As I sit at my computer going blind spotting some scanned images I'm send
to Santa Fe Workshops for their first competition, I reflect on the "why."
Those who have been around for a few years, know that on occasion I get on
my "Enter a Competition" soap box. This is one of those time. Visualize
me about 12 inches or so off the ground, atop a soap box. Got it? OK,
here we go.
It gets you off your butt and doing something about which you are required
to think. Oh, it also requires you to have a camera in your hand. It
encourages you to hone your skills.
It trots your work out in front of some other folks. A juror. The public.
Your friends, if you tell them about it. Regardless of what one is up to,
it helps to propel the venture when you have gone public with it. It has
one no longer being the surreptitious photographer.
It exposes you to the work of others.
It may bring you some recognition, a few shekels and maybe even part of
your 15 minutes of fame.
It supports those who support the photographic community. We have all
heard others say things like, "I'd never enter a contest that required me to
pay an entry fee!" My question would be, "Why in the world would you not do
so." Is it not the galleries, organizations and others that sponsor
competitions that also support the photographic community. If one is not to
pay
an entry fee, then my question might be, "Who is going to pay the
juror/jurors, who is going to pay for the overhead of the gallery, who is going
to
pay for the prize monies, who is going to pay for the opening reception, who
is going to provide space for workshops and other events, etc." I guess
the question is about the photographer being on the playing field or being
in the bleachers. I know where I'd rather be.
Yes, I'm in a current show, have submissions to a couple of others and will
send my entry in to Santa Fe Workshops' this afternoon. I'd encourage
others to do the same. You might be surprised where it might take you. In
this case it might take you to Santa Fe for a wonder week of fun and
learning. Check it out.
_http://www.santafeworkshops.com/contest/_
(http://www.santafeworkshops.com/contest/)
<{B^) Bill Barber
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