The WPJA awarded my photo from New Zealand 4th place in it’s quarterly awards:

However the judges comments went like this:

But I have to comment on this category in general. There were so many pictures of people walking away from the photographers that it puzzled me. I saw so many pictures with stunning light in other categories that I wondered what the photographers were thinking when they got to this category. All of the moments and good storytelling went away.

Who is this judge that feel’s so strongly that there’s no story from this image that they take the liberty to complain about my photo as exemplary of the category? Boy does that sting.  In my experience this goes to strengthen the stereotype that ‘photojournalistic’ images are ‘careless snapshots in black and white’ and doesn’t work toward showing how good photojournalist can transcend the basic elements of what’s happening and make an image with stronger themes. IN contrast I would love to hear Sister Wendy discuss the results.

Realistically, when you’re up there your eyes are glued to the splendor that’s enveloping you! When the couple looks at the camera the image loses it’s compelling fixation on the mountain. When you’re there, just as in the picture, it feels like you can reach out and touch it. In my picture I worked to transcend the basic experience of being dropped off on the side of a mountain by helicopter, and tried to capture gesture and pair forms that form an allegory for the wedding experience.  I was looking for body language that helped describe the awe we all felt.

It’s funny how every time I hand out the business card with this image on it, the response is – “did you photoshop the background?” Nope, I was really there – and the story of this image, doesn’t just begin when the shutter clicked. You see, it was my vision to wait until the very last minute to get the sunset on the mountain because I was in complete control of where and when the helicopter landed. In this position to get the perfect light, we’re in danger of being surrounded by clouds moving up the mountain. Here is a picture of Nigel, our pilot on the lookout for clouds coming in.

The only reason we were able to make this picture is because of Nigel’s experience, daring and willingness. He told us that on his warning we would have to be back in the chopper within 1 minute, because if a cloud covers us – we can’t take off – because the pilot flys visually. The helicopter is perched on loose stones, and Nigel got out and propped us up with extra stones before he would let us get out. The helicopter is idling with the blades spinning so we can make a quick takeoff. On the port side of the bird, there’s probably only two meters to the edge of the cliff from the rotor tips. So Nigel has made a pretty difficult landing at my request, so that I can capture this scene.

From this angle, you can see the clouds at our elevation across the valley.

Oh boy wouldn’t I have loved to had the time to get to the Tasman Peak & Ben Ohau Mountain Range side of the valley to land the couple on the west facing ridges – but that will have to wait until next time. From that side I could get more of the turquoise hues of the glacially fed Lake Pukaki also. Just plan your destination wedding at the Luxurious Mt. Cook Hermitage Hotel and I’ll be there to make unforgettable images with you!

So as a bride which would you be satisfied with a few snapshots from the top of the mountain, or would you want something that transcended your experience? something with allegorical intent?

I returned from two weeks in Thailand and China to good news from the WPJA – a top 5 ranking in the nation.Here are some of the contest winning images:

I shot this in a fairly normal, somewhat drab reception hall and it had so much energy and style that it blew me away. The couple was the greatest element but what set it apart for me was the light – so I’ve been on a quest to repeat that success ever since.

This set of images is from the most satisfying contest result I’ve had – it was a category called 5 from 1 – and to me it meant more to me because it was validation of what I work so hard for, to connect my images with my clients story.

The above 5 photographs were awarded First Place in the category “5 From One” from the WPJA.  Winning this award is the most satisfying contest result for me as it shows that I am  accomplishing  something in the sphere that I claim to be working – story telling imagery.  It is not enough to just make one good image from a wedding day, but the images as a series must speak more between the shots in as much as within the photos.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Rochester, NY

The Wedding Photojournalism Association ranks Neil Cowley among the top   five photographers in the nation for 2004. Neil Cowley, the 27 year old   Rochester, NY resident has photographed weddings professionally for 3 years.   Neil’s first weddings were those of his college friends who just ask him   to come take a few snapshots. Those snapshots were so well liked that friends   were willing to pay money to have them and so a business was born.Turning   to the internet to research what a proper “wedding photographer” should   do, Neil found the term wedding photojournalism was used to describe what   he was naturally prone to do – “walk around and take pictures”.   Neil credits the information sharing on internet bulletin boards and organizations   such as the WPJA for defining and sharpening his aesthetic and business   skills for such a quick path to success. In 2004 Neil photographed 42 weddings   with the help of his partner and wife My wife, who has also been awarded   by the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA).Leading the way in wedding photojournalism, WPJA represents   the most discriminating talent around the world technically, creatively   and visually. Qualified members hold industry-leading standards, skills   and business integrity. WPJA also hosts quarterly wedding photojournalism   contests, judged by top working photojournalists and news photo editors.   The purpose of these contests is to celebrate the photographers who document   and record the found moment. View Neil’s winning images and judges comments   with these links:

• The   Emotion category winner can be seen here
• The   Five from One category top images can be seen here
• Portrait   of Bride and Groom 1st place image can be seen here

“For me personally these contest results feel like a grand slam because   my peers acknowledge that I am successfully reaching the   goals I set out to achieve in my work.   Although a wedding is full of   excitement and expression – true emotion is extremely difficult   to catch because its manifestations are so fleeting.   If you are snoozing   on the job, you are guaranteed to miss it. Public recognition in the emotion   contest feels like confirmation that I’m diligent enough to capture moments   that validate the ideals I’ve set for myself.   The   Five from One category accepts five images from one wedding as a single   contest entry.   Above any other category I’m most pleased about the results   from this category because it shows that my visual style is cohesive and   coherent amid the thousands of images I produce during a wedding.”"Finally,   the first place portrait image of a bride and   groom tops even my hopes. The portrait image’s quality silences accusations   that a photojournalist’s skills or creativity run dry when the circumstances   arise that require the photographer to arrange people or photographs. This   stylized image has received more attention than any other I’ve shot this   year and came out of deliberate effort on my part to work in the studio   with lights so that I could take those techniques to a wedding with me.   What I feel is unique about this image is that while I did arrange the   location and lighting, I only helped my clients to express something they   might not dare to otherwise. In many respects I feel this arranged image   is still true to my clients experience and my journalistic standards because   I was not forcing their body pose, but simply provided a stage for them   to act upon.”"As I understand how I created that portrait image, I understand the   quality of my clients over the past year. Wonderful people who value artistic   experimentation and journalistic integrity, but are brave enough to trust   me to undertake those goals for them in the making of a document of their   love and commitment to each other. I am completely indebted to my clients   and their willingness to share their lives with me. I thank them, for without   the quality of life and love they share – I am unable to produce the imagery   that documents those traits. Thanks for a great 2004!”  WPJA   2004 Contest Standings

1st Place Award – Portrait of Bride and Groom

1st Place Award – 5 from One Category

1st Place Award – Emotion Category