Over the past month, I've received results from four different Photographic Society contests. Some of the results have been terrible, while others have been quite successful. I've even received a couple of gold medals -- in one case, in the same competition that otherwise shut me out. In other words, this month has been all over the map!

Here are the four contests, in the order in which I received results:

CAS Photo Academy (PSA 2023-463 India), closing 9/25/23

One judging. I entered five categories (Open Color PIDC, Open Monochrome PIDM, Face and Body PIDC, Nature ND, and Photo Travel PTD). Out of 20 possibilities, I had 2 photos accepted, a dismal rate of 10%, with no awards.

• "Siren" (Face and Body PIDC), DianaJean, Upper Crystal Lake, July 2015: Accepted
• "Deep roots" (Open Color PIDC), Skye, Boxcar Canyon, January 2023: Accepted
  Siren (Face and Body PIDC) (Accepted) Deep roots (Colour PIDC) (Accepted)

Photo Click Circuit (PSA 2023-444 Albania), closing 10/1/23

My first contest in Albania. Four judgings, in which I entered two categories: Open Color PIDC and Open Monochrome PIDM. 32 possibilities, 3 acceptances, all for the same image, meaning 7 of my 8 images weren't accepted by any of the judges. Terrible. But, that one image was given a PSA Gold Medal by one of the judges, the highest honor that can be given! Despite one of the other judges only scoring that image 13 points, four points below the requirement to even be accepted. Talk about confusing.

• "Gamekeeper" (Open Monochrome PIDM), Kit Ashton, Seattle, April 2023: Accepted in 3 of 4 judgings, including a PSA Gold Medal
  Gamekeeper (Open Monochrome PIDM) (PSA Gold Medal; Accepted x3)

Click U Summer Circuit (PSA 2023-461 India), closing 9/24/23

Now that's more like it: 18 acceptances this time, in 3 judgings with five categories (Open Colour PIDC, Open Monochrome PIDM, Nature ND, Photo Travel PTD. and Portrait and Body PIDC), 60 possibilities, a 30% rate. And several awards! One image, especially, was a smash hit, with PSA Gold, Circuit Silver, and Circuit Bronze medals all awarded by different judges, rocketing this photo, in my enumeration, into the lofty status of 3rd-most-successful photo of all time! Now that's a pleasant surprise.

• "Calico" (Face and Body PIDC), Marzipanned, Seattle, January 2019: Accepted by all 3 judges, including a PSA Gold, Circuit Silver, and Circuit Bronze!
• "Ohanapecosh 215" (Open Colour PIDC), Katlyn Lacoste, Ohanapecosh, March 2022: Accepted thrice, including a Jury E-Certificate and a Merit E-Certificate
• "Life in balance" (Open Colour PIDC), DianaJean and Kristy Jessica, Marsh Island, July 2023: Accepted twice
• "Apollo's daughter" (Open Colour PIDC), Jessa Ray Muse, Mount Rainier National Park, July 2023: Accepted in this photo's contest debut
• "Daddy issues" (Open Monochrome PIDM), Kit Ashton, Seattle, April 2023: Accepted, in this photo's contest debut
• "Rapture" (Open Monochrome PIDM), Astrid Kallsen, Discovery Park, March 2023: Accepted
• "The shape of you" (Face and Body PIDC), Shasta Wonder, Lynnwood, August 2017: Accepted
• Also accepted: two travel photos, each by all three judges, one with a Jury E-Certificate
  Calico (Portrait and Body PIDC) (PSA Gold, Circuit Silver and Bronze; Accepted x3) Ohanapecosh 215 (Open Color PIDC) (Jury & Merit E-Certificates; Accepted x3) Life in balance (Open Color PIDC) (Accepted x2) Apollo's daughter (Open Color PIDC) (Accepted) Daddy issues (Open Monochrome PIDM) (Accepted) Rapture (Open Monochrome PIDM) (Accepted) The shape of you (Portrait and Body PIDC) (Accepted)

Bosnia (PSA 2023-509 Bosnia and Herzegovina), closing 10/15/23

One judging, six categories (Open Color PIDC, Open Monochrome PIDM, Portrait Color PIDC, Portrait Mono PIDM, Woman PIDC, and Landscapes PIDC), so 24 possibilities; five accepted, a moderate 21% rate, with one minor award.

• "Circe on the Mountain" (Open Monochrome PIDM), Astrid Kallsen, Mount Rainier National Park, July 2023: Accepted, in its contest debut
• "Siren" (Woman PIDC), DianaJean, Upper Crystal Lake, July 2015: Accepted
• "Deep roots" (Woman PIDC), Skye, Boxcar Canyon, January 2023: Accepted
• "Den lille havfrue" (Open Monochrome PIDM), Queen Dandelion, July 2018: Accepted
• Also, a photo in the Landscapes category, which received an IAAP Diploma.
  Circe on the Mountain (Open PIDM) (Accepted) Siren (Woman PIDC) (Accepted) Deep roots (Woman PIDC) (Accepted) Den lille havfrue (Open PIDM) (Accepted)