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First Class Photography: Lesson 12
“What Makes a Contest Winner?”
by Willis T. Bird
Is entering a photography
contest is a good thing? In my opinion, the answer depends on the
person. If you wear your feelings on your sleeve and become offended
at rejection or what you perceive to be rejection, then perhaps you
should stay away from contests. However, if you enjoy the chase and
can look on each contest as a learning experience, then you can gain a lot
from entering.
I’ve entered hundreds of photo contests all over the world. My first experience was at a state fair in Georgia. To my amazement, one of my photos won a second place ribbon and a small check. I never cashed that check, but I certainly did cash the checks I received later! Most of my early contests were held within the club to which I belonged or within local events. As time passed, I joined the Photographic Society of America and began to enter international events through them. I won medals, trophies, and acceptance cards from six continents and more countries than I can remember. These efforts were worthwhile for the pure joy of having my photos recognized, since money was not a prize.
In case you think my experiences in contests were all a bed of roses…let me assure you, they were not. There were many times when none of my photos scored high enough to be accepted for entry. Sometimes the photos I thought were my best scored low. Another contest, the very same photos won ribbons. The photos didn’t change, so what caused them to do well in one place and not in another? People are, of course, human. Judges are people. Therefore, the logical conclusion is judges are human. They have likes and dislikes--just like everyone else. Eventually, I developed a philosophy of contesting. If I entered the same photo a number of times and it always scored low, I withdrew it and took a careful look at it. Why didn’t others see it as I did? Most often, I had to admit that it was my judgment that was at fault. As the years went by, I looked back at some of the photos I had entered and wondered why in the world I ever thought they were good. I discovered that the more photos (mine or those by other photographers) I examined, the more I learned.
You feel a sense of
pride and exhilaration when you win a ribbon or some other recognition at a
photo contest. The award doesn’t necessarily mean that your photo was
the best, but it does mean that your image struck a good nerve with the
judges. Having anyone admire your work is enough of a prize for most
people. You don’t have to have a ribbon to prove it. But money
is always nice.
What does it take to be a winner? Because everyone has an opinion, the answer can vary. In general, however, look for something that makes your photograph different and original, something that makes it stand out from the others in the contest. There can be many excellent sunsets, but if you have one with a particular feature--a palm tree, a flying bird, or a sailing ship on the horizon--it may click with the judges as being beyond the ordinary. Also, remember to use vertical photos and not just horizontals. This alteration alone can make your image stand out. Finding a separate expression can be as simple as that.
Look for the spectacular. Be ready for it when you set up to take photos of air shows, boat or auto races, football games, and other events. The photo I’ve included of a boat flipping over, throwing the driver out, was accomplished through careful planning. I knew from experience that most of the action happened on the first and fourth turns of the boat race. I set up my tripod and trained my 500mm lens on turn four. The result, a photo I’ve entitled “Trouble On Turn Four,” has won numerous awards. It’s not the sharpest or most colorful photo in the world, but it has action and captures an event you don’t see every day. I kept looking into my lens every time a batch of boats rounded that turn in the race and kept my finger on the “trigger.” When the accident happened, I pushed the button and held my breath until the slide came back from the processor. I wasn’t sure that I had caught what I hoped I’d caught. There were several other photographers beside me at the time. All of them stood with their mouths open, watching the event. None of them caught it, because they weren’t prepared.
So, if you look for the
unusual, the different, or the unexpected, you’ll have a head start on the
others. Also, a dramatic or moody photo that evokes emotion gives you
an advantage. The lines in the face of an old person or the happy look
of a puppy can do the job. There are lots of photographers who can take
excellent photos, so you have to look for something to set yours apart.
Be humble and appreciate any compliments that come your way. Don’t permit yourself to be sullen or unhappy if you don’t win this time or every time. You won’t! No one does. Learn from the experience. Look carefully at those photos that do win. See if you can determine why the judge picked the ones they did. They, like you, choose the pictures that they feel did the best in that particular show. Another judge might make an entirely different selection.
Believe it or not, one of the very first precautions you must take to give yourself a chance to succeed is to read the contest rules completely until you understand them. If they specify matting sizes, then make sure your photo meets the requirements. Some contests mandate certain types of framing--or none at all. Perhaps the photos must have been taken within a certain time frame. Make sure your photo fits the category you’re entering. Many people tend to ignore the little rules and find their photos thrown out. Be sure that whatever you enter meets the basic requirements.
Many photographers can’t stand the heat of the criticism or the disappointment of losing a contest. These people should not enter. There are other challenges they would enjoy and benefit from more. But if you like to feel the thrill of victory and can take the “agony of defeat,” then contesting may be for you. It can be an excellent learning experience.