excellence", which really says it all. Excellence images are a very small and elite group of images that have risen to the top. These are simply remarkable images. ~~
The Story Behind This Image:
When opportunity knocks, it's good to take the chance and open the door. Or email, as the case may be. While planning a trip to Vancouver Island to visit my sister in Sooke last summer, an email from Dave Hutchison, a PPOC photographer and friend popped into my inbox. Within two minutes of reading it, I checked the dates we were planning to go, and they lined up perfectly to fit in a whale-watching tour with 5 other photographers, including Dave who organized the trip. And I have to say, it was FABULOUS!! Even with the smoke from the fires burning in the US that made it's way to the BC west coast, it was a remarkable day to be out on the waters of the Discovery Islands, off Campbell River.
Our captain found whales very quickly, and I couldn't believe we were so close to so many of them. They were coming to us because the law requires we stay a certain distance and shut off the motorfrom them. Our captain would shut off the motor and we could all get the shots we wanted just by floating there! I was truly in the moment for the whole trip! No worries about the whales going underneath and tipping our boat, but we did get mugged once when one swam right underneath us!
In the 5 hour trip, I managed to get 700 shots, mostly of humpbacks, and a few fine art images for my website at Terrill Bodner Photographic Art. It's a trip of a lifetime for me, and I feel so fortunate to have had the stars align for that trip!
Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Terrill Bodner, MPA is an Accredited member of Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) and nationally qualified judge, and is one of a very few professional photographers living in Prince George who have achieved the designation of Master of Photographic Arts from Professional Photographers of Canada.
Terrill specializes in Family Portraiture, Personal Branding and Headshots (in studio and on location), and Fine Art photography.
Her Accreditations include Portraiture, Fine Art/Photo Decor, Animals, Wildlife, Nature, Ornithology/Bird, Botanical, Pictorial/Scenic, Travel Illustration, Stock, and Night Photography.
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