Jeff Wenzel, owner and photographer at Above Topsail, has been awarded first place in the Children/Babies Portrait category at the annual Professional Photographers of North Carolina (PPNC) photo competition.

Competing against more than 250 entries across various categories, Wenzel's winning image is a black-and-white portrait of his son, Deacon, according to a news release. The photograph was originally a test shot in Wenzel's studio, 301 U.S. 17 South in Holly Ridge.
 
"I asked my son to stand in my portrait studio and let me take some test shots to ensure my lighting was locked in before the high school senior arrived," Wenzel stated in the release. "I took one picture, looked at the back of my camera and dismissed my son. It wasn't until I was reviewing the images from the senior's session that I noticed just how good that throwaway test image was. I cropped it, made it black and white, and texted it to my wife."

Wenzel received the award at PPNC's annual award presentation in July.