I'd had a fantastic evening at The Guild Of Photographers awards night but at the end of the evening they announced a few Special Achievement Awards.... they dont actually say who it is untill they mention what that person has done so when they were reading what was to be my award I had absolutely no idea that it was me they were talking about... i was totally gobsmacked when they mentioned my name and think i had some dust in my eyes at that point..... this is what was said....
'Among other things the Guild is about positivity, support, inspiration and learning. Determination and drive are very important too if we are to succeed at whatever we do.
Life can be a roller coaster journey with its ups and downs, especially if you enter the IOM! (Image Of the Month)
This person is not in business as a photographer but they love the Craft, and that reflects in their attitude to photography and developing their skills.
They joined the Guild only a few years ago and grasped every training opportunity they could, looking and learning from the inspirational. They have challenged and questioned things pushing themselves with huge determination, getting up from any personal lows, dusting themselves off and using them to further fuel their drive.
A few years later whilst their drive to learn more and push themselves further is still there, THEY are now the inspirational, and behind the scenes we know they push and motivate others.
Only around 100 people have achieved membership of the Photographers Bar since we started it and only one person has achieved it every year – haven’t you Mark Lynham! ( at this point i fell off my chair in disbelief!)
Not only that, he has won many Gold awards, and has been the Runner-Up in the Open Category for the last 2 years. Today he not only won the section – He became the Guild’s Photographer of the Year and a Craftsman too!
Mark, we want to salute you, your drive and determination.
You are proof that within the Guild the more you put in the more you will get out.
Congratulations on an incredible year for you!'