I am pleased to announce that one of my travel photos (taken in northern Viet Nam) was recently nominated for the prestigious international Black & White Spider Awards! Here’s the Press Release:

BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS HONORS PHOTOGRAPHER KRISTEN GILL FROM SEATTLE, WA, (USA)

LONDON (March 21, 2010) – In the industry’s most important event for black and white photography, the honor of being an awards nominee means capturing one image amongst thousands submitted from 68 countries. 

Seattle-based photographer Kristen Gill not only clinched the 5th Annual Black and White Spider Awards Nominee title in the category of Portrait, she received a high percentage of votes overall for her “Girl from Sa Pa Wears Her Heart on Her Sleeve,” a photo she took while trekking amongst the hill tribe people of northern Viet Nam.

The Awards Show welcomed the industry’s elite and the most influential names in photography from the press, media, galleries, publishers, editors, critics, auction houses, agents and the renowned artists themselves, who all come together in celebration of the black and white still image. More than 35,000 online viewers logged on live from 154 countries to see the climax of the Nomination & Winners Photo Show.

The Awards Jury was comprised of thirty-nine influential decision makers in Photography, Publishing, and Fine Art, such as Sotheby’s, The Tate Gallery, Magnum Photos, The Armory Show, Fratelli Alinari, Contrasto, and Hamiltons of London, who reviewed and judged the images based on artistic merit, originality, subject, style, and ultimately decided the winners. The Jury honored Spider Fellows with 84 coveted title awards in 28 categories.

“The Spider Awards celebrates photographers who operate at the highest levels of their craft,” said Basil O’Brien, the awards Creative Director. “Kristen Gill’s work represents black and white photography at its finest, and we’re pleased to present her with the title of Nominee.”

You can view the 5th Annual Winners Gallery at www.thespiderawards.com/gallery5 (search under Kristen Gill)

BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS is the leading international award honoring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honors the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography.

Adventure on,

Kristen

Today’s picture post from Cambodia is a very special one. It involves YOU.

Won’t you lend a helping hand to build a school in Cambodia? Can you donate $10 to Passports with Purpose, a group of bloggers who believe in the power of travel to create change. (See New York Times article here.)

Not only will your contribution help raise the money to build a school in the very poor region of Preah Vihar, but will also provide a nurses salary, a vegetable garden, and clean water for the school. According to Lonely Planet, this area remains “desperately poor” due to the hold by the Khmer Rouge until 1998.

To see a list of the fabulous prizes you could win by donating, click here.

Happy Holidays, everyone.  Give a hand.

Kristen

These monks in, the town of Luang Prabang, Laos, are up at 6AM everyday, to walk through town, where they receive their morning rations of rice from the local community. It is considered a solemn ceremony, and is quite a scene to behold.

Peace,

Kristen