On whether or not to enter photo contests
Recently, I've been participating in several photo contests by submitting my work, and I aim to make this a more common practice in the future. Sometimes I have a photo that seems appropriate to me, and recently I thought: I'm just going to give it a try. Are you considering this as well? Below are my thoughts.
The initial task was determining which photo contests I could enter. While I was aware of the most popular ones, I discovered there are actually hundreds of contests available. My challenge was to differentiate the worthwhile contests from the less notable ones. I wanted to ensure participation was meaningful. I compiled a list of promising contests. In my selection process, I considered the quality of winning images and the rights granted over submitted photos. Some contests are free to enter, while others require a fee for a certain number of photos. A modest entry fee is acceptable, but it shouldn’t be excessive given my slim chances of winning. Overall, the search process was insightful and enjoyable. I discovered that analyzing past award-winning images provided greater photography inspiration than platforms like Instagram.
My expectations were and remain modest. Considering that the selection process involves multiple judges with diverse tastes in style and subject matter, and given the fierce competition at esteemed photography contests, it's a daunting challenge. I often question whether my photos can hold their own against such talented photographers—sometimes I doubt it, but that might just be a touch of insecurity.
Nonetheless, I chose to take a chance, particularly when I saw a contest and found a category with a description that instantly brought to mind one of my pictures from my recent trip to Iceland. I first thoroughly examined which images had been awarded or selected in the past, tried to evaluate my own photo impartially, and decided to gamble, knowing that if it didn't pan out, nothing was lost.
Much to my amazement and pleasure, a few months after that, I received a message in my mailbox: my inaugural entry (the photo below, submitted to TPOTY) was listed as a finalist in my category. While I didn't take home a prize, I was already thrilled by the recognition.
Finalist Travel Photographer of the Year 2024
Selected as one of the finalists in the 'One Shot - Escape' category. This photo was taken in August 2024, from Mount Bláhnúkur, in Landmannalaugar, part of 'Fjallabak Nature Reserve' in the highlands of Iceland.