In the last week i’ve had three photography compeitions brought to my attention… unfortunately me being me i can’t work out what i want to submit, so thought writing about it might help:
Who: IdeasTap/Magnum photos
Theme: Future – life after 2012.
Deadline: June 14th
Suggested by: Donna
Description:
Applicants must create a set within their IdeasTap portfolio containing five photographs (no more, no less) that show a vision of the future after the 2012 Olympic Games. Interpret the theme as you see fit.
Successful applications will be creative and striking photographs that catch the judges’ eyes and demonstrate photographic skill and understanding. The five photos in your portfolio must demonstrate your ability to tell a story with your images.
Prize:
We’ve teamed up with Magnum Photos to bring IdeasTap members the ultimate photographic competition.
The overall winner will receive more than £10,000-worth of prizes, including £5,000 cash and a £2,500 budget to produce their dream photo essay.
They’ll also win an eight-week paid internship at Magnum in London, followed by a week at their New York studio to produce their own In Motion essay.
That’s the overall winner – but all shortlisted candidates will receive expert mentoring and their work will be printed, framed and exhibited by IdeasTap. They’ll also receive a published book featuring their work.
Categories:
Photojournalism
Environmental photography
Conceptual art
Rules:
Up to 5 photos, in any or all categories.
My thoughts:
Obviously i’d just be going in for photojournalism and/or environmental photography but currently i don’t have a camera (it got a little bit broken) so can’t go out and shoot specifically for the very specific theme. Also, because it’s a photo essay, the images should be linked. I am thinking about using images of rubbish in and around the Thames for environmentalism, arguing that after 2012 we’ll have a lot of junk floating around from the extra tourism. It’s an idea more tied to the category than the theme, but it’s the best i have for that category, and i’d rather enter 5 images backing a weak idea than no images…
For photojournalism i’d use shots from the London Marathon and some cycling photos, citing the Olympics as invogorating people to be more active. I think i have some strong shots for this category and the idea is a solid(ish) one.
Who: Fight for sight / Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
Theme: My view of London
Deadline: June 11th
Suggested by: Anna
Description:
With its beautiful buildings and vibrant street life, London is a stunning and iconic city, providing endless photo opportunities. Submit your favourite view of London to win a great prize.
Prize:
The first prize is a three-night stay for two people in a Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London penthouse suite with breakfast daily. The prize includes dinner on one evening at the hotel’s brasserie and dinner on one evening at the Ichi Sushi & Sashimi Bar, as well as two 60-minute spa treatments at the hotel’s spa.
The winner is responsible for all other costs incurred including but not limited to travel to, from and within London, spending money, further spa treatments, beverages and meals other than those stated above. The prize is subject to availability and must be used by 30 December 2010.
2) Second prize is a £350 voucher from Jessops
3) Third prize is a £100 voucher from Jessops
Categories:
People
Places
Escapes
Rules:
One entry per person in one category.
My thoughts:
I can’t even decide which category to go in for on this one. For this competition you can see entries which have already been submitted. While most of my photos of London are of places, this category is saturated, and there’s some really strong competition in there. Put simply, if i were to enter in that category, i have no chance of winning it. The escapes section is currently the weakest, but i don’t have many images i feel accurately portray escapism in London, the best thing i have is staged/was a special event:
So if i don’t go with escapism, that leaves people, for which i would enter one of the following:
Who: The Guardian / South Africa Tourism / National Geographic
Theme: Unspecified
Deadline: July 3rd
Suggested by: Dad
Description:
As the title suggests, we’re looking for a photographer – but not just any old photographer. We’re after someone who can do justice to South Africa’s stunning scenery, wonderful wildlife and fabulous people.
…
The photos you submit need to capture one of three themes – action, landscape or people. You can only enter one photo for each theme. Three category winners will each receive a book of Alf Khumalo’s photography. One of the three will be chosen as the overall winner.
Prize:
The lucky winner of this competition will win a two-day masterclass with professional photographer Alf Khumalo in Johannesburg, followed by an all-expenses paid trip around South Africa as the official photographer on an all-action adventure tour. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: expect high-octane excitement and the chance to take some spectacular pictures. The winner will spend around two weeks in South Africa, departing the UK no earlier than 25 August 2010 and returning no later than 12 September 2010. The precise dates will be confirmed shortly.
The best of the images taken in South Africa will be displayed in the National Geographic Store on Regent Street, London, in October.
Categories:
Action/Adventure
People
Landscape
Rules:
One entry per category.
My thoughts:
This is another competition where you can see the images that have already been entered. Currently there aren’t too many entries, but i suspect that will change given the prize and the deadline. As a result i can’t base too much on the current content, but the landscape section is the strongest, with much weaker people and adventure sections. I’m not crazy about the action/adventure category. The blurb says action but the category is marked adventure… while i have a few action shots, i feel i’m somewhat lacking in adventure. That said, i think this is pretty much my only subject matter that screams both action and adventure:
I feel like landscape is a no brainer. There are already some great landscape shots in there, but i feel this shot can hold up against them:
Though that said, i like the picture due to the spectacle of the shot and the landscape isn’t really the main focus of the image, so maybe it’s not the right image for the job and a simpler more down to earth (literally) landscape is called for:
But are sunsets too clichéd? most of the photos i have that would be landscapes are actually cityscapes, because there isn’t a huge amount of land left in London, or at least, not many rolling hills and valleys that i would consider to truly be a land-scape. If it boils down to no sunset, no buildings then the only real landscape i have is this:
… and that’s a. Boring and b. Licensed to Getty so i’m not sure i can enter it anyway! >_<
If i thought landscapes were tricky, people is trickier, and so broad. From their description and gallery they're looking for an image which tells a story about the person in the frame... here are a few i am considering:
So to sum it all up… i don’t really know what i’m going to enter for half of these :/ But i feel a bit better now that i’ve laid out some thoughts ‘on paper’.
P.S. You’ll notice i’ve not linked to any of the competitions, this isn’t because i’m being sly and hoarding them, a simple google of the descriptions/organisations will reveal them. I am doing it to avoid any trackbacks from their blogging software appearing. If any judges were to see a track back and click through to this thought process it might open me up for disqualification.
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