Hey everyone, Anne here!

Today, I want to take you back to 2017. It feels like a
lifetime ago in some ways, but it was a pivotal year for me. I had recently
embarked on my journey into the captivating world of landscape photography.
Everything was new, exciting, and honestly, a little bit daunting! I was
soaking up knowledge, practising constantly, and falling deeply in love with
capturing the beauty of the world around us.

In a moment of combined nervousness and sheer excitement, I
decided to do something bold: enter my very first photography
competition. And I didn't exactly start small! I chose the prestigious EPSON
International Pano Awards.

For those unfamiliar, this is a major global competition
celebrating the art of panoramic photography. It attracts incredible talent
from all corners of the world. I remember thinking, "What have I got to
lose?" and submitted my work.

Now, here's where it gets wild. I didn't just enter the
amateur sections. I decided to throw my hat into the ring for the Open
category as well. This meant my work, created by someone still very much
learning the ropes (less than a year into landscape photography!), would be
judged alongside images from seasoned professional photographers from across
the globe. The scale was immense – over 71 countries were represented,
with 2,831 entries in the Open category alone.

You can imagine my absolute shock, disbelief, and
overwhelming joy when the results came in. Not just One of images but THREE of my images, entered into that
highly competitive Open category, received a Bronze Award!

To say I was ecstatic would be an understatement. Standing
shoulder-to-shoulder (metaphorically speaking!) with professionals I admired,
and gaining recognition on such a significant international stage? It was
incredible validation.

And the good news didn't stop there! In the Amateur
category, I was equally thrilled to receive seven more Bronze Awards.

Looking back, that first competition in 2017 was such a
defining moment. It showed me that passion, dedication, and a willingness to
put yourself out there can lead to amazing things, even when you're just
starting out. It proved to me – and hopefully inspires you too – that it's
truly amazing what you can learn and achieve in less than a year when you set
your mind to it.

That early success fuelled my passion even further, and I
haven't looked back since. It was the first taste of recognition, and it
certainly wouldn't be the last!

Stay tuned for more stories from my photography awards
journey!

Cheers,

Anne