I received unbelievably great news today in an unexpected way.

I won 3rd place in the Nature Pro Category for PX3! For anyone who is not a Photographer this is a huge competition out of Paris. I'm so happy I can hardly contain myself!

The funny thing though is that the official notification from PX3 I never received. My email must have rejected it or something. Lol.
A photographer friend of mine was sent the official winners press release, saw my name and contacted me.
Actually it was kinda more fun finding out that way. It was so unexpected!
It is so amazing to go on their website and see my name and work under the winner categories! So I am celebrating.
After years of hard, unpaid work in the arts to finally have a little recognition is mind blowing.

Apparently if you stick with something long enough good things finally start to happen. I also just finished teaching my first workshop on Adobe Lightroom for the company I work for. It was so much fun (definitely nerve wracking to begin with) and next I get teach my Fine Art Digital Printing Workshop.
For the first time in my life I actually have a career!

Hope you all don't mind me bragging, I've just had a lot of hard times in my life pursuing my artistic career (I use to live in a tent to save money), so to finally get to a point where I'm making money from my passion is wild.
 

Hope you all are having as great a week as me!

Congratulations. I'm not surprised that you won. I had a look at some of your work on your site and everything there was just fabulous. Keep up the great work. When you're all fancy and famous I will be able to say that I knew you when.....happy for you regards Zsuzsy

Congratulations.  I just had a look at the Px3 Prix de la photographie paris and your photos are just amazing ...  Bravo!

Rachelle! You have my happy thoughts!

Thanks Zsuzsy!
I've had so many hard times in the last ten years and been so poor because I chose to follow my artistic pursuits and now suddenly in 2008 everything has shifted and I'm overjoyed. I almost can't believe how quickly my life has changed in the last 4 months.

Thanks Princessa and Misha! Nothing could bring me down today!

And if anyone else is a struggling artist out there. Stick with it, eventually things do happen.

RFox wrote:

I almost can't believe how quickly my life has changed in the last 4 months.

This is because you joined Hugpages

Misha wrote:

RFox wrote:

I almost can't believe how quickly my life has changed in the last 4 months.

This is because you joined Hugpages

Yes, it's true! HubPages turned my life around. Lol

By the way did you notice you spelled it Hugpages. I think I like that more. "Come on over and join us at Hugpages...where the friendly people are." Lol.

I'm doing this intentionally for some time already, after receiving quite a few hugs here

Congratulations RFox. How do I get to Nature Pro Category for PX3 site? I will head there and have a look.

ngureco wrote:

Congratulations RFox. How do I get to Nature Pro Category for PX3 site? I will head there and have a look.

Here's the link to their site. You just have to scroll down to the Nature Pro section. As I said it's a big competition that covers every category of Photography. They also have Pro and Amateur categories. If there are any other Photographers out there I would highly recommend entering the  2009 competition.

http://px3.fr/winner/?compName=PX3+2008

Misha wrote:

I'm doing this intentionally for some time already, after receiving quite a few hugs here

Yes, I love hugs! They're the best. Even virtual ones. Lol.
I'm happy my boyfriend is a hugger too! Lol

(Oh by the way I just wailed on your zombie. Heehee.)

Wow, that's great. Congratulations! You worked hard, paid your dues, and really deserve it!

That is awesome ! Congratulations.

Those are some beautiful photos! Congratulations!

Congrats!!!

Big congratulaions 2u RFox

It sounds exciting and im very happy 4u!!

Congratulations - that's a big accomplishment!

Congratulations!!! You and your work already deserved recognition a long time ago, from now one you´ll win lot more contests .

Big hug!!!

Wow, thanks everyone! I'm overwhelmed.

I'm still waiting for their official package to reach me. The cool thing is I get to use the PX3 logo in my marketing material now, which is huge. I can't wait to put it on my website.
I'm heading to PhotoLucida in Portland in the summer to try and get some major gallery representation so this will help a lot.

All I've ever wanted was to make a simple living off my art. This year it's starting to become a reality. It's so surreal.

Big Hugs back to all of you.