Awards & Accolades
Awards Shortlist
Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
Master of Photography (2015) – one of the youngest recipients in history.
For four consecutive years, Bobby Wheat outscored many of the world’s most established fine art photographers in the PPA International Competition, the most prestigious juried event in the field.
Platinum Photographer of the Year (2014)
Gold Medals (2013, 2016)
Silver Medal (2015)
Multiple Loan Collection selections (the competition’s highest honor), including Linear Antiquity, Sierra Sunrise, New York, Emergence, Sleeping Giants, Pristine, and others.
Perfect Score (100/100) – PPA Western District Competition (Cold Activated).
International Recognition
Smithsonian Wilderness Forever – Lonely Road Top 100; Pristine Finalist (2014).
Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPOY) – Summer Dream Shortlisted Finalist (2012); Semi-Finalist for multiple works (2011).
International Color Awards – Winner, Nature Category (Emergence, 2015).
Certified Sommelier
In 2019, Bobby passed the rigorous Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Exam, a three-part test of theory, blind tasting, and service. The achievement represents not just wine knowledge but the discipline, patience, and consistency that also define his photographic process.
Awards (Full List)
2016
Induction | American Society of Photographers (ASP) (for PPA Masters only)
GOLD MEDAL | Professional Photographers of America (PPA) International Competition
"Linear Antiquity" | Gold Medal + Loan Collection (Highest Honor) | PPA International Competition
"Sierra Sunrise" | Gold Medal + Loan Collection (Highest Honor) | PPA International Competition
"Top of the Morning" | Merit | PPA International Competition
"San Clemente" | Merit | PPA International Competition
"Chicago No. 1" | Nominee | 11th Annual Spider Awards
"Hoover Dam | A Historical Work of Modern Art" 3 Image Series | Honorable Mention | International Photography Awards (IPA)
2015
MASTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY | Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
SILVER MEDAL | Professional Photographers of America (PPA) International Competition
"Lonely Road" | Silver Medal + Loan Collection (Highest Honor) | PPA International Competition
"Surf Silence" | Merit | PPA International Competition
"Pacific Splendor" | Merit | PPA International Competition
"Heat Waves" | Merit | PPA International Competition
"Emergence" | Winner (Nature Category) | International Color Awards
2014
PLATINUM PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR | PPA International Competition
"New York" | Platinum Medal + Loan Collection (Highest Honor) | PPA International Competition
"Emergence" | Platinum Medal + Loan Collection (Highest Honor) | PPA International Competition
"Sleeping Giants" | Platinum Medal + Loan Collection (Highest Honor) | PPA International Competition
"Grand" | Merit | PPA International Competition
"New York" | Bronze | Epson Pano Awards
"Pristine" | Finalist | Smithsonian Wilderness Forever International Competition
"Lonely Road" | Smithsonian Top 100 | Smithsonian Wilderness Forever International Competition
"New York" | Honorable Mention | IPA One Shot: One World International Competition
2013
GOLD MEDAL | PPA International Competition
"Cold Activated" | Gold Medal + Loan Collection (Highest Honor) | PPA International
"Pristine" | Gold Medal + Loan Collection (Highest Honor) | PPA International
"Guiding Light" | Merit | PPA International Competition
"Forever Fall" | Merit | PPA International Competition
"Cold Activated" | Top Score (Perfect 100/100) | Professional Photographers of America (PPA) Western District Competition
"Pristine" | Bronze Award | International Loupe Awards
"Battle for Season's Change" | Honorable Mention Trees | IPA
"From Here to Eternity" | Honorable Mention Sunset | IPA
"Sleeping Giants" | Honorable Mention Trees | IPA
"Guiding Light" | Honorable Mention Sunset | IPA
"Pirouettes" | Honorable Mention Trees | IPA
"Goodnight Moon" | Bronze | Epson Pano Awards
2012
"Lost in Venice" | Honorable Mention | IPA One Shot: The City International Competition
"Streets of Venice" | Honorable Mention | IPA One Shot: The City International Competition
"Lonely Road" | Bronze Medal | Loupe International Medium Format Awards
"Summer Blues" | Bronze Medal | Loupe International Medium Format Awards
"Pirouettes" | Silver Medal | International Loupe Awards
"Colors of June" | Honorable Mention Landscapes | International Photography Awards (IPA)
"Colors of June" | Honorable Mention Historic Architecture | IPA
"Streets of Venice" | Honorable Mention Cityscapes | IPA
"Streets of Venice" | Honorable Mention Historic Architecture | IPA
"Gateway to Paradise" | Honorable Mention Bridges | IPA
"Tree of Light" | Honorable Mention Trees | IPA
"Summer Blues" | Loan Collection (Highest Honor) | PPA International Competition
"Primal Pathways" | Nominee | 7th Annual Spider Awards
"Summer Dream" | Shortlisted Finalist | Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPOY)
"Summer Blues"| Excellence and Top 20 Images of 2012 | Professional Photographers of America (PPA) Western District
2011
"Summer Dream" | Bronze Award | Loupe International Medium Format Awards
"Summer Blues"| Honorable Mention | International Photography Awards (IPA)
"Out of the Ashes"| Honorable Mention | IPA
"Cold Activated" | Semi-Finalist | BBC's Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPOY)
"Out of the Ashes" | "Razor Light" | "Heat Waves" | "Serendipity" | Accepted WPOY
2010
"Gateway to Paradise" | Awarded Honorable Mention and Published | Photographer's Forum Best of Photography 2011 International Competition
2009
"Lost in Venice" | Published Finalist | Photographer's Forum Best of Photography 2009 International Competition
2008
"Snowy Solitude" | Published Finalist | Photographer's Forum Best of Photography 2008 International Competition