Before I underwent surgery, I dropped off two of my artworks for the Photo Center of the Capital Region’s “Best of 2016” show. One of them was my infrared piano-in-the-field shot If You C♯ You Won’t B♭, and their other was my late December neon photo excursion Step and Pivot.
My usual tactic with the entries at the Photo Center of the Capital Region is to show them off with my fellow Photo Center members, and then applaud as one of my fellow photographers receives “Best in Show.” And trust me, there’s a lot of great photos at the Photo Center shows every year.
The show ended Sunday, and I drove by the Photo Center in Troy to pick up my two entries. Another successful show completed, and now to relegate these two artworks to other competitions and shows and charity events.
Then, last night, I received an e-mail from the Photo Center.
Visitors and attendees cast their votes for the pictures they thought were deserving of Best in Show.
And there was a two-way tie among two of my fellow photographers for the award. Awesome. Amazing.
I looked through the list to see who else received votes … and …
Wait a second …
That’s my name on that list.
And I received first-place votes … for Step and Pivot?!?
Hold on a second … this little experiment in manipulating a camera’s open shutter while simultaneously advancing the film GOT VOTES?
Okay, not enough to claim Best in Show but still … IT GOT VOTES???
Woah.
Okay, Miller … don’t pop an artery right now. Yes, it received votes. Deep breath, son…
But then I realized … this is the first time that a framed, presentation version of Step and Pivot has appeared ANYWHERE outside of my blog or a Facebook post.
I have to stay focused. No pun intended. And just because Step and Pivot received acknowledgement in this show does not mean that it can’t appear in other venues or events.
Heck, I’ve already got it framed up for the Capital District Photo Regionals, and drop-off time is this weekend.
This is interesting… and exciting as well.
At which point, all I can think is …
How many shows can I enter this year during Competition Season 2017…
And how many of them will Step and Pivot fit in their categories and rules?
And at that moment, I realized…
I’m feeling motivated for Competition Season 2017.
And Step and Pivot can’t be my only entrant. I gotta set up my other prints – Faith and Frost, If You C♯ You Won’t B♭, and a few others … plus I gotta load my cameras and get some more shots as soon as possible. Pack some film in Leica Green, a roll in Kodak Red, an SD card in the Nikon Df, some 35mm in Raskolnikov … maybe I can pull another lenticular print with the Nimslo or with that new Kodak Stereo camera …
That motivation is going through my body like Popeye after a can of spinach.
Let’s do this.
Yeah. My foot feels just fine. I’m ready like Teddy and Freddie.
Let’s do this!!!!
Chuck The Writer 
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