Viewpoint
Entering photography competitions is no substitute for hard work, dedication, patience and honing your craft
You see it a lot online. In fact, if you’re a photographer in 2018, it’s almost impossible to avoid it. The tsunami of competitions with promises of careerboosting, career-making awards, of fame, riches and glory. Surely there’s a catch?
There’s always a catch because there’s never ever a substitute for the hard work, dedication and patience that is the foundation of every endeavour. The catch is that you’re pitched against your peers in, so often, paid competition.
While it might be argued that in an era of faltering, failing traditions within publishing, new options for increasing revenue streams must be sought if an entity is to survive financially, rarely, if ever, are the profits generated from pay-to- enter competitions disclosed. One simple fact is also never admitted – competing will not make you a better photographer.
We are told our work will be judged by the greatest photographers out there; yet, in truth, it seems these ‘top tier’ judges only witness a small percentage of entries. Your photograph was most likely cut by some nameless, faceless and zerocredential office member, not what you paid for! How many times have you seen the deadline for entries extended? It’s not for your benefit. It’s a way to rake in more money or because the competition was failing to generate any money in the first place.
Competitions are focused on the ego. I’m tired of ‘superstar photographers’ where the maker becomes more noted, is discussed more than the work they create and, vitally, what that work is about. I don’t see plumbers being awarded prizes for a successful showerhead installation – it’s just expected.
We are in a photographic culture where competing has become a norm. In truth, these competitions are little more than an X-Factor spectacle that distils us to combatants when we should be a community of peers helping, sharing, supporting, endorsing and passing on. We are invited to submit work into the murky world of competing and so often required to pay for it. There is no real reward nor truth to instant success, and fame should never be the goal. Photographs are so much more important than that.
A good question to ask yourself is, ‘ Why am I doing this?’ For me, photography is not a game, not a sport, not a competition, not a pursuit of self- elevation; it’s a calling. Photography, I believe, is the most powerful communicator we have. Our place is behind the camera. Our photographs shall outlive us all. Images taken to generate likes on social media or applause or ego strokes for the creator always stink of it.
We live in one of the most turbulent times in our history; so much is happening, and much of it on our own doorsteps, in our streets, villages, towns and cities. Photography is not a game and the only place for competition is with the self in the form of honing your craft.
In the now, photography is a duty, to document and expose the moment in visual testimony, both within our present and for the future, so others might learn from our failings.