Every year since I started Ted York Photography I have participated in print competition. It started in 2006, if I'm remembering correctly, when I entered 4 images in the Intermountain Professional Photographers Association's annual competition. A couple of those images did really well. I through the other two out and replaced them for the PPA's International Print Competition. When the judging was over all four of my prints merited and three were excepted into what at that time was called the "Loan Collection." Today it is called "Images of Excellence." I needed it back then because I was new and I needed to gain some recognition among my peers. While it is always fun to get some recognition, that is not the most important reason I compete. Competition is a means of honing your skills. I do it to get better. It helps me to look at my client work more critically, improving photography I create for them. Competition is not always pleasant, the judges can be harsh, but it makes you aware of mistakes made and the potential to create better. This year was a great year for me. Once again all four of my images merited and three were accepted as Images of Excellence. In the aviation world of which I was apart of for many years, we used to say you are only as good as your last landing. In the photographic world you are only as good as your last competition and a new year is beginning. For now I will take a moment to bask in the limelight, smile a bit, then get back to work for 2022.

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