Two Sisters Doing What!

Running to the beach shop, running away from home, running for fun? Oh come on, you cannot be serious about this picture being a winner of any sort. There is no indication of where it was taken, no engagement at all with the subject, one person is blurred (different from movement) the horizon isn't straight. I could go on but really BJP if this is the standard of photography you are supporting then it really is time for us al to pack up and call it a day. After all, why pay to enter a competition where this represents what the judges judge to be a winner?

I'll wait...

I've only been doing photography for about a year, so I think I'll wait until I have a strong story and a great set of images before I enter. I have some stories to research. I'm not sure about Ray's comment on this though. I think the photograph is lovely. Did Ray even read the caption under the photograph, it tells you where they're heading and where it is; did Ray even check out her website, look at the entire series, watch the documentary about her ... I could go on really.

Yes, I did.

Yes I did read the photo caption, but for a photograph to stand out you shouldn't have to and in this case they are running to an underground bunker which you, of course, can not see. Hence my comment that they could be running to anywhere. And yes I have seen the related pictures and web site but I am not commenting on them. I am commenting on the fact that for me this picture just does not stack up. If people think its lovely that's fine by me. I just don't see anything to make this picture a winner in such a high profile competition. It's a grab shot that got lucky.

N/A

Ray, I suggest you put your camera down or stump up a fiver and enter. Its very very easy to critique a single image from a series, even easier to do so on the internet. But if your judgement of a good photo comes down to strait horizons... On a personal level all the things you feel are negative about the image I believe to be positive. Its emotive and mysterious, forces the viewer to ask questions and work, think to derive meaning. It almost feels like a Casper Friedrich painting.

BJP/IPA Deadline extended

The information for the 2012 competition above states the deadline is 15/9 but the competition web site has just changed to 1/10.
Can anyone clarify which is correct?
Thanks.

Where does this work take us?

Here's my problem.

Not the pictures per se as I love them.

It's obviously 6x6 medium format and colour neg film. That's a given to win competitions & be viewed as a serious photographer today it seems.

No, what I have an issue with is this: where does it lead? Where's the income from this work?

I note she has added but one set of images to her web site an that's not good enough to earn a living as a full time photographer.

And let's not forget, she's represented by an agency.

I went to the Frontline Club with talks from V11 the conflict agency plus Getty Reportage and it's clear there's precious little money in this soft editorial work. No one is buying it. No one is commissioning it.

One of the speakers had devoted a whole year+ to photographing the Brits drinking at events, all for what, £3k-ish. He was holding down a part time job at Capital radio in the kitchens if memory serves.

Just be aware...

As an aside, there are a few other items you should be aware of.

1) this is for a set of images to be printed LARGE and exhibited. Thus your file sizes need to be good enough = not 35mm (?).

2) If you look at previous winners of the series category, you will note there is not a focal length above 50mm (35mm). And possibly nothing below 35mm or 28mm.

3) Only colour.

B&W seems out of favour which is a crying shame since documentary photography (story telling through a progression of images) was originally B&W and yet we seem to have headed down the colour path almost by default.

Perhaps someone will have the courage to reverse this trend? Colour can be so diversionary, and distracting.

There's a purity in visual story telling when it's uncomplicated by colour details. Bring back Lee Friedlander & Elliot Erwitt's halcyon days.

Get with the 21st century.

Ray and Dan et al. I have no wish to be critical but are you guys serious? Have you read or looked at any documentary image since the late 70s? What has a strait horizon and all these 'technique' concerns have to do with photography? Anyone can produce sharp images with all the rule of thirds and all this stuff that has never had anything to do with photography. This is a competition not for high street photographers. As for 'documentary' again, that has nothing to do with black and white or this definition "story telling through a progression of images" which went out the window with Eugene Smith and all the other macho 'I feel for the subjects' bull. My advice: Enter the competition but ditch all the assumptions you have about what makes a good image. As David Hurn said years ago, Its about the subject. the fact that this image could have been shot anywhere is part of its strength. Any photograph hides the mark of its own making. Is any photography 'true'. No.

Bizarre tirade!

"Enter the competition but ditch all the assumptions you have about what makes a good image. "
In deed that would make for a worthwhile submission. A sound usage of funds.

By viewing what has won previously, always helps I find. Add to that, what is in vogue and what's making the news in such magazines as the BJP and you might on the right track.
You seem to have taken from the above very little, all you've done is tell us what not to do, a tirade of negative comments, at least I had the gumption to asses what has gone before and what is in vogue (prescient I think) & arrive at some conclusions.

Your post is worthless as it stands.

Vogue

As Ansel Adams said "If it's not in the picture, what the hell are you talking about".
How can anyone disregard Eugene Smith, Cartier Bresson or any of the other great photographers. Mind you, Cartier Bresson also said that your first 10,000 pictures were your worst.