Research into professional contexts: competitions

James C sent an email with a link to a list of photography competitions from Format Magazine. From the list there is a few that I am interested in, both free and paid. I have only ever entered the D&AD competition a couple of years ago which was a requirement from a brief in year 1. I understand that I should have entered much more by now and still have time to do so... So I will try and enter at least one from the list. 

From the list straight away I see the International Photography Award. The entry fee is $15 per image for students. The winner is published in the IPA Annual Book of Photography, organised to go on a touring exhibition that goes all over the world and a large cash prize. There is a good variety of categories for photographers of all levels. 

The cost isn't so bad as they've discounted it for students. This is affordable for 1 or 2 images. It's also a benefit having a variety of categories engaging with a wider audience. If I had entered this competition, which the deadline was the 15th March, I would have entered images from BA3a as I believe they are the best to what I have completed so far within my practice and having no specific area to target towards I believe they would be accepted. I will present the images later on during this post. 

Foam Talent Call is for photographers aged between 18-35. It has helped launch the careers of numerous talents around the world by giving their work exposure and recognition. The entry fee is €35 with a prize of publication in Foam Magazine, featured in the Foam Talent Exhibition. This is an opportunity for emerging photographers. My work has a better chance of being seen perhaps seeing as their is a restricted age range. I would assume they would have not so many entries if there was no age restriction. 

#FotoRoomOPEN finished on the 30th March, however it says with more contests throughout the year. If you apply to be a member the price comes down to €10 for an amateur. The prize for this current competition is $1000 and three Format Pro plans for category winners. Anything can be submitted to this competition. 

At the moment all of the competitions I have mentioned are of all categories in photography which is great as I haven't got to stick to a particular brief but also not so great. Being open to so many different categories there is less chance of my work being spotted and acknowledged. Perhaps entering something like Foam Talent Call with an age limit or that is for documentary photography or portraiture then I don't think I would have much luck. 

Shoot the Frame features monthly photography contests. One to keep an eye out for as you can submit to portrait, landscape and wildlife categories. Portrait and landscape is within my documentary practice and a benefit as the categories are more specific in comparison to the few I've looked at so far. The entry free starts at $10 for one image. The prize includes publication on Shoot the Frame's website. 

British Journal of Photography Breakthrough Awards is open to current BA and MA students. This would be great exposure and especially for students starting their career. I have previously looked at this competition before spotting it on the email James sent. Starting at £10 for a single image really isn't so bad at all, going up to £40 for two series. The winners have their worked showcased at the BJP-produced Breakthrough Awards showcase in East London and is also published in their print magazine and online platform. And lots more... This is certainly one I should considering entering, and if I was to enter I would be entering my strongest image which is the portrait of my grandmother. 

Within the email there are so many more competitions to consider. For my particular practice I believe I would benefit by entering competitions specifically for students or documentary photographers. It would give me a specific target audience who would be more interested in that category and perhaps slightly easier for my images to be acknowledged. It's engaging with a wider audience in the sense of one particular audience interested in that category. By entering a competition it would certainly give me exposure and perhaps build my confidence up if I was to ever get picked. I would certainly consider the job of a photographer more having that boost!

Below are some of the images I would potentially use to enter a competition with besides any new work I am currently working on. I was really pleased with the outcome of BA3a and would say that it's possibly the best work I have ever created during my practice. Especially the portrait of my grandmother I am particularly pleased with.