By: Chuck Miller
Photography, , , ,

A postcard from Iowa, 2024 edition

After last year’s debacle where my entries almost missed the entry deadline (thanks a pantload, FedEx), I made sure to ship my entries on the first eligible day.

My best-ever effort at Iowa was three accepted, with two winning awards (and one, my lunar eclipse stitch photo, taking a first place silk in its category). Last year, however, the competition was so tough that I could only squeeze one non-ribbon-earning entry onto the walls of the Iowa State Fair photography building.

Iowa’s acceptance routine works like this. Entrants receive a postcard saying whether any of their photos made the walls; and if any one of them earned an award. You don’t know which ones made it or which ones didn’t; you don’t know which one claimed an award, or what that award might be.

You only find this information about upon attendance at the Iowa State Fair.

Okay. Well, I’ve got a postcard in my mailbox, and four photos – a still-life shot of a Boy Scout Eagle medal in need of stitching; a macro shot of a Longines lady’s wristwatch; an infrared shot of the Saratoga, Corinth & Hudson Railroad crossing the Sacandaga River; and an assembled photo with all the stages of the 2024 solar eclipse.

The Sacandaga River Crossing. Nikon Df modified camera with Kolari Vision 720nm filter on Vivitar 19mm f/3.8 lens. Photo (c) 2024 Chuck Miller, all rights reserved.
Be pRepaired. Nikon Df camera, Nikkor medical 120mm f/4 lens, 70 images combined in focus stack. Photo (c) 2024 Chuck Miller, all rights reserved.
17 Jewel Movement. Nikon Df camera, Nikkor medical 120mm f/4 lens with 2x attachment, 30 photos combined in focus stack. Photo (c) 2024 Chuck Miller, all rights reserved.
How God Sees an Eclipse. Nikon Df camera, Matusov 1100mm lens with Thousand Oaks filter. Photo (c) 2024 Chuck Miller, all rights reserved.

And there it was. Clear as its yellow construction.

Okay. Let’s flip it over.

And the results are … (drum roll)

Holy merit badges and scaffolding and flywheels and infinity symbols, Batman, THREE OF MY ENTRIES MADE THE WALLS!! That ties my best overall achievement!

And there’s at least one picture that won an award! WOO FREAKIN’ HOO!!

But now comes the next couple of questions.

Of the four that arrived in Iowa … which one missed appearing on the wall?

And of the three that did get on the wall, which one garnered a silk?

And if so … what color silk did it claim?

Man oh man … more questions than answers.

But happy questions nonetheless.

And believe me …

Competition Season 2024 is off and running with a big fat BANG.

And I’m totally good with that.