So I found out last night that I didn’t place in the Florida State Fair photo contest…
Yeah.
I had myself a little “well dang…” moment and figured that was that.
Pack it up. Try again next year. Photographer ego slightly bruised but still alive.
BUT…
This weekend was the Florida Strawberry Festival, and their photography contest works a little differently. They don’t send emails. They don’t call. They don’t give you a heads-up.
Nope.
You have to physically go there and find out.
So today we walk into the building where the photos are supposed to be displayed, and I start doing what every hopeful photographer does — casually pretending I’m calm while internally preparing for disappointment.
I’m scanning the walls.
Walking past frames.
Looking at all these incredible photos thinking, Wow… these are really good.
And then…
I walked up to a display case and froze.
Because staring back at me was MY photo.
Y’all.
MY. PHOTO.
Printed.
Framed.
Displayed.
And not just hanging there quietly either…
It had a RIBBON.
Now — was it first place?
No.
Second?
Also no.
Third?
Still no.
But you know what it was?
Honorable Mention.
And listen… I don’t even care that it wasn’t top three.
Because do you know what honorable mention means?
It means it was noticed.
It was acknowledged.
It was chosen.
Out of who knows how many entries, someone looked at my work and said:
👉 This one deserves to be mentioned.
And honestly? That hit me harder than I expected.
Seeing my photography printed — not scrolling past on a phone screen… not lost in social media algorithms… but actually hung up for people to stop and look at — felt different.
Real different.
For a moment, all the self-doubt got real quiet.
All the “Am I actually good enough?” thoughts stepped aside.
Because there it was.
Proof.
I’m not just taking pictures.
I’m creating something people connect with.
And today, at the Florida Strawberry Festival…
my work hung on a wall with a ribbon on it.
And I’m gonna celebrate that win.
✨ Sometimes the win isn’t first place.
✨ Sometimes the win is simply being seen.
And today?
I was seen.
— Simply Sina 💛
