birds.photos

This year I was named as a finalist in the Wildlife Category of New Zealand Geographic Photographer of the Year for my image of a splashing kakīānau (black swan). To have reached this level is something that has been a goal of mine for several years, and to have achieved it is a proud moment.

Photography competitions get a lot of flak directed at them. Some say you can’t rank art or turn it into a competitive sport. They say judging processes are flawed and disadvantage originality. I’ve even been known to say some of these things from time to time.

So why do I enter competitions? Because, for me, they are useful motivation – one of the things that make me get up when my alarm goes off. Sure, I could go back to sleep, but if I do this could be the morning when something incredible that nobody has seen before happens out there and I can’t capture an award winning image of it from my bed.

But the bottom line is I’m driven to become as good at this as I can possibly get. And if that’s my starting point, the key question becomes – how do I know how good I am at any given time? The only answer I can think of is by seeking the opinions of others. So how should I do that?

One way is to put work on social media and seek validation from total strangers who may or may not know anything about what they are looking at. That way lies madness.

Another is to seek out other artists whose work I admire and ask for feedback from them – a good way to go, but it’s also an extremely brave thing to do. How do I know they are adept at delivering feedback constructively and with empathy? Not all artists are equipped with such skills. What if someone I look up to is scathing of my work?

Another way is to enter competitions that are judged by accomplished photographers. They are, like it or not, as sound a way to measure yourself as there is. Does winning the Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year make you the best wildlife photographer in the world? No. But being on the shortlist means you are definitely up there with the best.

One caveat is I personally don’t like competitions that give detailed feedback – it tends to be more discouraging than helpful. I prefer it when you are simply either shortlisted or not. That alone tells me if I’m on the right track or the wrong track. If it’s the right track – I can keep doing what I am doing. If I’m not at that level, leave it up to me to figure out why that might be and make a plan to improve.

I like New Zealand Geographic because in spite of not having made the shortlist multiple times, I have always been able to look at the work that did make it and get a good understanding of why mine isn’t amongst it.

There are definitely pitfalls to be weary of. I only enter competitions that are judged by photographers who are of a standard that’s at or higher than my own. And never let the competition dictate your style by trying to create the images you think they want. Not all competitions will have judges that understand and respect the sort of work you do. It’s important to find the ones that are the right fit for your style and keep being uniquely you.

I do understand and sympathise with the idea that photographers shouldn’t see each other as competition – and in my experience I don’t think many of us do regardless of whether or not we enter competitions. Funnily enough, I don’t believe competitions stoke competition with anyone but ourselves if we use them as a tool to make our own work better. If anything, they foster collaboration.

For example, last night, at the awards ceremony for NZ Geo, I spent quality time with several wonderful photographers who are at the top of their art form, and who I wouldn’t have otherwise got the chance to meet. Nobody was looking at anyone else as a competitor. We all just wanted to talk about what we do. For me, there’s nothing more inspiring and stimulating than that.

I didn’t win or pick up a highly commended or runner up award, but I honestly don’t care about that. Being there was what meant the world to me.