Question about photo contests
Oct 1, 2011 17:06:51 #
A question came up on this forum a short time back about photo contests, and some very good links were given. I checked some of these out of curiosity. A few things made me think:
One - there are literally HUNDREDS of organizations having a contest of one kind or other. I've never heard of any of them, which may not mean a thing.
Two - most, but not all, have non-refundable entry fees from a couple dollars to thirty-five dollars or more per image submitted. Lots of contests of any type have fees but some of these seem to be only for those who are REALLY SERIOUS, not casual submitters. Maybe that's the idea!
Three - most of the winning entries are visually stunning! Many appear to be composites, lots of extreme HDR, some post-processed to the point of looking more like fantasy paintings than real photos.
Is this the norm these days? It is obviously acceptable in contest circles, but has the photographer and the photograph been relegated to being merely a seed to be tweaked, burned, dodged, HDR'd and ground through the mill of mountains of high tech software with the final image hardly recognizeable when compared to the original? I understand the concept of art, but has the art of the mind and the skills of the photographer given way to the skills of the most tech-savvy?
I didn't mean for this to be a rant, I really am curious.
One - there are literally HUNDREDS of organizations having a contest of one kind or other. I've never heard of any of them, which may not mean a thing.
Two - most, but not all, have non-refundable entry fees from a couple dollars to thirty-five dollars or more per image submitted. Lots of contests of any type have fees but some of these seem to be only for those who are REALLY SERIOUS, not casual submitters. Maybe that's the idea!
Three - most of the winning entries are visually stunning! Many appear to be composites, lots of extreme HDR, some post-processed to the point of looking more like fantasy paintings than real photos.
Is this the norm these days? It is obviously acceptable in contest circles, but has the photographer and the photograph been relegated to being merely a seed to be tweaked, burned, dodged, HDR'd and ground through the mill of mountains of high tech software with the final image hardly recognizeable when compared to the original? I understand the concept of art, but has the art of the mind and the skills of the photographer given way to the skills of the most tech-savvy?
I didn't mean for this to be a rant, I really am curious.
Oct 1, 2011 17:34:31 #
On some photos, I agree with you.....to me photography should be enhanced if needed, but not overdone to the point where it looks nothing like the photograph....
Oct 1, 2011 18:23:37 #
BetterPhoto.com has a monthly contest with quite a few categories that cover just about every type of entry. The talent is extraordinary and many are just regular folks with a passion. The Grand Prize winner for August is astounding and is worth a look.
Oct 1, 2011 20:12:47 #
Lmarc wrote:
A question came up on this forum a short time back... (show quote)
I stay away from contests that have an entrance fee. I don't know what your reason for entering is but I like the challenge of have my work recognized as good. I beleng to many photographic forums and most established ones hold Weekly, Monthly & yearly contests to showcase their members best work. If you want to look at an outstanding forum with top notch work take a peek at http://www.ShutterFreaks.com. The level of competition is so high there that my one win for photo of the week was a real honor. Joining the forum is, by the way, free.
Oct 1, 2011 20:30:43 #
bobmielke wrote:
quote=Lmarc A question came up on this forum a sh... (show quote)
I just visited ShutterFreaks.com, Bob, and I could lose myself in the galleries for hours. Lots of talent out there...
Oct 1, 2011 21:20:55 #
It's amazing and they are all serious amateurs and pros. No egos, no infighting. Just positive reinforcement and critiques. This forum is kind of like the Wild West in comparison. LOL
Oct 1, 2011 21:35:44 #
Being located in WAY southern Arizona and five minutes from the border, so what's wrong with the Wild West?? :lol:
Joking, of course. I visited that site and they do have some great images! Maybe I'm too much of a traditionalist, but they seem to have a lot of (in my opinion) really over-saturated colors and really heavy on the HDR. They look good, they look artistic, but many don't look natural or even real in some cases. This is one of the sites I was referring to in an earlier post. But I suppose beauty, in any format, is in the eye of the beholder, and I certainly can't deny their beauty.
Joking, of course. I visited that site and they do have some great images! Maybe I'm too much of a traditionalist, but they seem to have a lot of (in my opinion) really over-saturated colors and really heavy on the HDR. They look good, they look artistic, but many don't look natural or even real in some cases. This is one of the sites I was referring to in an earlier post. But I suppose beauty, in any format, is in the eye of the beholder, and I certainly can't deny their beauty.
