I was surprised today to open the paper and see an announcement about my Olympus contest win and that another Knoxville photographer too had won an award. Andy Armstrong submitted a portrait taken a day prior the death of Popcorn Sutton. Andy's portrait finished first in the Wedding and Portrait Photographers competition. My business partner and long time Associated Press photographer Wade Payne was the last professional photograper to photograph Popcorn Sutton alive. If you look in our blog you will see that Wade posed with the infamous Moonshiner in what would be his last photo session. Wade still comments today about seeing Popcorn start up his Ford Fairlane as they were leaving his property. Instinctively Wade snapped the photograph yet he had no idea at the time what that final photograph would later tell us. I on the other hand am still so very excited over my Olympus win. To all of you canon shooters out there, yes, I'm sticking with canon! Stay tuned to see what the photography $5000 scholarship goes towards! Below is the sentinal link. Enjoy.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jul/26/two-knoxville-photographers-win-awards/
