PPOC Student Competition Finalist

It is with great pleasure, joy, and pride that I would like to announce that I, Mel Bishop, made it into the 2020 Professional Photographers of Canada finals through the student competition. There is no bigger honour than to have had my image, "Body and Soul", accepted into PPOC with an Excellence during the judging in February- never the less for my image to make it into the finals where it is judged with the best images from across Canada! Although I did not win the award for the "General" category, I did come away with a sense of accomplishment. It is hard to get a merit, never less excellence with the PPOC: but the fact that my image made it to the finals is mind-boggling. I'd just like to thank a few people for pushing me to do my best, never give up, and aspire to do better. Terry Hrynyk, it has been an honour to have you as a teacher, program coordinator, coworker, and friend over the last 3 years at Georgian College. I wanted to thank you for never giving up on me even when I was down on myself. It has been the biggest honour to have worked alongside some of the best photographers in the industry like Peter Stranks, Terry Hrynyk, Paul Eekhoff, and Sara Parry. You have made my time at Georgian College an experience that I will reflect on for years to come. Your feedback and criticism will always be appreciated because you all helped to get me to where I am today. You helped to shape me into the strong, confident, sassy female photographer that I aim to be. Thank you for that and for all of the words of wisdom that you left me since 2017: I will cherish them always. Never give up on your dreams: it may take you years to find where you fit, but never give up or stop believing in your dreams: you can do it!