Yes, I believe the contests are fixed to some degree. I don’t blame the organizers or the judges necessarily, it really comes down to the herd mentality of the photography business.
First, you have the taste of the judges. Many are hiring from the same pool of photographers and even if they are not there’s the simple math that if two judges kind of like something, then they agree and you have a winner. As opposed to one judge loving something and another hating it. That would be the loser. Add into this the simple economics of the photography business where the people in charge, the owners CEO’s, CFO’s and EIC’s, define successful photography as photography found in successful magazines.
Second, you really can’t look at contests as a source of new talent. They really amount to a nice group back slap for another year in the business doing good work.
"...it really comes down to the herd mentality of the photography business...."
Wow. Just wow. So true, and damn brave thing to say considering how closed the business is.
"...the owners CEO’s, CFO’s and EIC’s, define successful photography as photography found in successful magazines...."
Well, there is that too.
"... They really amount to a nice group back slap for another year in the business doing good work...."
Just like the Oscars and Emmys and Music awards. Yawning and fawning over each other while sycophantic fans march in lockstep adoration of such mediocrity that it makes me sick.
1 comment:
Be part the contest for fun and professional networking. Your own opinion of your art work is the only one that matters.
Post a Comment