![]() ![]() When I come across a competition that I want to enter, I try to get it over with, fast. It doesn’t mean your photos are not good enough! A lot of times-if your work is good-it just meant you weren’t lucky enough to be picked by the judges. I would definitely recommend entering photography competitions but you have to know what to expect and don’t be discouraged if you enter a dozen competitions and you don’t win one. You have to force yourself to look at it with the eyes of somebody else and that way, you learn a lot about your photos. Getting exposure is not the most important reason. I like to enter photography competitions because it makes me look at my own work differently. Some are pretty expensive to enter and I try to avoid those because it feels even more like a lottery. It also seems like photography competitions are becoming an industry. That doesn’t mean I don’t enter competitions but just like Instagram and other social media, I try to make them a less important part of getting exposure. It’s nerve-racking and consumes precious time! Selecting one of your photos and being happy with your choice before you enter it. Researching what kind of photos they’re looking for. Yes, they’re great for getting exposure as a photographer if you win but on the other hand, it’s a lot of hard work to enter a competition. That's why I have mixed feelings about photography competitions and awards. Your Photos Don’t Have to Be Spectacular Mixed feelings.Studying the judges? Maybe, but do you know what kind of photo they will pick based on their own work? Maybe they like something completely different. Sure, you have a better chance if you pick the right photo for the right competition but most people who enter know that. So, in the end, it depends on the judges to pick a winner out of a bunch of photos that are equally great-even if you don’t win, it doesn’t mean your photo wasn’t good enough. The thing is, even if the photo you enter is great, it will be great together with dozens of other photos. I’m a hundred percent sure that if you’d show all those photos to different judges, the outcome would always be different. Do you think the photo picked as a winner out of-let’s say-100,000 is truly the absolute best one? Can’t be. ![]() Now, I can’t say how much your chance of winning depends on luck but I think it’s significant. I have had various solo exhibitions including most recently at the Leica Gallery, London and also a Fine Art Installation at The Eagle Ale House in support of CAMRA and the pub.Ĭommissioning clients include: The European Parliament, Grenson Shoes, Big Al's Creative Emporium, Watchable Films, Big Machine Record Label Group, RKCR/Y&R, Honda, Grazia Magazine, Omobono Advertising, The East of England Development Agency, IFRA (The International Fragrance Association).In my opinion, a factor that people tend to forget or ignore is luck. And I've even won awards in a few of them! I have been featured and have exhibited in shows including Prix de la Photographie Paris (Px3), The Creative Review Annual Awards, Fuji Distinctions, The Association of Photographers Open Awards, The Photography Masters Cup, Life Framer and Lens Culture. ![]() I recently was honoured to win the Leica / Street Photography International Award 2018. ![]() My photographs sell as open edition and limited edition prints in various sizes and have been bought by collectors in Switzerland, France, Italy, Greece, California, Singapore and the UK. My street photography was featured in The Guardian Online here: I am also a member of the Millenium collective and am represented on the site. The Photographers' Gallery, London Art Unlimited, Amsterdam Saatchi Online and. My work is represented in galleries and websites worldwide including I have been a full time photographer since 2005.Īnd I don't just shoot with a pocket camera… And I hope that as a collection it can be seen that it is the power of the idea that runs through my work. My photography is mainly about spontaneous, unplanned, found (although actually I think they are 'given') moments that just happen and are beautiful or poignant or funny. Since then I have never been anywhere without a pocket camera because, as they say, the most valuable camera you own is the one you have with you. When I got my first job as an art director at Saatchi & Saatchi in the early 80's, I invested in an Olympus XA, manual focus, manual exposure, Zuiko lens and one of the best compacts I have had. My 20 years in advertising certainly weren't a distraction from my fascination with photography, they were an amazing investment in working with great people (and great photographers) and especially in learning about both the power of simplicity and the power of the idea. ![]()
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