Eugene Khoo notified me last week over instant messaging. “Hey, your work is out on this month’s publication”. That was too good to be true. My pictures were featured in a Malaysian expatraits’ magazine called “Senses of Malaysia” for July edition. Happy over it, I called up Kar Hooi to share the good news. This is really an achievement for me as my work made it to nation-wide publication.
Today (more like a few hours ago yesterday)… I opened my email and saw “Your 2009 8 x 10 1st Half Print Competition Results” and I went “oh boy…” *fingers crossed*. Here’s the story..
Last year, I aimed to be accepted as a WPJA (Wedding Photojournalist Association) photographer. I dropped the idea later and aimed straight at WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International). The thought that I could maybe just win 1 Accolades of Excellence (AOE) was like a dream. The AOE is awarded to prints above 80 points. As I’m competing against the world’s best wedding photographers, an AOE would be a huge achievement… IF I EVER GET IT.. THAT IS. 
WPPI holds annual print competitions where in order to submit, you’d have to:
Register as a WPPI member.
Register & pay for the submission.
Have your submission professionally printed and mounted on a mounting board.
Air courier the prints over to California for it to be judged.
I joined WPPI just 3 months ago in March and submitted 3 prints; The results were
Title: Contemporary Kisses
Category: Engagement
Event: Engagement of Tracy & Jimmy
Points: 80 (AOE awarded)
Title: Let your Light Shine
Category: Non-Weddings Photojournalistic
Event: Christmas Eve Candle Light Service at Trinity Methodist Church, Penang.
Points: 79 (Arghhhhhhhhhhh!! But hey.. I’m happy anyways.. hehe)
Title: Suits in Undies
Category: Humor
Event: Wedding of Tracy & Jimmy in the ever so beautiful Sabah!
Points: 76
I’m so happy I still can’t believe I got an AOE. My thanks goes to my better half Kar Hooi for running around Penang to get the printing & mounting done; Karina for her first class service for getting the prints to WPPI in time. Jasmine Pang for her logistics advice; Louis Pang for his trust, motivation & confidence when I second shot for him last year.. he told me something equivalent to “I know what I’m doing when I picked you” when I shared with him my concerns/doubts.
Again Jasmine & Louis, DUCK RICE & PENANG LAKSA IS ON ME!!!
The other 2 ladies that I mentioned whos name starts with K.. I’m sticking to my end of the deal… its’ E&O for any AOE award.
Hope you all enjoyed the pictures.