AWARDS
Michael Teo - Victorian Epson PPY The 2017 AIPP Victorian Epson Professional Photographer of the Year Michael Teo says the win has given him greater confidence in himself and the conviction he is on the right path.
TAGS AIPP E ps o n S ta te Pr in t Awa rd s
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Michael Teo has been an AIPP
I never imagined that I would
member since 2013, working
win the category, let alone be in
predominantly as a portrait
the running for VPPY. I am deeply
photographer across a range of
moved that my work would even
genres, from glamour and family
compare to the standard of the
to fashion and corporate head
other category winners.”
shots.
Michael is keen to use the
Awards process as a learning
“I enter the Awards to get
objective feedback on my
tool.
photography and to expand
“I feel that my creative output is
my awareness of the different
only as successful as it effectively
elements that the judges focus
communicates what I am trying
on. I find that no matter how
to express. If a viewer of my
long I spend with an image,
image, whether a client, a judge
there will often be something
or a member of the public,
about it that a judge will notice
doesn’t ‘get’ what I am trying to
or read into it that I had not seen
say, then that is a shortcoming
or considered. Overall, I think that
on my part and it motivates me
the awards process, whether it is
to become clearer with both my
having my prints judged or seeing others’ prints
message and in my expression.
get judged, has taught me a lot about what
makes an image work or not.
valuable since they are speaking from years of
experience. We don’t learn from compliments or
“I was completely overwhelmed and
“I see the judges’ critiques as highly
shocked when I won. I thought it would be a
insults, but if we take heed of good advice, we
great honour to be a finalist in my category, but
have the opportunity to grow and develop.