Honorable mention, New York Center for Photographic Arts, Primary Colors Exhibition

I am honored to announce that my image, “Feeling Groovy”, was selected by juror, Stephen Perloff, as honorable mention for the New York Center for Photographic Arts, 2019, Primary Colors exhibition. There were a total of 46 images selected for the exhibition out of almost 1000 images submitted.

This image is very dear to me as it was created in my home town of Portland, Oregon back in 2012. The image was juried into my first group gallery exhibition in 2014, at the Lightbox Gallery in Astoria, Oregon, and it received my first international recognition, being granted honorable mention, for the Prix de la photographie Paris competition in 2014.

I remember at the time, thinking it was just a fluke that my work received these acknowledgements. I felt very out of place being new to the photographic art world. My mentor at the time, Joni Kabana, kept saying that this was just the beginning for me, and it was not an accident. She said I had talent, and that she could see good things for me in my future. I had a hard time fully believing that, yet she kept encouraging me to continue to follow my passion as a photographer, create new work, and keep putting myself out there. I am grateful for her belief in me, and her ongoing support and encouragement. Since that time, I have won international awards for my work and been in several exhibitions, both nationally and internationally.

December 2018, I retired from my 34 year career as a registered nurse, and moved to the south of France to live my dream of being a full-time fine art and portrait photographer. Since that time, many doors have opened for me here in France. I have the most amazing group of friends, and the amount of love and support I feel is incredible. This place inspires me to be my very best, and to be open to trust and allow good things to happen. I am no longer doubting myself. I believe all things are possible, and that I can live my life as an artist. Life is good!

It is interesting to me how the events of our lives are so interconnected. We don’t always understand the deeper meaning of our experiences, or where they are leading us. But, I do believe that everything happens for a reason, and in time, it will be revealed.

As I was looking at the images that were chosen for the 2019 Primary Colors exhibition, I noticed that, my mentor and friend, Joni Kabana, had one of her images selected as honorable mention. What a lovely surprise to see her image in the same exhibition! For me, it was another beautiful message from the universe confirming that I am on the right path, and showing me how far I have come since 2014. Back then, I could never image I would be where I am now. It is a good lesson in trusting, allowing, and listening to the people around you, and saying, “thank you for believing in me”, even when you are not sure you are worthy of the compliments.

To check out all the wonderful images selected for the exhibition, click on this link. https://www.nyc4pa.com/primary-colors-2019 It is such and honor to be amongst these photographers!

Finally, If you, or anyone you know, is traveling to the south of France and would like to have unique and beautiful portraits made with me, contact me soon. I have my calendar ready to go for the upcoming season, and I am expecting to be quite busy here in beautiful Provence, France.

Feeling Groovy, 2013

Raina Stinson Photography wins first place, single image, LensCulture Exposure Awards 2014

"...a very polished image, technically very accomplished yet evocative of a time that is enhanced by the bit of mystery it contains."
Jury member Sarah Leen, Director of Photography at National Geographic

Shortly after I celebrated my 50th birthday, due in no small part to a gift I received from my husband and family that day, I decided to change my career path as a registered nurse, and follow my dream of becoming a professional photographer, which had bubbled around in my subconscious since I was a teen.  I never dreamed that a mere, if whirlwind, four years later I could have,... let alone would have,... won an award like this.  When I decided that I wanted to pursue photography as a vocation, there were people whom told me that it would be difficult to make a living, there would be a lot of competition, and that I was not a spring chicken.  I think we all hear those voices, whether external or internal, that would seek to hinder rather than encourage us.  They are voices of fear, envy, projection and regret.  Instead of listening to the negativity, I chose to follow my heart and to let go of any beliefs and thought patterns that would limit me.  Damn the torpedoes!  I felt I had nothing to lose and only everything to gain.  I have always encouraged my children to follow their dreams and to not allow fear to get in their way.  I figured it was just maybe time for me to follow some of my own advice and walk the walk.  So, I decided to put my heart and soul into the art and soul of creating photographs, come what may.  It is incredibly fulfilling, to have followed my passion and made such a bold career change, at this time of my life.  Truth be told, the timing could not have been any better.  I am so honored to receive this international recognition from LensCulture.  My peer group has just expanded exponentially.  I am humbled.  Many winners and finalists of LensCulture competitions have had their careers launched or catapulted to the next level, as a result of the enormous positive attention that the LensCulture Exposure Awards draws and focuses onto the recipients.  The awards live up the name; "Exposure".

LensCulture is a photography network and online magazine about contemporary photography in art, media, politics, commerce and popular culture worldwide.  Will Coldwell, in "The Independent" in 2013, described LensCulture as one of the ten best photography websites, calling it a "definitive resource for anyone who wants to keep up with the latest trends and debates in contemporary photography".  Critic, Sean O'Hagan, in an article in "The Guardian" from 2012, listed it among the eight best photography websites or online publications, and hailed it as "one of the most authoritative and wide-ranging sites."

As a result of this award, my winning image "Alluring", (which is posted above), will be on exhibition at the "Photo London" expo, a major international photography event for artists, mavens, and collectors, as well as the general public.  It will be held at Somerset House, in London, England, May 21st-24th of 2015.  "Alluring" will also be part of LensCulture's top selected works, which image stream is projected at other photo festivals and events throughout the year, in cities like Paris, Tokyo, San Francisco, Dubai, and again in London.  My image will also be published in the LensCulture Awards annual edition, which is distributed to LensCulture insiders and industry experts, a group that includes editors, curators, festival directors, publishers, gallery directors, and more.  Again, I am simply humbled.  

I want to acknowledge and thank my very talented sister, Michele Wade, hairstylist and makeup artist extraordinaire.  Michele fashioned the incredibly spot-on hair and makeup for this photo, as she has done for so many of my best images.  I could not have created this photograph, without her intuition, flair and imagination.  She always brings so much breathtaking beauty and creativity to our shoots.  I never cease to be stunned by her work, after we're finished with a shoot.  Also, I want to thank my amazing model, Kira Aszman.  The first time I saw Kira, with her vintage 1971 green BMW model 2002, I wanted to photograph her and it together.  She was such a great sport and did an incredible job of following direction, while bringing her unique style and energy to the shoot.  Kira is one of the young chameleons, one of my muses, with which I've been so richly blessed, whom always seem to magically morph and blend into my photographs so seamlessly, effortlessly and appropriately.  She, too, shares in this award and my success.

I travel to London this May, to attend the Photo London exhibition, after which I will return to France for two weeks, where I will conduct another shoot in Provence.  I also plan to spend some time in Paris, to meet with various art directors and photo editors.  My life just got a lot more exciting,... again.

Dreams do come true...

"We are all quite thrilled that your work was selected as the top winner by the jury of LensCulture Exposure Awards. It’s a remarkable photo, and inspiring to all of us."  Jim Casper, Editor and Publisher, LensCulture

Check out all of the winners and finalists, by clicking here.

The Sweetheart---Happy Valentine's Day

This series of photographs is titled “The Sweetheart”. What began as a Valentine’s Day themed shoot, and was intended as part of another series on which I am working, quickly took on a subtle life of its own. I let go of any preconceptions I may have had going in, and just went with the improvisational interplay among the characters, and allowed the shoot to evolve into a kind of cohesive, sequential action, through and of its own volition. The result is a delightfully absurd, satirical photo essay on the popular reality television series “The Bachelor” and its constant theme on the fickle nature of the heart.

Hair and makeup artist:  Michele Wade

Models:  Malia Rodgers,  Abigail VanHorn, Ben Braden

Production assistant:  Justine Verigin

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