April 13th 2016

I am absolutely over the moon to have received a Gold award from the National Photographic Society this week. Wowzers, I am completely dizzy excited from achieving this, not only because it was my first time submitting a photograph to them and to win a Gold award instantly is beyond anything I could have imagined, but to win this in the SAME week as I received a Highly Commended award for my landscape photograph is a real blessing. I constantly try to keep pushing my boundaries and reach for the stars - It is important to me to take photographs.

I always strive to be as creative as I can be, and when I take photographs for clients, I am not just taking photographs. I am making memories. I love to capture those moments that touch the hearts of my clients, their children, their families.. but I also love to spend time capturing the things and the moments that touch mine. And here is a perfect example of that heart touching passion I have. I love animals - that is probably already clear for any one of you to see, but to win awards for those moments whereby an animal may leave me speechless or mostly, breathless - to be merited for documenting the moments that made me go all fuzzy inside is very special indeed.

This lion has made me very proud this year. He has proved to be an award winning lion, winning Gold with the IPPN last year also, and the same lion won me two Bronze awards with different images (You can find my posts further down my blog). He is my favourite lion, and whenever I see him, I wonder if he remembers me - the daft woman with the camera who gazes with fascination at his face for hours. With gleaming eyes and a daft smile, I wait for the slightest of movements where I can say 'Aahhh' for the umpteenth time.

I wonder if he realises how much I look forward to seeing him and capturing this sleepy magnificent creature that oozes strength and beauty. If I could thank him for providing me with these moments - The ones I have turned into photographs, memories and awards - I surely would. I would love nothing more than to give him the biggest cuddle I could find in me to give him, but I think I will stick to gazing at him and thank him by helping and providing awareness for those lions in the world who are less fortunate.

© A Thousand Words Photography By Anna-Marie