Entering a photo competition improve your skills!

How can entering a photo competition improve my skills?

Entering a competition may seem daunting, but it's one of the best, most rewarding experiences you'll have as a professional - and as an artist.

You might be fearful, afraid of competing against other photographers, but in reality, you are competing against yourself, that is, you will improve and you can measure that improvement from competition to competition and from year to year.

Entering a competition pushes you as a professional photographer by letting you put your skills to the test. Find out what you're capable of while learning new skills and honing old ones. Interact with your peers.

You can also use the publicity from these image competitions for news releases and to impress clients.

Learn from watching critiques
These critiques are 5-10 minute videos which give you advice from qualified jurors on how to improve the quality, impact, and technique in your submitted images. Participating photographers offer up their critiques for the benefit of others. Learn from watching critiques

Not sure about what prints to pick for competition?  Consider using our free service the "Master's Mentor Critique Forum".  Click here to get the info on this truly awesome service provided to CTPPA members for FREE!

A Mind Map of the 12 Elements on PPmag.comLisa Dillon, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, and Bryan Welsh, Cr. Photog., API, share a fresh perspective on PPA's International Photographic Competition. Specifically, they look at the "12 Elements of a Merit Image" in a new light.

They write:

If you're new to image competition, it can feel like a game. It's possible you have only a passing familiarity with the 12 elements of a merit image. Yes, the list is displayed at every image competition and a short description of each element can be found on the PPA website. But do you really understand what they mean? Do you understand how they underpin one another and build upon one another?

Rather than looking at the elements as a checklist, Lisa and Bryan created a mind map (a diagram used to visually organize information) for a unique take on these elements and how to succeed in the IPC.

Read their fascinating article, "A Fresh Look at the 12 Elements", at PPmag.com today!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeqmyE-JNz4

Image Competition Mentor Program

Image Competition Mentor Program

Entering print competition? Here is a free service that can help you to save time and money. For those of you who are sitting on the fence, not sure if you should enter, or even if you want to enter print competitions, this could help you to take that first step.

"The Master's Critique Forum" is a mentoring program being created by Nancy Holowitz, Master/Craftsmen, Honorary Educational Degree ASP. Nancy has volunteered her services to host a site to help us as photographers in selecting the right images for print competitions. She is networking with well known Masters to help you submit images for CTPPA and national competitions.

Critiques will address numerous issues such as basic composition, impact, color, cropping, matting (should there be a mat or will it detract from the image),... clothing choices, and props (are you using too many?).

Having trouble deciding which image to select from a recent session? Nancy suggests that you select 3 or 4 from that session and the Masters will help you to figure out which one to submit to the print competition.

Review the 12 Elements of a Merit Image, select 1 to 4 images you would like the Masters to critique, then send an email to Nancy using the following email address and instructions. E-mail your submissions to jack.holowitz@verizon.net. Please type CTPPA Critique in the subject heading. Send your images for critique as attachments. Nancy can also be reached via phone at 413-739-3480 or 413-433-3480.

Expect a truly honest opinion of your submitted work(s). Although emailed submissions initially go to Nancy Holowitz, she will not be the only Master Photographer reviewing and critiquing received files. Please note that this service is currently being offered for free, however, that may change down the road, so don't hesitate to take advantage of this now.

The 12 Elements of a Merit Image

The 12 Elements of a Merit Image

The 12 Elements of a Merit Image:

1. Impact: Compelling images evoke emotion—laughter, sadness, anger, pride.
2. Technical Excellence: The quality of the actual image as presented for viewing. Aspects such as retouching, sharpness, printing, color, and exposure should be spot on.
3. Creativity: The image is original, fresh, and an external expression of the maker’s imagination.
4. Style: The subject matter meshes with the presentation. Style can also include the characteristic ways that an artist applies his or her specific lighting, posing, or compositional style to underscore the desired impact.
5. Composition: The visual elements of an image come together to express intent, whether that’s to please the viewer or otherwise. The viewer’s attention is captured and directed where the artist plans it to be.
6. Presentation: The way an image is showcased gives it a finished look. Everything in the presentation—mats, borders, color choices—should work to enhance the image.  
7. Color Balance: Color work together to evoke feelings in the viewer. For example, it can bring harmony to an image and enhance the emotional appeal. It can also be incongruous to arouse diverse feelings.
8. Center of Interest: This is where an image’s creator wants a viewer’s attention focused. There may be primary and secondary centers of interest. Sometimes all the elements in an image work together to create the center of interest.
9. Lighting: The image demonstrates excellence in the use and control of light, whether natural or additive. Light informs dimensions and shape, sets tone and mood, and enhances the image.
10. Subject Matter: The subject matter is central to the story being told, so the subject should sync with the story.
11. Technique: The approaches used to create the image—lighting, posting, capture, presentation—work together to be effective.
12. Storytelling: The image evokes the viewer's imagination. While the act of creating is a personal thing, so too is the act of viewing. Each image is a story, and the one it tells a viewer may be unique to that person.

A Mind Map of the 12 Elements on PPmag.comLisa Dillon, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, and Bryan Welsh, Cr. Photog., API, share a fresh perspective on PPA's International Photographic Competition. Specifically, they look at the "12 Elements of a Merit Image" in a new light. They write:

If you're new to image competition, it can feel like a game. It's possible you have only a passing familiarity with the 12 elements of a merit image. Yes, the list is displayed at every image competition and a short description of each element can be found on the PPA website. But do you really understand what they mean? Do you understand how they underpin one another and build upon one another?

Rather than looking at the elements as a checklist, Lisa and Bryan created a mind map (a diagram used to visually organize information) for a unique take on these elements and how to succeed in the IPC. Read their fascinating article, "A Fresh Look at the 12 Elements", at PPmag.com today! 

Watch these PPAedu videos, taught by Michael Timmons M.Photog.M.Artist.Hon.M.Photog.Cr., CPP, F-ASP, that explain the 12 Elements of a Merit Image in more detail:

• The Twelve Elements of a Merit Image: Part 1
• The Twelve Elements of a Merit Image: Part 2
• The Twelve Elements of a Merit Image: Part 3

This article originally appeared on Professional Photographer. Take a closer look at the 12 Elements of a Merit Image in this article.