Photo Competitions

Fresh Faced + Wild Eyed - http://ffwe2013.thephotographersgallery.org.uk/

One of our first sessions involved a presentation on Fresh Faced and Wild Eyed, a photographic competition. The sixth annual exhibition FreshFaced+Wild Eyed once again showcases the talent and diversity of photographic practice emerging from BA and MA courses across the UK. Following an online application process this year's panel of judges selected outstanding work for the exhibition and online gallery. It is interesting too see that previous winners of this competition are now judging future contestants. This seems too be quite a relevant and interesting competition to get involved in and suits those looking for recognition in the photography world.

Due too one of my developments being too enter more competitions, I thought it wise to research into various other's photographic competitions around the UK. 

World Photography Organisation - https://www.worldphoto.org/competitions/ 

World Photography Organisation runs several different photographic competitions with the company Sony. Ranging from Sony World Photography Awards 2014 - Open Competition too there Youth Award. Here are the requirements and award for the Open competition put on for amateur photographers 

"Are you an amateur photographer or a photography enthusiast? If so, then this is the competition for you! 

The Open Competition offers 10 diverse categories for you to enter, ranging from Action to Travel. As a Basic Member, you can enter up to 3 photographs for free, submitted into one category or spread across multiple categories. 

Increase your chances by upgrading to Advanced Membership (enter up to 8 images) or Premium Membership (enter up to 20 images).
Photographers of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels are invited to enter this competition where great imagery is everything, and creativity is the key ingredient!"

I have looked for evidence of a prize for the open competition but had no luck finding one, however, the recognition from the award at an amateur level is worth more than any amount of money in my opinion. 

For the Professional Competition here are the requirements needed: 

"Are you a serious photographer with a true passion for the job? Do you understand the craft of taking pictures, documenting a story, conceptualising an idea, capturing emotions and evoking a response from those who view the finished product? 

Submit your best work for the chance to become the next Sony World Photography Awards, Professional Photographer of the Year and win our most coveted prize, the L’Iris d’Or, along with prize money of $25,000. 

Important points to note:

• Submissions must be based on a body of work.
• Photographs submitted in to a category must be from the same body of work and will be judged as such.
• Images entered in to the Professional Competition must have been completed or first published in 2013.
• First published in 2013, means that the photographs entered may have been taken before 2012 but due to having been commissioned by a client to be published in 2013, have not been publicly exhibited or published in any online or print media before 2013. For more details see the rules below" 

As you can see there is a substantial amount of money and the coveted prize, the L'Iris d'Or.  

One of the main competitions for students that caught my eye was the Sony World Photography Awards - Student Focus 2014. Although this competition has now been closed for judging it is still a very relevant competition for someone at my level. Here are the requirements for the competition: 

"The 2014 Student Focus Competition Brief was:

Enter an image for the front page of a newspaper.  

This image can be sensationalist or low key, from a local cat rescue to an international environmental concern.  It can document your family, your friends, your neighbourhood, your people, your country or your world but it must make us want to learn more.

Most of today's front-pages are made of pixels rather than paper, but they still have to do the same job they've been doing since 1880. They have to tell us a story in one frame and they have to make us want to read on and ultimately, buy the paper.

Draw attention to an issue that means something to you. Create tomorrow's news in one image.

Captions may be no more than 15 words" 

The Big Picture  - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/hubs/thebigpicture/ 

Coming away from the more coveted awards for photography, there are competitions ran by various newspapers, for example, The Telegraph want our best holiday photographs for the chance to win a £300 worth nikon camera. Prizes are not what is relevant in photography competitions, more of a bonus. What I am personally after is recognition, so perhaps this competition will not be the best for this, however would give me the opportunity for my name to get recognised.