PRO COLUMN
BPOTY’s Rob Read discusses what makes a competition-worthy image
Coordinating a competition that has quickly established itself globally is a responsibility that I take seriously, especially as I form an integral part of the judging process. One must never forget that photography is subjective; polarisation of opinion among competition judges is common. Therefore, it’s important to keep an open mind when deciding which images are destined for the cutting room floor, and which are worthy of further consideration, particularly at the early stages of the selection process.
So, what are the ingredients for a winning image? A difficult question that has no direct and simple answer. But there are pitfalls to be avoided if you want to do well, and some common successful themes that can be identified. So here are a few pointers.
Remember the definition of the word ‘competition’. Your images are competing with thousands of others – it needs immediate impact to stand out. Be ruthlessly self-critical. Is that image really as good as you think it is? Is it as near perfection as it could be? If the answer is no, then it probably will be from the judges too, and they will choose a competitor instead.
Often photographers will have taken a series of similar images in a session. Select the ‘standout’ image and don’t be tempted to enter a series of similars in an attempt to hedge your bets. This dilutes the impact and decreases the chance of success.
Study both the competition rules and category briefs meticulously and think about your selections carefully – correct interpretation of both are critical to success. Time and again I see great images entered in the wrong category, something I find desperately frustrating.
A common mistake is for entrants to try and emulate images that have performed well in previous competitions, something that sticks out like a sore thumb. By all means take inspiration from past winners but develop your own unique style and create something new.
Most importantly the judges are looking for originality in the approach and perfection in the execution. When you have been exposed to as much photography as I have, there is a rather arrogant temptation to believe that you have seen it all before. Every year in BPOTY this arrogance is humbled by something spectacular – I’m looking forward to those humbling images appearing on my computer screen again very soon.