I don't like to blow my own horn, but sometimes I have to, or no one will hear its sound. In this case I can't resist drawing readers' attention to my photograph of a Rwandan woman which - although of inferior technical quality - is as photogenic (in my opinion) as one that beat out 6,900 other contestants to win a prestigious Photographic Portrait Prize from England's National Gallery:

Rwandan portrait wins photo prize. BBC, Nov 7, 2007

The photo that won the $25,000 prize is of a Rwandan woman embracing a child in front of her house where another child is leaning:

When I first saw the photo a couple of months ago - when it was merely an entrant in the contest - it reminded me right away of one I had taken and I fleetingly thought of entering mine (but of course I knew it wouldn't qualify in any area other than topic).

My photo is of a Rwandan woman holding a child, in front of a similar house, with her other children engaged in daily activities:

In a way, when the two photos are put side-by-side (as shown at the top of page) they complement one another by seemingly being an extension of each other.

To see some of the other entrants in the National Gallery's Photographic Portrait contest go to FOUR SHORTLISTED PHOTOS

And to see some of my other would-be or could-be or shoulda-been entrants go to SUCCESSFUL NEIGHBOURHOOD

I guess the point I'm trying to make (in another blast from my horn) is that even though my photo wasn't a real winner (having never entered the contest or, even if it had, not having the qualities required to compete) to ME it is a winner because of its similarity to the winner and also, because of the fond feelings it arouses in me (and hopefully in others who look at it). ~ Jackie Jura