BetterPhoto Q&A
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Other Photo Contests

brendan

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May 15, 2005

http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/qnaDetail.php?threadID=8433>

Personally, I don't that the time to manage more than one site. Betterphoto is the best imho...

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May 15, 2005

Submission requirements vary depending on the show and you should get and understand the rules for it thoroughly before preparing anything for it. The following are what I've found to be fairly common across all the shows I've seen. In general, be ready to make some large prints and be ready to learn salon or gallery presentation for properly mounting, matting and framing them (salon only requires a mat; gallery required framing the mounted and matted print). Usual minimum print size is 8x10 inches. Due to salon/gallery space constraints for "installing" the show, there is usually a 16x20 inch maximum for the complete work when mounted and matted (and framed for gallery presentation). The majority of submissions are 11x14 or 11x16 prints with a few 8x10 or 8x12.

I strongly recommend seeing a competitive photo show before entering one. It will give you an idea about what is considered acceptable presentation, and about what looks "cleanest" (provides separation from surroundings and doesn't distract from the photograph). Presentation cannot make a photograph win anything, but it can make one lose.

A modest entry fee based on the number of works submitted is common practice (limit is typically one to four works). This pays for the ribbons, an honorarium for the judge, and for the equally modest prizes. Don't expect to make money competing in these. A 1st Place will usually recoup the entry fees and leave a little beer money in your pocket. A Best of Show will leave a little more beer money in your pocket than a 1st Place.

Yes, it's a little more work than submitting a digital file to an on-line competition, and one spends more on preparing the work than one can win (except *perhaps* a State Fair 1st Place or Best of Show). Even if you decide it's not something you want to compete in, at least go see a few. The strong ones that require salon or gallery presentation, are well installed in the salon or gallery space by the organizers, and have stiff competition can be quite impressive to see. There's nothing quite like walking into a well organized salon or gallery filled with large, excellent photographs.

-- John Lind

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May 15, 2005

brendan

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May 16, 2005