Rory Sagner in Yelm
Photo credit: Steven Wyble, Nisqually Valley News

– “Got the shot”
“Last November [2011], Rory Sagner awoke to find a soft blanket of snow covering the ground and treetops around her home between Yelm and Rainier — the first snowfall of the year.

She dropped her cell phone in her pocket and went on a morning walk.

Inspired by the beautiful scenery surrounding her, she whipped out her phone and shot some photos of the winter wonderland.

Now, one of those photos — titled “The Way Home” — is a winner in Canon U.S.A.’s Project Imaginat10n photo contest.

Ninety-one winning photographs in 10 categories were selected in the contest (Sagner’s photo was a winner in the “setting” category) with the help of director Ron Howard and public votes,” quoting Steven Wyble in the Nisqually Valley News, October 26, 2012.
Read more from the front page.
Read more from part 2.

Read more from Wyble’s second report published December 28, 2012.
Copyright © 2012 Lafromboise Communications, Inc.
Used with permission – can not be republished for commercial use/advertising.

– “James Murphy On Project Imaginat10n, DJ’ing, Ending LCD Soundsystem & Needing Control”
By Kia Makarechi in the Huffington Post.
Read more

Click here for “James Murphy’s Picks” describing the inspiration Sagner’s photo garnered to be chosen.

Read more from Graphics.Design.NYC.

Rory Sagner’s award winning photo
Photo courtesy: Rory Sagner

Rory attributes her inspiration to what she learned at RSE.
Here is Rory’s story in her own words:
“Ramtha taught me that all potentials exist in the Mind of God….and I took that knowledge to heart!

I learned that if we have the passion, we can become anything we choose….we only need to focus on it.
I came to understand that genius lives within all of us just waiting to be discovered, that it exists as a frequency, and if we love ourselves enough to give ourselves that gift, we can tap into that genius and allow it to blossom into the world. Then, we can use that expression to help others.

I have been focusing consistently in the Neighborhood Walk® that “I have always been a creative genius” for quite some time, and at this point, I cannot remember a time when I did not know that to be my truth. It’s not that there is anything special about me….this gift is there for all of us. I can tell you that the act of creating is one of the greatest joys there is. The action is bliss, the outcome is frosting.

One of the greatest things I have learned from Ramtha and the disciplines, is how to love myself enough to allow myself to tap into this infinite well of creativity, and come to a place of believing that my work is worth sharing.

My deepest gratitude to RSE, JZ and Ramtha!”

Rory adds:
“Project Imagination will begin a 2nd phase contest for prospective filmmakers soon! There will be 5 filmmakers chosen to make the other 5 short films with the Project Imagination winning photos…including mine! The 5 winning filmmakers will work in conjunction with Ron Howard and have their films be a part of the Premiere this coming summer/fall, along with the 5 Celebrity Filmmakers.
For RSE students that might want to add to their Neighborhood Walk® about entering the 2013 photo contest and to check-out the current posted entries for Project Imagination”: Click here

– UPDATE: January 22, 2013
Rory Sagner’s DAHLIA DREAM photo (listed as “Purple Flower” in the contest) has been chosen as one of the 20 Finalist photos in the Macro category of Michael Maven’s 2012 Photography Contest.

Click here for the link to Sagner’s photo on Michael Maven’s site, the third entry in the slideshow.

Rory said, “I could talk for an hour about all that I am learning via this process…about staying present, letting go of success/failure programming, not competing, but staying focused on my work and the love and joy I experience in the process of it. I have had to let go of so much in the last few weeks in regards to all of this. Self-correcting certain thoughts that have come up has been absolutely critical…and a true Godsend! Staying focused is important, but not attaching one’s identity to, or having “expectations” of an outcome because of a past accomplishment is equally so.
What an amazing opportunity of learning!”
“I am on Cloud-9 again!!!!”

A panel of judges are now evaluating the finalists and the public voting polls in each category. Winners will be announced during the first two weeks of February.

– UPDATE: February 7, 2013
From Rory,
“Another example of the magic of focus.

I focused on either winning first place or sixth place because those were the prizes I wanted,
i.e. the $1000 win or the Adobe Photoshop Elements software for 6th place.
There were 10 winning spots and two honorable mentions.
My photo took 6th place…and this one was an international photo contest!!!

I am so grateful to Ram, JZ and the school for the knowledge and tools that are allowing me these achievements.”
Click here for Rory’s winning photograph.