Oct 1, 2011 21:50:02 #
Lmarc wrote:
Being located in WAY southern Arizona and five min... (show quote)
HDR is a big fad in photography right now. People are exploring its limits and applications. I use it to perfectly expose every corner of a photo. I'm a realist so unless I told you a posted shot were an HDR you'd never guess it. Thanks for looking at Shutterfreaks. It's my favorite site, if I can ever break away from this new one. Nearly 1500 posts in under three weeks is a record even for me. :)
Oct 2, 2011 11:17:56 #
Shutter Freaks. com Great site Bob, thanks for sharing! I'm so glad to find a site that the ppl are so helpful, instead of wasting time searching a never ending google list, ppl here can direct you to some of the best quickly. Internet = awesome but also = exhausting!
Oct 2, 2011 14:17:50 #
Wanna submit to the San Diego County Fair? you gotta pay em to judge your photo before you even get in. Then you gotta bring your photo framed a certain way. Sigma contest is inexpensive at about $4 per submission, wonder how much the take is when the contest runs for 3 months before judging? Me, just not interested in contest.
Oct 2, 2011 15:20:54 #
Hi I did not take your piece as a rant. I think you brought up a valid point about having photographs being morphed into something non photo genic at all.!!! I would like to see some photo contests without that type of editing be allowed. Give the rest a fair shot of winning.
Oct 2, 2011 16:39:38 #
I personally am a photographic purist having come from a film background. That being said, Photoshop ( or whatever program you use to "process' your images ) is now the 'Darkroom'. I use it as I would if I were still making prints in the darkroom. I shoot to create my images in camera rather than relying on PS to 'fix' any images. Unfortunately clients tend to hire graphic artists more so than photographers (which is why you see a plethora of job openings for them) in order to clean up their their lousy images taken with their xmas cameras. Now I love Graphic Artists and have no ill feelings about them but when a photograph crosses the line from a realistic image to an unrealistic one I truly believe its no longer photography but rather graphic art.......
Oct 2, 2011 16:52:32 #
Contests are all over the place. You simply have to find one where you feel comfortable with the other photogs.
I've suggested the following site to several beginners because it's easy to enter and one could potentially earn a little cash for winning the paid contest offered as well.
http://www.i-shot-it.com/
I've suggested the following site to several beginners because it's easy to enter and one could potentially earn a little cash for winning the paid contest offered as well.
http://www.i-shot-it.com/
Oct 2, 2011 19:49:33 #
Hey there shakey shutter (love your persona btw).
I sincerely thank you for the I shot it tip. I checked them out and feel i will be comfortable there.
peace to you and yours,
cj
I sincerely thank you for the I shot it tip. I checked them out and feel i will be comfortable there.
peace to you and yours,
cj
Oct 2, 2011 21:38:21 #
No I'm not paranoid but........
I feel sorry for the good photo contests out there. The bad ones give them a questionable name. They could even be the newest scam and are likely targeting photographers.
Most of them collect money, and that's about all. Others give out a prize and collect money. Often in the small print it says that you give up or rights to everything. ??? I can imagin what happens after that.
Maybe they really do offer a grand prize. Say a $600 dollar (USD) camera perhaps. If they advertise alot and writeup a good story, many people will like what they read.
In an annual contest lets say that 10,000 people in the world send something in. (Not uncommon when you're talking the internet world.) Even if they only charge a dollar (USD) to enter the contest, that means the person or whoever started the contest just made over $9,000. I'm assuming they paid out a couple hundred for advertisment, (should I laugh now?)
Now think about this, very few only charge a dollar. (You can figure the math from there.)
Some might not charge a thing. Sounds good but you may also loose your rights to the image. Talking to a few others, Ive been told me they have found their "high quality photos" for sale on ligitimate stock photo pages.
Since so many are questionable, why bother?
If you only want recognizion, enter your picture in something like a county fair. Some have great competition and bragging rights to boot!
I feel sorry for the good photo contests out there. The bad ones give them a questionable name. They could even be the newest scam and are likely targeting photographers.
Most of them collect money, and that's about all. Others give out a prize and collect money. Often in the small print it says that you give up or rights to everything. ??? I can imagin what happens after that.
Maybe they really do offer a grand prize. Say a $600 dollar (USD) camera perhaps. If they advertise alot and writeup a good story, many people will like what they read.
In an annual contest lets say that 10,000 people in the world send something in. (Not uncommon when you're talking the internet world.) Even if they only charge a dollar (USD) to enter the contest, that means the person or whoever started the contest just made over $9,000. I'm assuming they paid out a couple hundred for advertisment, (should I laugh now?)
Now think about this, very few only charge a dollar. (You can figure the math from there.)
Some might not charge a thing. Sounds good but you may also loose your rights to the image. Talking to a few others, Ive been told me they have found their "high quality photos" for sale on ligitimate stock photo pages.
Since so many are questionable, why bother?
If you only want recognizion, enter your picture in something like a county fair. Some have great competition and bragging rights to boot!
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