I don't enter many contests; seems like there isn't time. However, I did want to enter the Hasselblad/ASMP contest themed "Sun." I arrived in Palau, Micronesia to shoot a catalog for a division of S.C. Johnson (Johnson Outdoor/SCUBAPRO) on the last day of the month deadline. So, jet-lagged from 27 travel hours, I wandered out onto the beach at the Palau Pacific Resort looking for an image. I saw the rinse shower at the edge of the beach leading to the pool, turned on the water and found the sun flare and backlit shower stream. It looked like a picture, but I'm a people guy, so went out to the beach looking for a human element.

Saw an attractive 20-something blond in a black bikini and asked her if she would help me make a picture. She looked at me like I was homeless and asking for $5. Hey, I know I'm no Brad Pitt, but gimme a break. I'm not ffen homeless, so discounted the bikini chick and asked the pool attendant. No problem.

Shot the picture, went to my room, edited the few frames, picked one and transmitted it to Contest Central. It won, so I got the use of a new Hasselblad H4D40 (40-megapixel medium format) with an 80mm f2.8 for a month.