And I just entered on a whim...oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!!!!
Ok, so mind blowing news recieved tonight. A picture I took is going to be featured on the Smithsonian...yes, THE Smithsonian...website starting next month!!!!
But to start at the beginning of the story. The very beginning goes way back two years ago on my study abroad when we were taking a ride down the Thames to Greenwich (I'm sorry but I have to tell you Americans that's pronounced 'Tems to Grenich'). It was absolutely *pouring* rain, so hard you could hardly see down the river. Everyone went up on to the deck of the boat for about a second and then they all ran downstairs to enjoy the view from inside. I, being the intrepid and contrary soul that I am, decided to stay out in the rain for a good 45 minutes getting absolutely soaked through (I think there's a picture of me somewhere on facebook just after I came back down utterly sodden). But anyway, the point is, while I stood up on deck getting completely soaked, I was taking pictures. They all turned out pretty grey and semi to ultra obscured. Except for one. I happened, somehow, to get a pretty decent shot of the London Eye. Later, when I was looking at the pictures I started messing around with the brightness, contrast, and whatever that third one is, plus something called "gamma radiation". To this day I don't know what that meant, but messing with it deffinitely made my picture go from pretty good to incredibly awesome.
Now to the juicier and slightly more pertinent part of the story. Back in October or November I got bored and started searching for photography contests. My roommates' uncle had been over a couple weeks before and really complimented my picture (which I had turned in to an actual print via Target Photo). So, I whimsically decided to try and enter it into a contest. The only contest I could find was, believe it or not, the Smithsonian 6th International Photo contest (or something like that). I figured, hey, try for the best but then if you fail you wont feel bad cause hey, this is the smithsonian we're talking about, right? So I entered it in the "Altered Images" category.
Tonight I came home from work around 11:20 and checked my email. I had pretty much forgotten all about this contest in the intervening months. But there, sitting innocuously in my inbox is an email from Jesse with the words "Smithsonian" and "photography" in the first lines. I opened it up and...well, here's exactly what it said:
Dear Ms. Steinbeigle:
On behalf of Smithsonian magazine, I am pleased to inform you that you are one of the top ten finalists in the “Altered Images” category of our 6th annual photo contest. Your photograph of “The London Eye from a boat on the Thames on a rainy day” was among more than 17,000 entries we received from all over the world. Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Jesse Rhodes
Editorial Assistant
Smithsonian Magazine
If I was a screamer, can I just tell you I would have started screaming right then. As it was, I said "WHAT?!" very loudly. So loudly and amazedly that my roommate who doesn't care about the events in my life AT ALL had to ask what I was "what"ing about. When I read her the actual letter (included in a PDF) that mentioned the possibility of display in the Smithsonian Castle (who knew they had a castle, right?) even she had to be deeply impressed. I mean, wow! The official letter went on to say:
"On March 2, 2009, your photograph, along with those of the other 49 finalists, will appear for a limited time on Smithsonian magazine’s Web site at www.smithsonian.com. It will also be considered for publication in an upcoming article on the contest in a summer 2009 issue of Smithsonian and for a photography exhibit, “World View: Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest,” scheduled to appear in the Smithsonian Castle from July through January 2010. Within the next month, you will also be notified as to whether you are a category or grand-prize winner. In order to receive any prizes you may be awarded as a category or grand-prize winner, you will need to complete an Affidavit of Eligibility form. This form will be mailed to you after you have been notified of your status."
I am insanely tired right now...s'been a stressfull week, but I just had to post this. So amazing!!!
PS~did I mention that if you win in your categorie you get $500 and if you win the grand prize (not going to happen, but still...) you get a 4 day 3 night "Grand Canyon Adventure" (or the cash equivalent)?