Doug Sturgess - AWARDS

EXPOSURE ONE NOMINEE AWARD

A lone polar bear rests on a barren Arctic shore, its white fur glowing softly against the dark stones. In the stillness, there’s both peace and fragility, a quiet reminder of life enduring at the edge of a frozen world. Being named a Nominee in the 2025 Exposure One Black and White Animal Division means this photograph was recognized by the judges as one of the strongest entries in a highly competitive international field. Nominee status is not a participation label. It reflects that the image rose to the top tier of submissions based on artistic impact, technical quality, and storytelling. For me, it signifies that this work connected with a professional jury and stands among the most compelling animal images presented in that year’s competition at Exposure One Awards.

DREAMING OF ICE. A lone polar bear rests on a barren Arctic shore, its white fur glowing softly against the dark stones. In the stillness, there’s both peace and fragility, a quiet reminder of life enduring at the edge of a frozen world.

DREAMS OF ICE

THE VINCENT VERSACE AWARD FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC EXCELLENCE

A prestigious honor presented as part of the Photoshop Guru Awards at the Photoshop World Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2013. Named for Vincent Versace, a respected photographer, educator, and Nikon Ambassador, the award recognizes exceptional achievement in digital photography and visual storytelling. The recipient is selected from more than 500 entries, reflecting a high level of artistic vision, technical skill, and creative impact as judged by leaders within the professional photography and imaging community.

FLOATING BEAUTY captures a quiet moment of abstraction found in nature. Photographed on the surface of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas, the image focuses on delicate grasses drifting just beneath the water. Their fine textures and repeating patterns immediately drew my attention, transforming an ordinary scene into something more painterly and expressive. Soft movement, layered color, and subtle light create a sense of calm while inviting a closer look at details that are often overlooked. The result is an image that feels both organic and ethereal, celebrating the quiet elegance found in nature’s smallest moments.