I was fortunate to participate in the Southeastern Professional Photographers Association (SEPPA) print competition. My group, The Virginia Professional Photographers Association hosted SEPPA during our Convention held in February, 2016. Three out of four of my images merited during that competition. They moved on to the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) International Print Competition (IPC) as “sealed” images, guaranteeing a merit each at IPC. The fourth, entitled “Mack”, was reworked, submitted, judged and merited at IPC, earning me 4 for 4 merits toward a PPA degree in photography. Why jump through these hoops? The only way to improve as a photographer is to have your work judged by those who have gone before you. That makes what I do, better for you.