I've written a brief article (posted on my blog) in which I offer basic guidance to those considering entering photo competitions and juried exhibitions.
Given that some of these competitions/exhibitions would like you to relinquish your copyright and/or compensation for their use of your photographs - and some charge excessively steep entry fees - my article may prove useful to you. Enjoy, and thanks for reading.
Thanks Michael! A good read and great advice for anyone wanting to enter their images in any competition or juried exhibit.
thanks for posting.
Lon
Posted by David Meeker on May 12, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Michel
Thanks for the tips; I am considering entering a show or two. What have you found is the best way to go if you are entering one picture and have two technically good photos but one is of a subject that is recognizable to judges and the other is not, which would you have better luck entering if subject matter was the criteria?
Hi David: some of the competitions have categories (including Abstract), and most of them permit more than one photograph per entrant. So enter both! Excellent abstracts (unrecognizable subjects/objects) seem to do well in many competitions (especially b/w). Whenever the entry criteria calls for specific subjects/themes, you'd do best to closely adhere to the guidelines. However, don't let it stop you from entering a wild abstract that meets the criteria but is far less recognizable. Jurors like the unique and distinct.
As my article advises, peruse past years winners to see what types of images fare well and to help determine the taste of the judges. 'Standard' nature and landscape images (especially of well-known icons) almost never place in higher-caliber international competitions, so select your more dynamic and distinct photographs for these. Also, there is no harm in submitting the same image(s) to several competitions, nor is there any harm in resubmitting the same image to the same competition one year later, especially if your image received an Honorable Mention or ranked lower than 1st. If you believe that your photograph is a winner, keep at it (as long as you can afford the entry fees!).
Michael, How have you fared with the Art of Photography show? I've gotten invitations to enter for several years now but, because their emails were unsolicited by me, I regarded it as probably a "vanity" exhibit like the invitations I get from the Agoura Gallery (which has been discussed elsewhere in the forums). Have you seen any sales from the Art of Photography show?
Jim: I'd like to tell you that I've made the cut on the Art of Photography show, but I have yet to! (and I've entered all four previous years). I have yet to pair the right images with the right juror, so I'll try again this year.
I have attended past years openings, and it's a very well attended event in a very good location in downtown San Diego. The administrators have put a lot of effort into marketing and publicizing the show over the years. I'd definitely recommend entering.
Discussion
5 repliesGiven that some of these competitions/exhibitions would like you to relinquish your copyright and/or compensation for their use of your photographs - and some charge excessively steep entry fees - my article may prove useful to you. Enjoy, and thanks for reading.
thanks for posting.
Lon
Thanks for the tips; I am considering entering a show or two. What have you found is the best way to go if you are entering one picture and have two technically good photos but one is of a subject that is recognizable to judges and the other is not, which would you have better luck entering if subject matter was the criteria?
As my article advises, peruse past years winners to see what types of images fare well and to help determine the taste of the judges. 'Standard' nature and landscape images (especially of well-known icons) almost never place in higher-caliber international competitions, so select your more dynamic and distinct photographs for these. Also, there is no harm in submitting the same image(s) to several competitions, nor is there any harm in resubmitting the same image to the same competition one year later, especially if your image received an Honorable Mention or ranked lower than 1st. If you believe that your photograph is a winner, keep at it (as long as you can afford the entry fees!).
Thanks for reading, David!
Jim Bullard
I have attended past years openings, and it's a very well attended event in a very good location in downtown San Diego. The administrators have put a lot of effort into marketing and publicizing the show over the years. I'd definitely recommend entering.