Sophomore’s photo places first in Microsoft contest

Colin Miller ’11 takes his camera with him everywhere he goes, is constantly experimenting with new techniques, and seeks out feedback, even if it’s negative, from professional shooters so he can continually improve his game. His talent and tenacity were recently recognized when he was awarded first prize in the Sports & Photojournalism category by Microsoft in its International Future Pro Photographer Competition. The competition received 13,000 submissions from 92 countries.

Miller and the other three winners, who hailed from San Francisco, England and the Netherlands, were flown to the 3rd Annual Microsoft Pro Photo Summit July 9-10 on the Microsoft Campus in Redmond, Washington for an all-expense paid trip to receive their awards.  Miller, a Political Science and International Relations major from Lorton, Va., shot the award-winning photo of football players scrambling for the ball at his high school.

A self-described activist for human rights and the environment, Miller views his photography as “a way to see things that others can’t see or won’t see, either in their own back yards or internationally. It’s a great way to open people’s lives.”

He has also expanded his hobby into a part-time business, shooting weddings, trade shows, sporting events and concerts. His photography has been exhibited in homes and art exhibits throughout the metro area. Five photos of his have been selected to be exhibited at Shandong University, China, this year as part of an international competition of photographers.