The MPA South East Region Photographer of the Year. 2020.

Michael Laing, winner of the Master Photographers Association, South East Region, Photographer of the Year. Those were never words, I thought I would hear. I don’t win these kinds of thing. Winning happens to other people. I just make up the numbers.

Today, that all changed. When I entered the MPA regional competition, I thought I would do ok. Last year, when I entered the London and Essex, regional print competition, I won a couple of merits and was quite ecstatic. It was the first time, I had entered my photos into a big competition and I had done quite well.

This year, I thought, I stood a chance of doing well, maybe get two or three images into the finals, which is very good but I didn’t imagine, I would win a category, let alone the entire thing.

I now know what, all the nominated actors look like during the Oscars. With the Covid-19 crisis, the awards have been done, via Zoom, with the South East being the last region to be judged. I have watched all the other regional awards over the previous couple of weeks, including the Central region, who all decided to dress up. This looked fun, so I even decided to get dressed up in a suit (which was a bit of a mistake because I was boiling all the way through the announcements but I am sure they appreciated it).

So the awards started with the up and comers, which a couple of months ago, would have been the category I entered and the quality of work was exceptional. After that the qualified winners, where announced by category. I was in the largest, the portrait section. With the merits being announced first, then the finalists and then the winner.

As the merits, announced, it took some time before my name was mentioned and it was only mentioned twice, this, included the photo that had recently won silver in the monthly competition, the one I thought would do best. My heart was pounding and my brain was suddenly telling me, ‘well, it isn’t the winning that counts, it is the taking part, get ready for disappointment’.

Then the finalists images were announced. I heard and I heard my name read out (Phew, that was lucky). Then it was read out again… and again… and again… and again. I had 5 images in the final, which was something beyond my wildest dreams. To say, I was a little shocked, would be an understatement. Then Su Kaye, the President of the MPA and judge for the 11 regional competitions, announced, my name as South East Creative Photographer of the Year. It felt a little surreal. Everyone, clapped and cheered, I heard lots of shouts of well done. At this point, my brain did a double take and started thinking ‘stay calm, they are going to expect you to say something, it had better be intelligible’. Hopefully, it was.

I had done it, I had won and it was perfect. South East Creative Photographer of the Year. At university, my video production lecturer, once told me, that I had more ideas, than anyone he had ever known but a complete inability to just focus on just one. The title is perfect and pretty much reflects me down to a tee.

A couple of minutes later, Su got around to the final award, South East Photographer of the Year. Dare I hope? My brain told me ‘no’. I had done great, be satisfied with what I had. If I start getting my hopes up now, I am in for a disappointment. There were so many other great photographers, who had won, different categories that evening and it was bound to be one of their names (my money was on the amazing Andy Griffin).

Again, I was wrong, Su did read out my name. I had just won, South East Regional Photographer of the Year. The kid, who was held back a year at school, who was massively dyslexic, who left school, with no qualifications, who had once been told, ‘you have no photographic talent and should go and stack shelves at Sainsbury’s, had won.

I have been doing photography for 19 years. It hasn’t all been plain sailing. I have had to deal, with many issues and still do. Photography is my solace, it is where I go, when I need to get away and be creative. It is also my bane. Something that annoys and perplexes me. It is something I love and something I hate in equal measure. Mainly, though it is my passion and something I have become good at.

To be judged South East Photographer of the Year, means a huge amount. I know some of the previous winners and they are awesome photographers, I owe it to them to be the best photographer I can be. To move forward, with my business and finally break out and make a success of it.

Lastly, I have to dedicate this to my mum. She supported me, when I said, I wanted to go to college, even though I had no qualifications. Then when I had the mad idea of going to university and get a film making degree, she said ‘ok’ and supported me. Even when I said ‘I wanted to become a photographer’ and can I move in, I don’t have any money, she helped and put up with me.

Thank you mum.. for your help, your kindness and support. I miss you.