Although the majority of the competition categories are judged by a panel of professional photographers, there is one category that accepts votes from the public.  The People’s Choice Award is granted to the image that receives the most votes.  It would be a great honor to receive your vote for any of my photographs!  Here is how you do it:

• Please click the following link ( http://www.fotoweekdcawards.org/bin/Rate ) to travel to the People’s Choice voting section.
• Search for the photographs with my name underneath ( McArthur Newell )
• There is no search bar, only page numbers so you will have to find which page my photographs are placed.  Currently, they are all on the first page.
• You must enter your email address to vote and a confirmation will be sent to that address – that’s how the system knows it’s valid.
• All done!

Please keep in mind a few things:

• You can only vote once.
• If you vote twice or more, only your latest vote will count.
• Voting will last until September 20, 2010.

I really appreciate your time and consideration in voting for my work!  At most, I hope to be considered an artist not only a photographer.  I cannot express how much of a pleasure it is to work with so many new and old friends in various photo sessions.  My work in photography has only begun.  I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring!

Below is one of the photos I entered in the DC FotoWeek 2010 Portrait Competition.

Model: Ashley Newell
Hair/MUA: Esther Hammond

The Palace

The Throne

Monks

Gold Plated Buddha Statues

Ritual

Enormous Temples

Old Temples

Rafting in Kanchanaburi

Currency

Riverkwai Mural

Farmers

Train Ride

These are only a few images from my photographs taken in Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi, Thailand.  Please view more by go here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/boldlifestyle/sets/72157623528649539/show/ and here http://www.flickr.com/photos/boldlifestyle/sets/72157623628685042/show/  ).  As always, I appreciate your comments.  Thanks!

***Photographs taken by McArthur Newell and Ashley Newell of BoldLifestyle Photography (www.boldlifestyle.com) during a Southeast Asia trip to Thailand hosted by Ariya of Friendly Planet/Exotissimo Travels.  These images highlighted the sights and scenes of Thailand.***

The City of Bangkok

Chinatown in Bangkok

Shrine

Thai Kitchen

Way of Transportation

Railroad Market

Grocery Shopping

Market Vendors

Floating Market - Exotic Fruits

Floating Market

Floating Market

Muay Thai Boxing

Muay Thai Fighters

Temples

Buddhist Practices

These are only a few images from my photographs taken in Bangkok, Thailand.  Please view more by go here ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/boldlifestyle/sets/72157623459635603/show/ ).  As always, I appreciate your comments.  Thanks!

***Photographs taken by McArthur Newell and Ashley Newell of BoldLifestyle Photography (www.boldlifestyle.com) during a Southeast Asia trip to Thailand hosted by Ariya of Friendly Planet/Exotissimo Travels.  These images highlighted the sights and scenes of Thailand.***

Erwin Darmali photographs me to demonstrate a technique as Ray Soemarsono looks onward.

Normally, we can all mark and remember the pivotal points of lives in retrospect. I knew this workshop would be one of those pivotal moments as soon as my plane touched down in California. It’s pretty hard meeting someone in person for the first time when you have followed them online for so long. It’s like you know them, but not really because – well, you’ve never met. When I first was introduced (in person) to Ray and Erwin, I was already looking for all the hints of their personality that I find so prevalent on their blog and tweets.  And actually, I was a bit surprised.  They were exactly how they say they are except much cooler and down-to-earth.  I am not sure who was more excited about this opportunity, them or me!  As the discussions and training continued, I was glad to see it was of mutual benefit.

I do not profess to be “professional” nor “hobbyist”, but everything I thought I was I “parked to the side” and allowed my mind to be completely receptive to the overflowing, wealth of knowledge that these two, nationally ranked, young professionals offered.  Ray and Erwin were completely open to explain, demonstrate, and answer anything I wondered about photography and photojournalism.  The course was well planned and executed, and did not feel rushed or boring in any way.  There are only a few, great photographers that are willing to present such a large amount of information to the other photographers.  In fact, there are several photographers that are outright rude and nasty when they are approached with questions.  I can definitely say – this was not the case with Apertura’s Workshop!  It is very hard to go into great detail about the course because it was (at least I felt like it was) designed for me as a photographer at the level I am currently.

As I mentioned in a previous posting, this course was where I located my fortune.  It was where I found how to communicate my expression as a photographer to others, and even better, to myself.  Apertura’s 2on1 Workshop is an advanced training for a range of photographers from amateur to veteran.  It is as philosophical as it is rational.  Being that you learn from and work with 2 different photographers,;you get multiple lessons and perspectives on any one concept of photography.  After taking this workshop, I know I am a better photographer and I can’t wait to show the world my perspective!  Words can’t say it enough – thank you Ray and Erwin!  I will be returning for another session, but this time I will bring a more matured portfolio so you guys won’t slice me up too much:)!  Ha!