I got an email with a frequently asked question about photography competitions. Are they worth the time and money?
I’ve got some thoughts to share with everyone on this.
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Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
2830 S. Hulen, Studio 133
Fort Worth, TX 76109
USA
My name is Ted Forbes and I make videos about photography. I’ve been making photographs most of my life and I have a tremendously deep passion for photography that I want to share with you on YouTube.
The Art of Photography is my channel and I produce photography videos to provide a 360 degree look into the world of making images. We all want to get better so lets do this together!
I make videos covering famous photographers, photography techniques, composition, the history of photography and much more.
I also have a strong community of photographers who watch the show and we frequently do social media challenges for photographers to submit their own work. I feature the best and most interesting on the show when we do these so come check it out and get involved!
I have had many compliments on my wildlife photography, but as you said, it's all about social media. I just can't do it. I don't feel comfortable constantly updating, responding, and making videos. You are GREAT at it….but I'm just stuck in the old fashioned world it seems. Still out there getting good images, and that's going to have to be enough for me.
Most of the competitions I've entered have turned out to be great ways to relieve myself of $30 to $60. That said, I did have one image selected by Black Box Gallery in Portland, OR, which selects photographers' work via a series of continuing juried group shows. It was $30 to get in and my one image wound up being made into a cheap print, but the print wasn't displayed during the show and, instead, wound up in a flat file drawer. Needless to say, on my rather limited fixed income (I'm retired), I've decided that route isn't for me anymore. Stock photography has been more promising, though, especially via EyeEm Market/Getty Images, through which I've had several sales over a period of about four years.
I don't use photoshop and unless you use a these and totally change your image ….you don,t stand a great chance of winning anything…..photoshopped images have become the norm….I know it's a mute point .but what's the point of a photo if it doesn't tell the truth. Competition judges have become blinded by photoshopped images……
Well said Ted.
Thanks Tedd for all videos. I have a question. How can I show my work to people? Social media is great but does it value?
They can be worth it. I have had friends whose whole career kicked off from winning a 'big' competition, this week I ended up a finalist in an Architectural comp which was on the BBC website and that has led to me quoting for some work. Should you rely on them, nope. But are they worth it? Can be. Select a couple that 'fit' you and your style and take it all as a pinch of salt. There are a couple of really big comps like the Sony's that are free and worth a punt. I tend to look at comps that would help my career, will only pay for certain ones, wont pay for ones that ask for e.g.: £30 for first image and £20 for each additional images. You wont get feedback, but if you do make it to a final or winning it can drive a heck of a lot of traffic to your social media accounts/websites
some are worth it… as a few years ago l entered Intel photography and video competition of videos l make on my utube channel with regards my art in Mendi (body art).. l made up my own video to it… and was quite surprised to have chosen as a semi finalist and than as a Grand Prize Winner…. so rewards are paid off for your hard work… ( l received goods to be worth £3,000 pounds from Intel)……
Well said! I never thought of it quite like that before.
I feel the same way about juried art shows too. Much time and effort (and money) goes in and the results aren't the greatest. My opinion is similar in that you can showcase your work on,one now. It's not easy to gain followers but at least it's a captive audience that you create for yourself.
You are right… things have changed a lot ….
I think that, if you are happy to give away what ever rights you have to give away on an image for these competitions, then i don't see what wrong with it if you are trying to promote yourself. Also, the self satisfaction aspect of it surely out weights everything else? I mean, i wouldn't find myself thinking i was better than i am, i would just be stoked to have a piece of work published in a publication like that. But hey, i'm just a happy amateur that's happy to get 1 or 2 "likes" on social media now and again.
sometimes, contests are just fun.
I honestly did not know about contests like these (not located in US). I would argue having to pay for these defeats the purpose, especially having social media. So yes I agree with your assessment here. Great video.
Do you think it has become necessary to edit pictures in Photoshop for them to be considered great? Is it possible to make great photos without retouching them?
Few years ago I realised that this whole idea of being successful and respected in photography was my absolute least favourite part of it. I decided that it wasn't the right career for me and also stopped pursuing competitions and stopped trying to network and get into publications. Instead, I now just shoot my work and share it on my blog, my YouTube page and my website. That is enough for me and I'm way happier not trying to compete. Competitions were 100% not worth feeling like I was crap at my craft (for a price) when the desired outcome was only something I'd been told I should want anyway.
Ted, I entered B&W this year due to the audience they market to. I want to get my work in the hands of collects and that's their business. I was featured in a showing in NYC this year and just had a stellar portfolio review that I'm hopeful will get a showing in the near future. I figured it may be time to get collectors putting eyes on my work. As always thanks for the great content. JW Purdy
Social media is definitly changing a lot of these things, but it also brings in some more shady activities like the one discussed on photographer Dragana Jurisic Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/dragana.jurisic.54/posts/10154525903124400
Here´s my point in all of this. Someone is making a lot of money out of hopeful amateurs, and probably proffessionals, in the global photography community. Or?
