Iowa State Fair Photography Salon - 2021

My inaugural photography salon, I was so thrilled to have one photo accepted in my first year.

C has proven to be something of a good-luck charm. A photo of him has been accepted each year for the past four years. (I realize the date on this blog entry is 2021, but it was actually written in 2024, so I'm saying this through that lens.). One photo in, no awards in 2021:

Okay, so I'm sort of impressed with myself that I was able to find photos of all four years' worth of judging cards.

My entry that was accepted was a black-and-white photo of C doing C things:

Everyone in our family besides me looks good in a hat. Accepted in 2021 to Black-and-White People.

Since I submitted the full four entries, I had a pack of photos not accepted.

I took this photo during the pandemic. I full-on don't remember exactly what category - probably Black-and-White Still Life? I'm going to say Black-and-White Still LIfe.

The Ames parks were closed down during the beginning of the pandemic. I thought this scene was more poignant than others did. I think this was Rejected from Black-and-White Still Life.

The next photo was taken in Curacao on a belated 15-year anniversary trip J and I took. Looking at it now, I can see why it wasn't really a photo that screams "International Places and Landscapes," it could sort of be anywhere with some rocks and a tree:

My hands are starting to look more and more like that tree every year. Getting old is awesome. Rejected from International Places and Landscapes.

The last photo that was submitted is one that was pretty, but I don't think they like super-matte style images? Now that I've been so many times, I don't think I've seen any with the stylized matte:

I still like that it looks sort of creepy and The Thing-y? Rejected from Color Plants & Flowers.

I learned a ton this year, so it was good!