Irish Times Amateur photo competition

dinneenp

Hi,

link

There are seven categories - Colour, Monochrome, Open, Travel, Nature, Portraiture, and a Source Magazine category. There will be awards in each category. The Source Category was suggested by John Duncan of the Source Magazine Photographic review: we are asking photographers to submit a series of 5 images that explore a single idea or theme.

The medals for each category have been specially commissioned and are being created by Glass Artist, Peter Maguire.

Reach and recognition

Each week, photographs entered in the Awards will appear in the online and print editions of the Irish Times showcasing individual photographers work - the photographers will be fully credited when their work appears, and the work will only appear in connection with the Awards.

Top 100 Photographers

The top 100 entrants will be short listed. Their work will be published in the awards catalogue. Each photographer featured in the Catalogue will receive a copy of the catalogue

Prizes
€4,000 Prize: €2,000 for the Photogrpaher of the year; €2,000 for the best photograph

There are two cash prizes: €2,000 to the overall winner and the title of Irish Times Amateur Photographer of the year; and €2,000 to for the photographer who takes the best photograph.

We are charging small entrance fee to cover the judges expenses, the costs of the prizes and awards, the expense of running the competition, and production of the competition catalogue
€8 One section,
€14 Any two sections,
€18 Any three Sections,
€22 Any four Sections,
€26 Any five Sections,
€30 Any six Sections,
€34 Any seven Sections

Iancar29

No info on when it starts and when to submit photos? ...

Stephen P

Is it normal to charge to enter a photo competition?

AnCatDubh

Stephen P wrote: »

Is it normal to charge to enter a photo competition?

the exception rather than the rule but not particularly unusual either. pays for prizes, judges expenses, etc...

HungryFish

Anyone know how to enter?

dinneenp

I had that problem in the beginning too.
the enter link is on the right hand side- big 'Enter The Awards' red box.
it looks like an ad though so I missed it at first.

pooch_eire

Anyone know if you still have to use the W(1400)xH(1050) sizing for the portrait section , or can you swap width for height and use it in portrait orientation rather than landscape ???

pooch_eire

Just realised after tryin to upload that image size can be smaller than the dimensions stated so whatever sized crop will work

VinLieger

Hi my dad is looking to enter this, just not too sure on the pixel height and width rule, assume its neccessary to adjust images that are too big? as having a quick look at all his they are all in the 3000 to 4000 pixel range

syklops

AnCatDubh wrote: »

the exception rather than the rule but not particularly unusual either. pays for prizes, judges expenses, etc...

One would think it being The Irish Times Amateur Photo Competition, that the Irish Times might pay some of the money for it.

Adrian.Sadlier

syklops wrote: »

One would think it being The Irish Times Amateur Photo Competition, that the Irish Times might pay some of the money for it.

If it were free I would have my entry in already. But charging ......

The Times will get free content for both their online and print editions...

and there are competitions like APOY run by Amateur Photographer magazine which has 10 rounds with approx £2,000 of prizes per round and £5,000 for the outright winner... and its free....

so maybe I won't enter (anyway, I'm not good enough)

AnCatDubh

syklops wrote: »

One would think it being The Irish Times Amateur Photo Competition, that the Irish Times might pay some of the money for it.

I'm sure they probably are (don't know that but i'd imagine for a large organisation like the Irish Times to move a limb will cost them something or other).

An argument against free entry is if you had it free then you'd have a gazillion images being submitted. Nothing wrong with that if it were that kind of competition - a vote for me on facebook, which can become the most grotesque manifestation of antisocial begging to be found online, and very little to do with photography at the end of the day.

An immediate benefit for everyone is that if there is a small entry fee, the drunken blur induced low light photo shot in the pub photo which looks great at 4am on the night in question, may not actually be put forward for consideration. I also think if you enter a draw, of a kind where someone arrives at the front door to sell you a ticket, they will be doing just that - selling you a ticket to entry in the hope of winning. You choose whether to buy the ticket or not. You choose whether to enter this competition or not.

Granted it is a pity that it will exclude some great amateurs but meh..., their work will probably seen in places anyway and photography ultimately is little about prizes.

There are many other competitions, lots of which are free to enter, and they will attract the all sorts and that's fine too (just be weary of any rights grab).

