Thanks everyone. Sure Adespen. A half-hour or so before taking the photo I attended the AIPAD (Association of International Photography Art Dealers) at the Park Avenue Armory, between 66th and 67th streets. It was a good show. I decided to walk back to Penn Station and along the way look for AIPAD worthy photos. I was hoping to channel some of the energy of the show. When I got to the corner of 55th Street, I saw the wealthy lady and the street person, and knew it presented a good photo opportunity.
I adjusted the camera settings on my Rolleiflex 2.8f -- probably 125th at f/8 and moved closer to take the shot. The way the wealthy woman stared me down delayed my taking the photo for a second or so, and in that time the street person spotted me and turned away -- I almost didn't take the photo, as I didn't want a shot of her looking away. However, as I continued my walk I wondered if perhaps that may have been the stronger shot. When I scanned the negative I decided it was. I still can't believe the wealthy woman had a handbag with the words "Look Look Look," that was lucky. I wonder what their stories are, and what the wealthy woman was thinking, who she was meeting, and more. The contest judges were two photo editors from Life Magazine.
It's so hard trying to figure out which photos to submit to contests. You select photos that address the contest theme, you look at past entries, factor in the judge's tastes (if possible), and hope for the best. I've formed a real aversion to photo contests. It seems that they're just ways for organizations to make money. However, in the case of the Gordon Parks Museum, unlike say PDN Magazine, one can justify the entry fee as a way of supporting a worthy cause. Still, $40 is $40.
Earlier on the same day I learned I was one of 16 finalists in the contest, I found out my photos were rejected for a local contest with the theme of patterns. I submitted, what I thought were some beautiful photos that fit the the theme perfectly, and yet the judge selected what I felt were some crappy shots, amongst them a boring shot of leaves. I guess it's only normal to not like rejection. The funny thing was that I thought I was a shoe-in for the local pattern contest, and that I'd never hear from the GP contest.
I don't know what other photographers think about contests, I try my best not to get seduced into entering and spending money I don't have on entry fees that I need for Kodak TMY 120 film and chemicals, and the $10.75 off-peak train each way to NYC -- (where I like to shoot most). I joked with my wife that I really wanted an honorable mention because it comes with a $50 check, and that would cover my $40 entry fee and almost cover the $12.75 it cost to ship the 16x20 print I made with my Epson 3800 to the contest. I agree with the judges decision on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd selections.
What I also found interesting is that when I send e-mails to people on my promo list, I get a better response when it contains being recognized by a third party like a contest or a magazine, then when I send them a collection of better photos, such as a Blurb book. I guess that's human nature.
My take away from all this is that what matters to me and I'm sure a lot of my fellow photographers, that the best way to approach photography is to shoot for yourself, and if you can earn some money to support your "habit," and from time to time get some encouragement and the opportunity to share your work, then that's a nice bonus -- but not the be all and end all.
