At this time of year, I always seem to find myself looking back to reminisce over the highlights of the year!

Thinking about the Shoot to Serve Photo Assignments, it was really neat to have established connection with some new publishers like Solve Family Problems, the Christian Law Association, and Spectra Red Light. 

It was also fun to shoot for publishers we already knew, some of which we have been photographing for for many years, like Ziesemer Family Publishers, Creation Today, and Nature Friend Magazine.

But I think it was for Nature Friend that we did our most creative assignment! Instead of photographing a physical object, we photographed what March was like in each photographer’s corner of the world. I remember not being all that thrilled with the photos I took for that assignment, but there were five photographers that did do an exceptional job with that assignment! Three prize winners, and two honorable mentions.

The 1st place prize went to Evelyn Frazer.

This is definitely the kind of photo you’d see on the cover of a Nature Friend magazine! And it’s interesting to think about what factors help it be a winning photo. It’s tack sharp, the blurred background helps the subject stand out from the background. It’s an obvious subject. And the posture, shape, and expression of the bird makes it look like staying cozy and warm is normal even on the most cold and snow filled days!

Not only is this a masterpiece of a photo, Evelyn also wrote a poem to go with it:

March – Still Winter
by Evelyn with some help from William

“Still winter” we call it up here in Quebec;
Yes, March is still winter with plenty of snow.
I put on my boots and my hat and my mitts,
And put on my snowshoes, with camera in tow.

I open the door and see snow flying ‘round,
Then outside I go with one phrase in my mind,
“I must find a subject that tells me of March.”
But other than snowflakes, what else can I find?

Then flittery-flutter, he catches my eye:
A chickadee lands with a whir and a whiz.
An emblem of March, on a snowy brown limb;
Astride on a larch twig, how cheerful he is!

2nd place went to the photographer of the following incredible work of art.

I think it’s one of the best student photos I saw submitted for a Lenspiration assignment in 2023.

Think of what it would take to get this photo. Jemima had to be there at the right time, with the right equipment, and the right composition. Look at the extraordinary color. The dramatic subject. The intentional composition! I’ve tried long and hard to get photos like this and have walked away empty handed many a time. Good work, Jemima.

In describing this photo, Jemima commented: “March in Southern Africa marks the beginning of autumn. Being in the eastern part means it is raining season. With temperatures still being warm and humidity high, thunderstorms are often formed, leading to heavy downpours.”

Maybe others would not be so inclined, but looking at this photo makes me want to visit South Africa in March!

The 3rd place prize went to Tabitha Parris.

Quite a contrast from the previous photo! But it’s still as perfect.

This is what Tabitha wrote about her photo.

The Blossoming Beauty of March in Northeast Georgia

“One cannot begin to describe the intricate beauty with which our Creator has made each flower. How such a small thing can be so delicate, so fragrant. The beautiful, diverse daffodils have a fragrance that is as pretty as any perfume. The tulips, with small, crystal-clear water droplets clinging to their petals, are so simple yet stunning. Dogwood trees, with their cross-shaped blossoms and crimson shaded tips, spread throughout the yard and woodland, adding a touch of spring to the bare limbs. The new greenery looks picturesque, with glistening raindrops shimmering against the dark green of iris shoots.

Walking through the woods, I see wild cherry trees in bloom, and the honeybees are gathering nectar from their snow-white inflorescence. Our peach trees are flowering, and they have such lovely blossoms which will soon be beautiful delicious fruit! Blueberry bushes have clusters of blossoms hanging daintily from their stems, and the butterflies enjoy congregating amongst them. Indigo and white-colored violets have an unassuming, graceful charm about them, generously spreading themselves around the yard. Vinca creeps and climbs up the rocks, adding a pretty purple to the drab gray.

This is just a small glimpse of March where I live in Northeast Georgia, and of all the beauty of the month. Surely, ‘He (God) hath made everything beautiful in His time’! Ecclesiastes 3:11”

And now, the two honorable mentions.

Photographers Samuel West and Heather Harrison, respectively.

As an outdoor-themed magazine publisher, it’s obvious to see how Nature Friend could see great potential with both of these photos. For both, the strongest elements are indeed the subjects! In the first one, the mid-day light is a bit flat, and the background perhaps a little too uninteresting. In the second one, I may have opted for a different composition, and a more blurred background would help make the subject stand out a little better. But they are both fine photos, worthy of honorable mention.

Now, when one sees such unmistakable talent displayed in budding photographers, it’s only natural for the question to come up, “how does one go about getting photos off the hard drive and shared with the world?” Each of these photographers obviously have a workable knowledge of their camera. They have successfully captured emotive subjects in an artistic way. And the fact that they are winning prizes is proof that these photos stand apart from the crowd. But what next? Will they sit forever on a computer hard drive? Or will they find their way out to places where thy can be used, viewed, sold, or appreciated? It could be an online portfolio. It could be a fine art print. The question remains the same: how do you share them with the world?

If you’re not sure where to start with this more advanced level of photography, feel free to check out the Lenspiration course, “How to Share Your Photos With the World.” I created this course because I’ve met so many photographers who didn’t know how to get their photos off their computer and shared publicly, or even privately. Especially in an efficient way! My hope is that through this course, you will enjoy the process after taking photos as much as you enjoy taking the photos themselves. Click here for a free preview of the course. And if you want forever access to the whole thing, it’s on sale here for 20% off today and tomorrow! Learn how to start setting up amazing little mini-systems so you can efficiently get our photos out there, shared with the world!