IMHO, those that have a fee or a niche subject area (for example photo magazine competition without an entry fee) will attract something of a seriousness of intent towards the photographic art and those entering most likely would only put a best image or two forward for consideration. As far as competitions go, to me, such are the important ones if you were forced to opt for one.

All that said, it is extremely nice to see your image printed in the Irish Times - probably a worthy prize in itself (even if your runner up image was soooooo much better than the actual winner )

AnCatDubh

Adrian.Sadlier wrote: »

The Times will get free content for both their online and print editions...

While this is entirely true as per their terms and conditions, it is unlikely to be a motivator in terms of them undertaking the competition.

EyeBlinks

I think the big attraction here is getting yourself in front of a great panel of Judges.

The winner, winners will probably be along the standard lines, but you may just hit a note with somebody

The 5 image series also sounds very interesting.

High Nellie

When entering, in relation to size, it says:
'Image dimension: (W) 1400 pix x (H) 1050 pix.'
Does anyone know if this rules out 'portrait' orientation?

Cosmo K

Hi,


I just entered a couple of images. After uploading my images, I was redirected to Paypal, paid my entrance fee.....and then....nothing. I got receipt from Paypal allright, But no mail from the Irish Times, and I couldn't proceed to step 4. Is this normal???

Cosmo K

update:

all good, just got the confirmation mail from the Irish Times!

dinneenp

I put in some last minute entries as well.
Was a bit confused about the image size too but got my confirmation too

ianofitz

Sorry to resurrect this thread but I also entered the awards. I went onto the Irish Times website this morning looking for the shortlist of the top 100 entries, but i cant find it anywhere. Has anyone seen the shortlist? Would you be able to send me link to it?
Thanks, Ian

Cosmo K

shortlist

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1110/breaking31.html

ianofitz

Brilliant, Thank You

mikka631

I see myself (Nature) and MaggyM (Open and Travel) in there:)
Any other boardsies make the shorlist?

kassie

damit! didn't make it!!!

well done and best of luck to those who have!!!

dinneenp

Something's wrong. I'm looking at the shortlist but can't see my name on it anywhere. (joking)

Is there any page showing some of the photos or is it just a list?

pixbyjohn

dinneenp wrote: »

Something's wrong. I'm looking at the shortlist but can't see my name on it anywhere. (joking)

Is there any page showing some of the photos or is it just a list?

Here> http://skangerland.blogspot.ie/2012/11/amateur-photography-awards-shortlist.html

dave66

pixbyjohn wrote: »

Here> http://skangerland.blogspot.ie/2012/11/amateur-photography-awards-shortlist.html

I notice the Source Magazine category isn't on the list. I'm kinda surprised that the site used for uploads payment etc. doesn't have the list in any form or even a link to where it's shown. The list here http://m.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/1110/breaking31.html?via=mostread now only lists the photographers but no mention of which category they're in.

I would have like to see the Source category shortlist, I had no expectations of being shortlisted anywhere so I was hoping to see what did make it so I could learn what judges liked. I did email support people in picturk.com but no reply as yet, guess they're busy.

YellowOnions

I was thinking the same thing. I'd love to see the judges favorites, to see what their taste is like. particularly that they suggested any kind of photo could be sent in such as phone pictures etc.. Maybe when winners are announced, they'll show runners up photos too.

Even though I wasn't short listed, it is fun to enter these things, just for the fun and interest of it. Well done to those listed

amdgilmore

Some nice entries in the monochrome section. Really like Shadow Man. Would be perfect without the festival chair on the right!

http://s3.amazonaws.com/picturk_dcu/photos/000/016/375/6ae6476d63e2828c9d42bac9c82e0588_original.jpg?1351907897%20

smash

There are some lovely shots there. The likes of this, this, this and this should not be alongside this though.

Mr.Christmas

smash wrote: »

There are some lovely shots there. The likes of this, this, this and this should not be alongside this though.

Links gone

Ben D Bus

This is an amateur competition? Scanning the shortlist of names, I spotted one internationally travelling professional fashion/glamour (as well as the usual weddings & kids) photographer.

tororosso

There was a piece in the terms and conditions that entrants could not earn more than 25% of their income from photography in order to qualify if I remember correctly.

Mr.Christmas

Lots of them are semi-pros. The overall winner is amazing - but some of the choices for individual sections were questionable. The travel winner had nothing to do with the criteria. Still competitions like these suck.