Skip Hunt Photography

Well, it’s official! I’m proud to announce that soon, I will be able to say my work is hanging in the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall in Washington D.C.

This image was selected to hang in the “Editors’ Picks: The Best of Smithsonian Magazine’s 7th Annual Photo Contest.” From July 1st through February 2011!

Dear Mr. Hunt,

I am pleased to inform you that your photograph was chosen for display in the upcoming exhibit, “Editors’ Picks: The Best of Smithsonian Magazine’s 7th Annual Photo Contest.” The exhibit, which is currently in production, showcases 30 of the 50 finalists from Smithsonian Magazine’s 7th Annual Photo Contest. It will be on view from July 1, 2010 through February 28, 2011 in the first floor of the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall in Washington DC.

Last year, more than one million visitors viewed our previous exhibit, and likely, a million more will view your image this year.

Congratulations on a job well done.

They didn’t mention anything about cash, so I’m guessing I didn’t win the prize money for my category. But, to be honest… although cash is nice, being selected for this show was all I was really after. ;-)

So if you’re in Washington D.C. between July and February this year, stop by and have a look. Might have to check this one out myself. :-)

I just got notification about a Smithsonian Magazine contest I forgot I entered with regard to this image:

“On behalf of Smithsonian magazine, I am pleased to inform you that you are one of the top ten finalists in the “Americana” category of our 7th annual photo contest. Your photograph of “Flock of birds taking off as… the sun sets” was among more than 60,000 entries we received from all over the world.”

Haven’t won anything yet, but it’s nice to have made finalist out of so many entries. Woot! :-)

There’s also an audience favorite category, so if you like this image… I would appreciate your vote! :-) You can vote once every 24hrs through March 2010

“The Birds” ~ Image made in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana

Woo Hoo! This image just made CNN’s Travel Photo of the Day! HERE

I was walking along Bourbon Street in New Orleans and it happened to be during the Southern Decadence festival… And there were all of these religious fanatics that had taken to the streets with bullhorns with giant signs listing all of the people who they believed were going to Hell. No joke, among those listed on their signs of those going to Hell were “Party Animals” and “Disobedient Children.”

They were screaming into bullhorns on several corners and in the street to folks who seemed to be just minding their own business and having a good time.

I thought to myself, “Hey, I suspected there were people preaching hate like this out there based on what I’ve seen in the news, but I wasn’t sure if that was just media sensationalism or if they really did invade peaceful weekend festivals like this.” I thought, “Man! I should try to capture this to show others like me who aren’t sure if it’s just media hype or not.”

I was going to go back to the hotel to get my d300 w/zoom to get some high ISO images with image stabilization, but I figured some might think I was a journalist or something and clam up. I wanted to get close and document exactly what I witnessed to show others. I realized that I had my Panasonic LX3 with me. The whole reason I was excited upgrading from the LX1 I’d used for a couple years to the LX3 was that I wanted all of the things I loved about the LX3, but wanted something a bit wider with usable higher ISO. This situation was the perfect test for me to see if I could get something usable at night but not attract attention so that I could get closer to the action. I thought the LX3 did a great job capturing what appeared to be the very intolerance I was witnessing and I was able to get right up in the action without anyone really noticing I was documenting it.

“The Face of Hate” ~ New Orleans, Louisiana during the 2009 Southern Decadence Festival