There are a few simple things you can do to improve your chances next time you enter a photo competition. James Ostinga and Robert Keeley share seven killer tips.
Entering a photography competition is a great way to sharpen your skills and share your work with like-minded photographers. Australian Photography + digital runs several competitions throughout the year including our free monthly challenge and our portfolio-based Photographer of the Year competition, which last year saw us give away $9000 in cash and more than $5000 in prizes.
So, what can you do to improve your chances of finishing in the winners' circle next time you enter a photo competition? Unfortunately there is no single foolproof strategy, but there are a few simple things you can do to boost your chances…
01 BE ORIGINAL
One of the first things you notice when you have the task of choosing a shortlist of images from a pool of 1000 or so is that some ideas and subjects come up over and over again. If you’re entering a landscape competition with a photo of a jetty at sunset your picture had better be amazing because you can bet there will be scores of pictures just like it. At most, one jetty will make the shortlist. Possibly none, if the subject is deemed too unoriginal. Take the time to consider the theme and develop an original idea.
For our October 2014 Travel competition we received hundreds of images from locations all around the world. Natesh Vallury's 'In the Light of Ra,' stood out from the crowd for its unusual use of high-contrast lighting and its uniquely creative composition.
02 TELL A STORY
Successful photos often tell stories. Not in a "beginning, middle and end" kind of way, but in a way that sparks your curiosity and gets you asking questions. What is their relationship? Why is she sad? Who is the person in the picture on the wall? If you can tell a story with your image, you're well on your way to competition success. If you are entering a competition like Photographer of the Year, which requires you to submit a portfolio of six images, your story telling opportunities are much greater. Each entry in your portfolio is an opportunity to advance your story or idea.
The theme for our July 2014 competition was 'Love'. Sounds easy, but how do you show love in a single photo? Deb Sulzerger's "Shh, Baby is Sleeping" did it brilliantly. The tattoo of the dog, the lipstick marks on the dogs head, the loving embrace; all of these things combined to tell a simple but compelling story.
03 PEOPLE LIKE PEOPLE
Should you include a person in your image? Not all themes benefit from a human element, but many do. People are naturally interested in other people, so including a person in the frame is often a good idea. Take for example our recent 'farm' competition. Three common subjects were farm vehicles, barbed wire and hay bails. Does anyone feel a strong emotional attachment to any of those things? Imagine a weather-worn farmer working on his tractor, then get in close to include his weary face, or his battered hands. Include a person (or parts thereof) and you’ll improve your chances of making an emotional connection with your viewers. And if you’re photographing a face, make sure the subject’s eyes are pin sharp. Eyes are the key to any human subject.
This photo by Hayden O'Neill won our August 'The Sea' photo challenge. The scene is a beautiful canvas of light and colour but it's the inclusion of the surfer, positioned on a rule of thirds intersection, that helps the viewer relate to the scene on a more emotional level.
04 LIGHTING AND COMPOSITION
It goes without saying that lighting and composition are vital to any image. Lighting is often the first thing you notice when judging so make sure you use the best light when you’re outdoors, or you set up an interesting lighting arrangement if you’re indoors. Outdoors, shoot in the early morning or late afternoon to take advantage of the soft light and always be aware of where the main light source is in relation to the camera and subject. Inside or out, experiment with different lighting angles including back and side lighting.
Composition can be truly challenging because there are so many tried and true techniques, and they often work. It can very difficult to think up a new or different composition. So go with the standard ones to start with, then think outside the square (sometimes literally!). Use the standard Rule of Thirds (basically a noughts and crosses grid over your rectangle, on which you can place key subjects at the intersections of the lines). Remember that ‘framing’ a subject within the frame can work, with tree branches, undergrowth and window frames being favourites, and try to use leading lines, where things like fence lines or roads draw your eye into a scene. But once you’ve worked with those ideas (as everybody else has), try some different approaches. Shoot a subject halfway across the edge of the frame. Photograph only the silhouette of a subject. Go in very close, or stand 500 metres away and make your subject tiny within its surrounds. Try all sorts of ideas. Even if they don’t work, they will teach you something.
05 GO EASY ON THE HDR!
How many images have been spoiled by this one simple effect? How much HDR is too much? If the viewer can tell you've used HDR, there's a good chance you've gone too far. The same goes for most post-production effects – if it's obvious, it's probably doing more harm than good. Be subtle – in photography 'less' is often 'more'!
06 STAY ON TOPIC
Every competition delineates what the organisers are looking for, so pay attention to what they are asking you. It’s great to have a lateral idea, but if you’re the only one who gets it, you’ll have an uphill battle with the judges. The idea of specific categories is to pin you down and make you work hard within certain limits, yet still allow you to come up with something creative and original. Think before you shoot. Don’t leave the process of coming up with an idea until the last minute. In competitions, it’s the most important part of all.
07 BE IN IT
The last tip is so obvious we forgot to include it in the original version of this article! (Thanks for the reminder Kit!) You have to be in it to win it. Entering competitions is a great way to challenge and extend yourself. It also gives you some guidelines to work within and most importantly a deadline to work towards. And if you keep trying and you will keep improving! And that is guaranteed.