The HP contest

I was curious what everyones thoughts where on the contest Jim annouced. I can see both sides myself, but I was curious what everyone else thought.

Since I'm not a "professional" I will probably enter. I've only made a few very small sales and don't have time to work on marketing my images, so a $1000 "sale" would be wonderful for me! I can see both side too, so I guess it just a personal decision. I'm interested in other opinions too, so let's hear them!

As a working professional, I am against it on principle. It might seem like a small thing, but for an industry, it's death by a thousand cuts.

Since both of you are my friends, however, and you're going to enter, I hope you both win one of those damned printers!

I'd sure like to have one of those printers and be chosen. I don't know much yet about everyone else's previous experiences but my first reaction is (ok 2nd) it would be so cool to be in a HP ad for more exposure. But then I remembered I was told before winning a local 2005 photo contest that being chosen can help a local photographer get noticed. I won it again in 2006 and it still hasn't helped! My point is :the printer maybe the only tangible pay off. Really something to think about.

Leann, If you win and give HP the copyright to the image, they have no obligation to include your name with the photo when they use it. Of course, you can tell people it used to be yours Another thing to consider, you can be assured the winning images will be ones that print well--but you won't be able to sell prints of the image. That right will belong to HP. As for the idea of sending images that would probably not see the light of day anyway (that idea was espoused in the thread in the GD gallery), does anybody really think HP is going to pick so-so images? You can bet they'll be show-stoppers and show-stoppers are worth a hell of a lot more than $1000.

Lori

Lori,
Very good points!