A Rubber Chicken Photo Contest, and MY Third Place Winning Photo...

Today, I am taking a trip down Memory Lane, to share with you my experience entering a Rubber Chicken Photo Contest, and surprisingly taking home the coveted Third Place Prize...

Although slightly bizarre, this is my Award Winning Photo:

Original Photo by Roxanne Rodriguez. Third Place Winner for Twisted Oak Winery Rubber Chicken Photo Contest- 2010.

I am not a professional photographer, but I love taking photographs.
I believe I have an eye for an aesthetically pleasing photo, and have used my skill to photograph my own work, my life, and most recently, as the Creative Director for OFW Art & Style Magazine. 

​I purchased my first camera in 1994, when I was around 12 years old. Back in those days, when digital photography didn't exist (at least to the mainstream public), I was thrilled to have a small camera that used a roll of 110 Film, and had clip on flash bulbs. Do you remember those? Truly a relic of antiquity!

This is an image of the 110 Film that I used in my first camera!

This is the Flash Bulbs that we would clip into the top of the camera!

Technology sure has advanced at a surprisingly quick rate over the last 24 years. Now, everyone has a camera in their pocket, equipped with high resolution, filters, and different lens options. I heard comedian Dave Chapelle say on TV recently, "Do you remember when people used to say, 'I wish I had a camera!'" No one says that anymore. 

Murphys, California

Living in California, where  picturesque landscapes abound, I found myself exploring the local region in my early to mid 20's, when I finally owned a somewhat reliable car... During my road trip travels, I found a fantastic little Gold Rush mountain town, called Murphys. In Murphys, the historic downtown still looks very much like an 1800's frontier town, with wooden storefronts, and a tranquil creek streaming under Main Street through a delightfully peaceful public park. On the outskirts of town, vineyard after vineyard can be found, each with a modestly priced tasting room. If you love wine, as I do, Murphys is a fabulous destination. 

One of the many vineyards, in the Murphys area, is a quirky place called Twisted Oak Winery. The wine is not only exquisite, but the winery is unusually eclectic, decorated with Rubber Chickens (their mascot) everywhere. 

On one of my trips to Twisted Oak, I was given a tiny little Rubber Chicken. The Tasting Room also sells larger sized Rubber Chickens as souvenirs. Advertised in the Tasting Room, was information regarding an upcoming photography contest: Take a creative photo of your Rubber Chicken for a chance to win a prize! ​

This is me, in Murphys, California, 2010.

My 2 inch Pokey, and 2 1/2 inch Gumby figurines.

With my three inch Rubber Chicken in hand, I returned home and contemplated the snapshot of my contest entry. 

As an 1980's Child, I still have many nostalgic memorabilia from that time. A California Raisin, classic McDonald's toys (like the Chicken McNugget that has different clothing you can change), an E.T. doll, a Pee-Wee Herman Doll, and an incomparable PEZ Dispenser Collection! I even have metal lunch boxes! So, I pulled out my 2 inch Pokey and Gumby set (move over Gumby!), and staged my little Rubber Chicken on Pokey (Gumby's Orange Horse), in the wild grass of my backyard...

I uploaded my edited photo to the Twisted Oak Winery Facebook Page, where entries were voted on to win. You can image my surprise, when it was announced that I, and my Rubber Chicken & Pokey Photo, had won Third Place, taking home a $75 Gift Card to Twisted Oak Winery!  (The First Place Prize went to a photo of a man scuba diving with his Rubber Chicken, and the Second Place Prize was for a photo of a woman in a towel, sunbathing with her Rubber Chicken, also wrapped in a towel.)

With my $75 Gift Card, I purchased a bottle of Twisted Oak Winery's River of Skulls wine, and a set of glass stemware. 

Twisted Oak Winery, River of Skulls Mourvedre Wine. www.twistedoak.com

A photo I took in Pollock Pines, California, while visiting my friend Brook!

After receiving my merchandise by mail, I took my bottle of wine to another lovely mountain town, Pollock Pines, nestled in the forest of the Sierra Nevada,  where my dear friend Brook lived at the time. Together we enjoyed glass after glass of River of Skulls Wine with her homemade Linguica Sandwiches. It paired perfectly! 
​

Thank you for taking the time to read about my experience winning Third Place in the Twisted Oak Winery's Rubber Chicken Photo Contest! I hope that you enjoyed my Blog Post as much as I enjoyed drinking my wine prize and eating Linguica Sandwiches! 

Leave me a comment about your thoughts on my article, or on my photo! 
Have a Remarkable Day!!

Related Links: 

Roaming Through a Mannequin Graveyard... with a Camera
A Photo Journey... My College Career as a Fashion Design Student
The Year I Worked As a Construction Worker...
High Style at The Legion of Honor