These days, with the advancements in technology, more and more people are buying cameras. It’s easy to own one because of the improvements in ease of use and maintenance. We don’t have to buy rolls of film just to use a camera. It’s also easier to take great pictures because we can preview the image, and if it’s not up to standard, it can be deleted with just a press of a button. No film is wasted, and the photos come out as we want them.
It’s normal practice to bring a camera every day, especially those that are compact and lightweight. This is so that every important moment is captured and thus, preserved throughout time. With this in mind, more and more people are getting interested in photography and enjoying it. Even non-professional photographers can take very good pictures, and there shouldn’t be any surprise if there are more people who join photography contests, whether it’s for the prize, the recognition, or just for fun.
If you’re one of the many people who enjoy photography, and someday you hope to enter and win a contest, here are some photography contest tips and advice:
Follow all the rules of the contest
There is always a different set of rules for every contest, and you should be aware of the first and foremost. Familiarize yourself with them and follow them to the letter. You might not understand why some rules are there, but don’t assume you can disregard them. They are there for a reason. It’s better to follow the rules rather than have your work returned to you because you did not follow the rules.
Research on past entries
Researching past winning entries will help you learn more about the contest and its standards. If you know more about the criteria and the judges’ basis for a good photograph, you’ll have a better edge against the other contestants. You also might get inspired by studying the past entries.
Study the categories
There are different categories in every contest, and you must consider the requirements of each before submitting an entry under the category that you’ve chosen. Your photograph should be focused on the category’s topic. Many entries get disqualified for not following the requirements, and it’s sad because the photographer may be talented, but the entry is not even seen by the judges because of a technicality. For example, some categories might require your picture to have a few items at the background of the photograph’s main focus. One missing item may hurt your chances in the contest.
Consider your work with a critical eye
You might have a photograph that you’re fond of. You might even consider it as your best because of its meaning to you. Remember, your contest entry will be judged by many different people who are strangers to you. They don’t know the story and circumstances behind your favorite work, and they don’t care. They are also given a set of guidelines in choosing entries, and each of them has unique standards. If you want a good chance of winning, better submit photographs that are good on all technical factors. For your entry to stand out, your subject should be doing some actions. A subject that is doing something is more noticeable and has more depth compared to a subject that is on a pose.
Send only your best work
Some contests allow multiple entries, and if you plan on submitting more than one entry per category, it’s better to submit just a few of your best work rather than a lot of entries that include a few decent, but lackluster, photographs. This is to protect how the judges think of your best photograph. If you include a few second-rate photographs, chances are the judges’ opinion on those photographs might dampen their opinion on your best entry. Instead of your best photograph standing out, it might get buried under the mediocre ones.
It’s easier now to take pictures, and it’s even easier to prepare for a contest if you only study how. Apply these photography contest tips and advice, and improve your chances of winning a photography contest.
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