Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPA)
Friday 26th - Sunday 28th June 2009

This year's Photography Awards I went in with a goal, to gain enough points to get my Associates in Photography. After being awarded two Silver's in the awards last year, all I needed was to get three silvers and I would be associate designate, earning me my Associates next year. With a goal in mind I was ten times more nervous come judging time as I had higher hopes than the previous year. Three silver awards later I was over the moon and ready to party, and I still had one more print to be judged. This one I was assured was my strongest print and thought 'Silver Distinction and I'll be dancing on the moon', My print came up and I was a bundle of nerves. The panel chair girls invited me to sit up the front so I could see each individual score the judges gave me. This was great but extremely difficult, the audience and judges could see me so whatever the score, I had to keep a straight face, not look the judges in the eye or give away any signs that it was my print. It was one of the hardest things I had to do. The minute the scores were locked in and the result called out 'Gold with Distinction at 96' I had launched myself into my boyfriend's arms in a fit of giggles and excitement. I spent the rest of the day in a trance. One I don't think I've yet recovered from.

Monday night was the Awards night. I'd booked the tickets long before the awards as it's a lovely night and good way to see everyone and talk to all the photographers. Category winners were called out and I knew that some of the awards mentioned runner's up and some didn't. I already knew from others that my print was the second highest print in the awards so for 'Highest Scoring Print' category I may or may not be mentioned as runner up. I didn't know however that there were awards also for highest scoring print in each category. It came as a complete surprise when the award 'Highest Scoring Print for Portrait Environmental Category' was called out followed by my name. For a couple of seconds I thought '...hang on...what?...are you sure?'...'. It was the strangest most exciting night.

I think I'm still dreaming.

Here are the photographs...

(All photographs are Copyright © Alexis Wessling 2009)

Gold Distinction - Portrait Environmental 2009


Silver Award - Documentary 2009

Silver Award - Documentary 2009

Silver Award - Self Commissioned 2009
(All photographs are Copyright © Alexis Wessling 2009)

And a couple of websites it was mentioned...

Photo Imaging Council of Australia

News.com.au

Pine Rivers Newspaper

APPA (Australian Professional Photography Awards) Breakout 2008

APPA 2008 was one of the biggest, best and most fun events that has happened so far this year! APPA judging went from Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June. However it all started before judging even began.

APPA breakout on Mon 26th to Thursday 29th May was the process of receiving the 2000 or so prints from photographers all over Australia and New Zealand and sorting, categorizing, randomising, scanning, packing and relocating them ready for judging on Friday at the Brisbane Convention Centre. For Wednesday and Thursday I was able to attend and help with the whole process and got to see everything that goes on behind the scenes before APPA. It was also a wonderful way to meet people on the committee, photographers, students and friends whom I haven't seen in ages.

View APPA Breakout Images

APPA 2008

After my first dose of APPA last year in Melbourne I now look forward to APPA every year and this year was one not to forget. Friday, Saturday and Sunday was spent helping behind the scenes morning 'til night sorting prints, rotating prints to be judged, hanging prints, packing prints and print cases. I was able to see some amazing images and meet some amazing photographers and students.

This year I entered APPA for the first time and out of my 4 prints I was ecstatic when I walked away with two Silver Awards. One of the best parts about it though was being able to hear the comments and feedback that was said about my prints by the judges.

I also was able to attend the APPA Wrap up party at the Fox Hotel and the APPA Awards Dinner at the Tivoli which were both wonderful nights to meet people and learn more about photography and the AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography)

View APPA images

Hair of the Dog 2008

On the 9^th to the 11^th February I had the great opportunity of attending my second Hair of the Dog Photography Seminars. Here for three full days professional photographers from Brisbane and around Australia came to speak about their work, their experiences and tips and tricks of the trade. It was the most inspiring, fun, exhilarating and educational three days of my life, as well as one big huge party!!!

I learnt and was inspired by photographers ranging from and/or specializing in landscape, wedding, portrait, fashion, Surfing, and Photoshop as a very broad outline.

I also went to the HOTD (hair of the dog) dinner and cocktail party, which were lots of fun and a great way to meet and greet photographers and people in the industry.

--- HOTD Photos
gallery 1
gallery 2

Some favourite quotes I got from HOTD

“I am a photographer because I have to be. I photograph for my soul.” Parker Pfister

“Through the alchemy of photography I get to live on when I die.” Parker Pfister

“An artist cannot fail, it is a success to be one.” Charles Horton Cooley