Pro Photo Contests (a rant)

[Storm11]

Any of you other mags enter professional photo contests? PDN, World Press Photo, etc?

And of those who do, how many of you, upon seeing the 'winning' photos often shake your head and say, "seriously....?"

Seems to be happening more and more recently.... my case(s) in point:

World Press Photo, just announced yesterday. 1st place Sports Action.
http://www.worldpressphoto.org/index...bandwidth=high

Caption reads: Freeride competitor Philippe Meier chased by an avalanche, Flaine, France, 15 March

Now, I know that I, as a skier and ski photographer, probably know a hell of a lot more about the sport than any of the judges and thus know that he probably just stomped the cliff huck and the "avalanche" is actually just sluff coming off the cliff, but even then, the composition is not that great (the skier has no where to go in the frame) and it's pretty damn obvious he burned the hell out of the skiers jacket, boots, etc. A decent photo...yes. First place worthy in an international competition.... I don't think so.

Case 2:
PDN's World in Focus. Also announced yesterday. In the category of "Extreme Exploration"
(can't link to the photo since the gallery is in flash, but can be found here.)

WTF? HOW is THAT a contest winning photo? I don't get it. I'm sure that's not even the best photo submitted taken in Chamonix... and not even the photogs best photo FROM Chamonix (quite possibly his worst even).

Anybody else look at such contest winners and scratch their heads or is it just me?

[grizzle6]

Yeah man. For me, photo contests are an anomaly. Simply put, they are so subjective--
I really think as long as it's a solid image, anyone could win on any given day. It just depends on whether you strike a chord with any particular judge or judges on that day.
The skiing image that won is pretty mediocre--would definitely consider it a throwaway or 2-star frame for me. The penguin shot is pretty cool I think--a little frustrating that you can't see the mountain tops in the BG, but the FG is sweet.

I have been extremely frustrated with contests in the past--so much so that I just quit entering. It would be one thing entirely if I felt my imagery wasn't up to par, but I know (through sales, professional feedback, and ruthless self-criticism) that it is.

Interestingly enough, I just entered my first contest in several years and today is the day they announce the winners. Below are the images I entered in categories Landscape, Water and Man & Nature respectively. Wonder if I'll get a phone call...

[Storm11]

Ooops.... sorry, should have clarified which photo in that PDN contest.... it's the 5th photo in the Extreme Exploration or just select Kfir Bolotin from the Winners column. The penguins (and every other shot in that category is a winner), but the Chamonix shot is TOTAL and complete crap.

My boss entered the same category with these two shots.... tell me how Kfir's shot comes anywhere close to these?

(wait until after the intro or skip it)
http://gunnarconrad.com/#mi=2&pt=1&p...2&p=1&a=0&at=0
http://gunnarconrad.com/#mi=2&pt=1&p...0&p=1&a=0&at=0

Nice submissions by the way Adam... which contest?



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[supermodel159]

Do you have your Singh-Ray Density filter on in this pic?

[blockp]

Nice pics. Especially like the shot of the GG. Very nice indeed.

Makes my dabbling look like child's play.

[Keegan]

I hear you on the contests. I know it's getting bad when they even advertise photo contests on facebook! sheesh.
Probably the thing I hate most are the rights people sign away by entering/winning the contests. Read some of the fine print on image rights and it'll get your blood boiling.

[Storm11]

It's getting better as far as fineprint goes though. Yes, a lot of amateur contests are still pretty bad, but ASMP, PDN and the like keep a pretty close eye on contest wordage and either pressure the contests into changing their image rights or warning as many photogs as they can if they can't achieve the previous.

[CG]

Simply put, they are so subjective

Agreed, My wife is painter and it has become clear to the both of that judging in very subjective and political all at the same time. It's all about who you know.

[grizzle6]

Ironically enough, I just received a phone call letting me know one of my photos won an award. Don't know which photo, don't know which award. Can't attend the awards ceremony tonight, so I guess I'll find out soon enough...

[Tippster]

FKNA, ADAM!

[uglymoney]

Ironically enough, I just received a phone call letting me know one of my photos won an award. Don't know which photo, don't know which award. Can't attend the awards ceremony tonight, so I guess I'll find out soon enough...

Bump for update. All of those pictures are stunning.

[grizzle6]

Bump for update. All of those pictures are stunning.

Thanks man. I couldn't attend the awards ceremony, so I'm still waiting to figure out what I won--can't find the results anywhere online. Thinking they'll probably post them tomorrow as it's really the first work day since the winners were announced. Will post when I find out.

[grizzle6]

So I found out I took 3rd place in the landscape category with the Snow Canyon image and I also received the Allen's Camera Excellence award for my SF image. Stoked for sure. They only give that Allen's award to three images in the entire show, so I'm pumped. Will be headed down there to check out the show some time soon and get an idea of what the other winners look like. If you're around Provo, the contest is at the Bean Science Museum.

[pechelman]

snow canyon = the first pic?
if that won third, i sure as hell want to see the first two, cause your entry was stunning.

there a website for this contest?

[grizzle6]

snow canyon = the first pic?
if that won third, i sure as hell want to see the first two, cause your entry was stunning.

there a website for this contest?

There is a website, but they it's pretty bare bones. You can find it here, but I don't think they even have any of the entries/winners from this year up yet. I'm interested to see 1st and 2nd as well...but for a category that surely saw hundreds of entries, and for my past record in contests, right now I'll take a third and that other award and be content (but not for long )

[hdcb166]

Yeah the second one is total bullshit,what was up with that? ... a 9 year old who can aim a camera could've taken that
And although the first IS a f***ing cool picture, its zoomed in quite a bit
I think it couldve been a lot better zoomed out to show the scale of everything and also where he was skiing into ...
Well, I don't know much about photography but thats what I see anyways
And I laughed at the " Phil Meier escapes an oncoming avalanche !!! " as well

[bean]

Kfir's picture is fucking garbage.