Well, not sure where to start with this. Since starting to shoot as a professional I have always set myself goals of achievement, both personal and professionally. After watching my first Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) Awards judging a few years ago I said to myself that it would be my dream to one day win a category at the highly competitive Australian Professional Photography Awards (APPA) and the week before last week (or maybe the week before that?) it happened!
I was awarded with the title of 2011 Australian Creative Photographer of the Year and got to stand on stage with some of my favorite photographers in the Industry today. I love what I do and I can honeslty say that sometimes the only reason I push myself as hard as I do is because I know how many stupidly talented photographers there are out there (many of them now my friends, many of course, i have yet to meet). To stand a chance against these freaks I have to fall no shorter than my absolute personal best (+1) when considering and crafting my work.
Thank you to all of you disgustingly freakishly talented photographers that are constantly making me run faster, I owe this as much to you as anyone else. This one also goes out to all my non-photgrapher friends and family that have put up with me and my obsessive personality all these years. I constantly ask myself why you are still around (as I am sure you do), but for whatever the reason I am so gretful for your friendships and support – I love you with everything i have left.
I am also going to take this opportunity to let you know about some of the other highlights I have had in 2011 that I am not yet shared on my blog. This year I was also absolutely over the moon to received the following accolades:
2011 ACT AIPP Wedding Photographer of the year & 2011 ACT AIPP Illustrative Photographer of the year.
In my first international WPPI competition this year I also managed to walk away with overall 3rd place in the Illustrative category and 2nd place for bride and Groom together, receiving in total 7 awards of excellence.
Below is the portfolio that secured me the title of 2011 AIPP Australian Creative Photographer of the year, I have put what each print scored at the state level first and then the national score, its always an interesting comparison to make.
I am the first to admit that these types of posts seem very self indulgent and a little bit “look at me”, but then I also think you work so hard, you lose sleep at night you bust your guts to do the best you can, and when things go the way you plan you might as well share the joy right? Also, it gives my mum something to forward onto her friends and my relatives to show them that not only am I not in prison, I’m doing alright for myself! (also buying me a few brownie points come christmas time).
I would like to dedicate the use of the word “absolutely” in this post, to my dear friend Todd Hunter McGaw.
*Below – State level (90 – Gold) – National Level (96 – Gold with Distinction)
*Below – State level (94 – Gold) – National Level (86 – Silver with Distinction)
*Below – State level (97 – Gold with Distinction) – National Level (83 – Silver)
*Below – State level (90 – Gold) – National Level (91 – Gold)
Tracy - Congratulations, Dan. So very well deserved :)
Zoe - Oh Dan….oh my word – these pull me in, they are so beautiful….. x
Jono - Love all that negative space!
marissa fleming - well done dan! what you dream you can achieve and you have ;-)yay
keeping the bar high
Andrew Cahill - Congratulations Dan, stunning work, well done.
Shannon McDonald - Very well deserved. You’re pretty freaky yourself.
Josh Tilton - Much deserved Dan! Congratulations!
Jakob - Money, money and money. Well done, sir.
Alyda - So proud of you Daniel!!
Travis Shumate - Holy Moley. Very well deserved. Beautiful images.
todd hunter mcgaw - daniel, when i first saw you, i knew that you had a flame in your heart.. And under our blue skies, marble skies, i found a home in your eyes.. we’ll never be apart.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ZHah-c0hQ..
dude.. i just got an email from your Mum.. the subject line is “my special little guy”..
ps.congrats big time on your accolades brother, you’re freakishly talented..
pps. please remember me when you’re famous ;)
ppps. absolutely!
Pobke - so proud of you my lil daniel… it’s so amazing to see your journey. when i first met you all those years ago, i never would have thought you’d be the superstar you are today. after all, i was in my car, you were the derro offering to clean my windscreen… i didn’t realise there was such talent within this dirty homeless guy washing windows with his little squeegee. and now lookatcha! dan o’day is taking the world by storm. i’ll never forget what you told me that one day… “But I ain’t never crossed a man that didn’t deserve it…Me, be treated like a punk, you know that’s unheard of. You better watch how you talkin, and where you walkin, or you and your homies might be lined in chalk.” i didn’t want to be lined up in chalk. so i told myself to never forget that. :)
loves you daniel. SO proud of everything you’ve achieved. i hope i’m even 10% like you when i grow up. you’re amazing.
Mandy Campbell - You’re awesome and you deserve every accolade. It was a thrill watching your images judged (and also watching you judge). Congrats.
Robyn Geering - A very huge congratulations to you – seriously awesome achievement, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of such success.
Thea - Congratulation Dan! Such an amazing achievement xo
Thommo - So proud of you dude!
Jason Vdm - Legend. A win for the good guys :) Look forward to seeing what’s next.
michelle - you’re clever :)
alyda - think Christine & Todd should have a comment off. Winner gets a hug :)
DJ Paine - well done sir. i saw two of your prints come up in judging down in sydney… and i knew both would do well. talk soon!
john benavente - too good dan!
tim - dude… amazing! well deserved & well done.
David Robertson - your talent and hard work is rightfully being recognised. massive congratulations mate
liz arcus - just beautiful Dan, i so proudly looked at these images at APPA knowing some of these were yours, and guessing the others were too…i loved pointing them out to some people at APPA and saying they were yours… i love them all very much. congratulations Dan :-) You are an inspiration to me and so many others.
sammypants - you are so talented Mr O’Day… you have an amazing gift of seeing the world in such a unique way. you have opened my eyes up to so much and have taught me so much more. so proud of you and all your achievements, this is just the very start. xoxo
Lev Kuperman - these are seriously breathtaking. no words…
MichelleK - Congrats again Dan. So beautiful.. and mighty inspiring.
Mark Dohring - Inspiring Inspiring Inspiring. A huge congrats. You truly inspire me Dan.
Adrian - Amazing work Dan. Truly inspirational. Love it.
Sjoerd Booij - Congrats!!
Tyler Branch - ya. really well deserved. you’ve got a great eye for life and that shows in the way you take pictures. congrats.
Anna - Congratulations! You are inspiring! I love your work!
TRacy - Posting these superb images is not in any way self-indulgent. It encourages the rest of us inspiring photographer. Thank you for sharing. And why the hell shouldn’t you celebrate your hard work and creativity. It’s all good.
Kellee Walsh - Congratulations Dan! These are incredible & you totally deserve the accolades.
David Ferguson | Brisbane - Congratulations Dan, I saw your name in the email the other day. Well done.
Delia - Wow, super impressive!! Congratulations!
Pete - Just found these by accident … or did I. It seems I needed to see them. Really beautiful. And congratulations.