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

[Imelda / GreenishLady]

I'm so happy for you! So, so happy!

[Teri]

Oh wow! So exciting. Way to go:)

[Kim]

Congrats! Will be following along!

[Lil]

wow ~ wow!! congratulations!!!

[Candy Howard]

Congratulations!!

[susanna]

That's awesome news! Congratulations!!

[jen]

This news is FANTASTIC. Well done girls.

[Nadine]

Congratulations!!

[chel]

CONGRATZ!!! I'm sooooo excited for you! Breath in, breath out, breath in, breath out... wow hard not to light headed over this news:-)

[Stanley Leary]

Congratulations! I think a great story and hook are key to grabbing an audience. You have done this with just the query part and getting the funds. I am really looking forward to seeing the end results. I hope you post your progress so we don't have to wait till the end.

Have fun!

[Aimee Greeblemonkey]

I am sooooooo late in saying this, but I was crying too when I heard. I am so thrilled.

SO THRILLED.

Jen & Stephanie, I want you to gather those stories and photos and bring them back so I can cry again.

Love you.

[Bella]

* * * THIS IS AWESOME!!!! * * *

How incredibly EXCITING!!!

WOOHOO ~

[Sera]

I'm SOOO glad you girls won!! I didn't hear about the contest til after the voting was all over, so I've been prayin you win :). Its something that I think this world needs, and its the same as my dream too. So congrats, you girls will change the world, show people a hope that maybe they've never ever seen. Enjoy!
~Sera
PS - when do you girls fly out?

[toni]

As a writer and photographer, many times I am allowed to write of other's Hope. One of those came in the form of a blind dog, Hope..A teacher, who battled cancer last year, has seen inspiration in handicap pets and uses them to teach students about compassion and hope. I had the pleasure of writing about this incredible program. .see my story and photos online:
http://www.duncanbanner.com/archivesearch/local_story_134235936.html

Thank You Shutter Sisters for offering Hope to so many of us, knowing that our photos do touch others, even if just briefly. Keep up the great work!

[Davielle Huffman]

Tracey, Jen, and Stephanie: congratulations. this is fabulous and I know that the world can hardly wait to see what comes of this amazing adventure you have ahead of you. -- Davielle in So Cal

[Dawn]

i am so incredibly happy for you all! i look forward to seeing all the amazing pictures you take on your journey. if we have not hope, we have nothing, but with hope we can attain the impossible.

[Jen May]

Congrats! how are the photos for this assignment coming along?

[Kimberly]

I'm not sure how I missed this but wow! Congrats! That is so fabulous :)

[Jessie]

Stunning.. Congratulations!!! So Deserved!

http://designsbyjessie.etsy.com

[Sandy K]

Fantastic news! There is so much to teach the world through photography - so many worlds to open up with images. Well done!