Photographer Wins National Award
23/06/2009
A Prince George photographer has won top honours in a national image competition.
Moira Neal of Memories by Moira studio has been awarded the Service of Photographic Art by the Professional Photographers Association of Canada.
Achieving the SPA puts Neal in the company of the late Wally West, who was the only other photographer in northern B.C. to receive the award, she said. The badge of distinction also requires competitors to give back to the profession through community and promoting the industry.
Neal was recognized for her ability to mentor and teach the business of photography to others, and donation of art and talent to non-profit organizations in the community such as Theatre North West and the Rail and Forestry Museum.
Although she's won many provincial, national and international awards in her 27 years in the photography field, she ranks the SPA as number one "because it reflects my contributions to the photographic industry" which also include giving lectures, teaching photography and serving as president and director on boards at the provincial and national level.
Being accepted into the national competition earns competitors merits towards photographic degrees, and just 11 days after receiving the SPA award, Neal earned her Master of Photographic Arts 1st Bar degree which will be presented to her during the 2010 annual awards banquet in Mont Tremblant, Que.