Hope is More Than Wishful Thinking

Dear Amazing Hopeful Shutter Sisters,

It is with so much joy and happiness that we are writing this morning to tell you that the Shutter Sisters' Picture Hope Dream Assignment entry won the $50,000 Grand Prize for the Microsoft/Lenovo sponsored photography contest!

Can you believe it???

We're crying, we're laughing, we're in a state of disbelief. We've been fighting and working and hoping and dreaming for a moment like this our entire lives. And it's here.

Because of you. Because of us. Because we hoped. Because we believed.

Thank you Microsoft and Lenovo for choosing us out of a brilliant group of finalists. Thank you for seeing our ideas and believing in our dream and for understanding that without hope, none of us stands a fighting chance.

Shutter Sisters, take this win straight into your heart, because it is yours. The way you find life and hope and beauty and truth through that lens every day matters--every bit as much as the stories we will find from women around the world who love and live the way you do--with all their hearts, one tiny incredible moment at a time.

Thank you for believing. Thank you for working so hard at what you do. Thank you for hoping.

As they say in Rwanda, Turikumwe. We are together.

With so much joy,

Tracey, Stephanie and Jen

photo by Stephanie

Comments

[Paige]

This is SUCH amazing news! I'm so excited. WOW!!!

[Silvia]

Congratulations! Such great news :)

[Els]

AWESOME! Congrats!!!!!

[MariaV]

I'm so happy for you (us) that I'm crying. Congratulations!!

[Elizabeth]

FABULOUS!!! FABULOUS!! Beautiful and wonderful and SOOOooooooooooo deserving and oh, did I say, FABULOUS!!

Congratulations all around !! Go forth and do great things!!

Bisous, E

[Carmen Torbus]

I am so incredibly happy for you right now! What an inspiration you are to us all!

[jody]

OOoomgosh what Wonderful NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Makes me so dang proud to be a part of this incredible community of sisters ♥♥♥!!!

[heidi]

We are about to experience hope of epic proportions around here.
Exciting.

Congratulations everyone!

[Andrea]

congratulations!
♥

[Puna]

This is wonderfully exciting and wonderfully deserved. It is an understatement to say that you have inspired me. I have my own tribute to you.
http://lifesignatures.wordpress.com/2009/04/24/congratulations-shutter-sisters/
And I will always spread the word of how much this site has meant to me.

[Jo]

FABULOUS! Go get that hope!

[melody is slurping life]

So proud of and thrilled for you all!

Keeping HOPE in my heart.

Blessings along the journey.

[Imelda]

Awesomeness! What a great news and you totally deserve it!

[Liz Gumbinner]

This couldn't happen to more beautiful women, inside and out. What a brilliant chance to share your incredible gifts with more of the world.

Microsoft and Lenovo - you done picked good.

[Karyn]

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

[Sharon]

Congratulations! This is wonderful news. I am looking forward to following your progress. Now grab those cameras and go change the world! We're counting on you!

[HeidiRenee]

Thank you for dreaming BIG and for showing us all how. I am so overwhelmed with joy for you. I can hardly believe that tiny blog I stared reading 5 years ago has given birth to such beauty, joy and hope. You're my hero Jen Lemen!

[Alejandra]

Well deserved! Veriest congratulations!!

[lizriz]

Congratulations!

[Maria]

Congratulations! Definitely well deserved!

[GraceD]

Best news of 2009! I am so thrilled and excited for you wonderful women! This award could not go to a better group of photographers. Sending so much love and pride in knowing the extraordinary Shutter Sisters.

xoxoxo!!!!!

[Charlane]

congratulations!!!! that is sooooo exciting.

[PunditMom]

This is SO AWESOME! I know you will create a beautiful project!

[Lisa Stone]

An award well earned!! I'm so excited to see what Shutter Sisters accomplishes next. Amazing work, you extraordinary women.

[Steve]

alright, snap away for hope!!