A photograph created by Mike Kemp of Mike Kemp Photography in Conway was recently accepted into the Loan Collection of Professional Photographers of America’s 2019 International Photographic Competition. Two additional images were accepted into the General Collection.

Kemp’s work will be on display at the International Photographic Exhibition in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 19-21. The exhibition is held in conjunction with Imaging USA, an annual convention and expo for professional photographers.

A panel of 36 jurors from across the United States selected the top photographs from more than 5,200 total submitted entries. Judged against a standard of excellence, 625 (roughly 12 percent) were selected for the esteemed Loan Collection – the best of the best. The Loan Collection images will also be published in the “Loan Collection” book by Marathon Press.

Included in the Loan College will be the image titled “Honor.” The photo features World War II veteran Bill Ledbetter. Kemp photographed Ledbetter for the July 2019 issue of 501 LIFE.

“To be selected for the loan collection is one of the biggest honors I have received as a photographer,” said Kemp. “Being judged by some of the industry’s most respected photographers and competing against a large number of talented peers can only help me improve my work and provide even better images for my clients.”

The image was also given a Judge’s Award and voted “Best Portrait of a Man” at the recent Arkansas Professional Photographers Association’s Capture 2019 image competition.

Founded in 1868, Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is the largest and longest-standing nonprofit photography trade association. It currently helps 30,000-plus pros elevate their craft and grow their business with resources, protection and education, all under PPA’s core guiding principle of bridging the gap between photographers and consumers.

To view more of Mike’s work, visit mikekempphoto.com.