My comment from the FB disussion above:
"If we do the math, these are numbers to look at. Let's say that u have a
functioning platform like an webmagazine or portal. Or are just great
with internet and computors. And then u create a purely digital
competition. No physical gallery, nothing that includes costs for your
self, except jury fees. And u can fake them too by the way. We're
talking about a global targetgroup here. Who knows everyone?
So u have the technology, no new costs there. U charge 30$ per entry
and succeds to attract 5000 persons. That's 30$ x 5000=150.000$! I
think these are quite low numbers, so if u pick up your calculator u can
easily see how big this can get. And with zero transparancy no one have
to know that u're just a single person in a livingroom with
computerskills. How's that for a thought?!"
I agree with you 100% I'm so glade you talk about this topic. Having your work judged is dependent solely upon the judges ability to judge and I find they are all over the board. At times their selections just don't make any sense. Example is I entered a color print with great tones of color and got 2nd place. The 1st place selection was a black and white print with a dash of red representing 1% of the print. That made my head spine and I still can't get my head around it so, I stop entering. The judges only comment was I had a nice frame. Great work Ted.
Hi Ted, wanted to let you know that this is probably the best video i've watched of yours to date. I'm not sure if it was the subject matter necessarily but i found the relationship you have with one of the publications, that came about due to following in your father's footsteps, really breathtaking to watch. I found myself completely taken in by your storytelling. Keep up the great content, yours sincerely, Eoghan – a happy subscriber!
How can a committee judge how one conveyed her/his moment's feelings in a photograph?
A committee can only judge the technical aspects, but artistic aspects are personal and can only be appreciated, not judged.. That's my humble opinion.
Hii @TheArtofPhotography! Please take a look in my work: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brunokaiuca/
Totally agree with you. Paying for a contest/publication is not the way it should be, but the other way around.
I enter a couple local competitions each year because they keep me connected to the local community. But in general I agree with you. It is a mistake to judge your value as an artist by entering contests and we live in a different world.
I have decided not to enter competitions for two reasons. One, I don't think the kind of stuff I love to shoot would win any awards (long exposure black and white cityscapes) and two I'd much rather concentrate on honing my skills and finding my voice, than trying to fit in our shooting specifically so I could win a prize.
Perhaps if you mentioned THE COST involved……30 bux, sure.
200.?…..forget it.
Another thing not being discussed is the (possible) rights given up via the entry form.
Etc etc etc
Your question is Tantamount to….."Is buying a car a good idea.?"
I think as long as the cost isn't too prohibitive, it can be worth it. Publications have costs to cover. In the poetry and fiction publication world, writers have to pay to get your manuscript in any decent contests that would lead to publication.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on juried group shows in galleries and museums. These have costs but in my small town, it's the only way to get my work in front of an art audience.
I feel like contests are very subjective and it's rare to see someone with no outside influence to the judges win. There are a handful of talented photographers where I attended school that have won numerous awards at PDN and other outlets but the kicker is also our chair knows everyone in that specific industry as well. An advantage sure, they are still amazing photographers but there is def an advantage if you are in specific circles.
I never pay to enter a contest. To me, it's an absolute waste of money and the photography business has become hard enough not to waste money in any mean. You have to pay for your living, home, food, bills and of course, photo gear and everything you ever need to make your customers happy, eventually classes and workshops to improve your photography. Don't waste your money on entering contests. Not only do they steal your money, but if you are selected, they might use your work royalty free. In the end, you are the loser anyway. Audience is great, but audience alone doesn't pay your bills.
Question is if you pay a submission fee/entry fee for exhibit or contest, do you consider that at the very least "supporting the arts"?
Exactly, that I feel. Thanks Ted 😉
I just don't think I could put up money get my work seen. I would want to take any money I might have and invest it back into my photography. Cracking social media is plenty for me as I'm already paying for an Internet connection 🙂
contests are funny ….but don't try to make it your bread and butter……that's the best way or my way of looking at it …… not for recognition but just for the shear excitement ….and energy of being apart of it all…… remember it all about the photography and your art…..not what someone is paying you for….that is the relevance of contests if you do it for any other reason your going to get discouraged and depressed…..I have seen some amazing photos lose compositions so you have to keep that in mind……your going against other artists it's not that there's is better it's that there's is different you know the way they see it face it you know if 100 photographers had the same set you would get 100 different photos it's the artistic impression you leave behind in your photo
For such discussions – I think it would be great if you could also represent/include people from other sides.
You of course said you've tried:
– Judging
– Entered : didn't win
Maybe interview others who have:
– Entered : Won : Didn't see any benefit
– Entered : Won : Saw significant benefit
This may be a bit cynical, but what about Terms & Conditions of a contest, where you pay them a fee, and then give them rights to publish your photos. For the top winners this may be a good thing, but what about the majority of people who lost?