Recently in Competitions Category

There are a lot of photographic competitions out there. It's easy to get lost trying to decipher what goes where and when and why! Here's a quick update, so you don't miss any deadlines:

• Northcentral District Competition
  Registration closes February 16!
• Western District Competition
  Registration closes February 23!
• Northeast District Competition
  Registration open this Thursday and continues
  through March 8.
• Southeast District Competition
  (including the Asia Pacific District)
  Registration is open March 1 - 22.

You know that old saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again"? Well, the same is true for PPA and PPA Affiliate photographic competitions. With progressing levels (local, state, district, international) and critiques at every stage, these competitions can help you improve your entries and your chances of earning high marks...until you do succeed. That's why we don't want you to miss out on your PPA District Photographic Competition!

Let's say you enter a case (four images) at your district. If any of those entries earn a score of 80 or above, you will get a Seal of Approval. That means your image would automatically merit and be judged for PPA's Loan Collection...if you enter it in the next International Photographic Competition.

However, if your images don't score that high, you might have the opportunity to listen to critiques. The district jurors can point out the good areas and areas for improvement in your images. Then, take that advice and tweak your images before entering them in the International Photographic Competition, the next competition level up!

By entering an earlier competition (like your district competition), you have a chance to fine-tune your images and hopefully do even better at the highest level of all. And that can lead to more merits, more recognition and better imagery for you. Are you ready to get a good start on competition? 

Congratulations to the winners of PPA's 2012 Grand Imaging Awards. International Photographic Competition jurors selected the top images in six categories from PPA's 2011 Loan Collection. First place winners in each category received a $500 cash prize. And Richard Sturdevant, M.Photog.Cr., of Garland, Texas, this year's overall Grand Imaging Award winner (image on left), received an additional $500 award!






Electronic Imaging
First Place: Dwaine Horton, M.Photog.Cr., "Untamed World"
Second Place: Sandra Pearce, MEI.Cr., "Easy Prey"
Third Place: Ben Shirk, "Next Level"

Commercial
First Place: Doran Wilson, M.Photog.MEI.Cr., CPP, "Glock Exo"
Second Place: Matthew Weston, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, "Visual Sound"
Third Place: Shterion Shterionov, Cr.Photog., "Dos Lunas"

Portrait
First Place: Richard Sturdevant, M.Photog.Cr., "Deadman's Hand"
Second Place: Goodhue, M.Photog.Cr., CPP "Endless Love"
Third Place: Nancy Bailey-Pratt, "Eager to Answer"

Wedding
First Place: J. Luis Guardia Peinado, "Castle Bridge"
Second Place: Larry Spencer, CPP, "Leading to You"
Third Place: J. Luis Guardia Peinado, "The Bridges of Love"

Illustrative
First Place (Tie): Myeoung Hwan Rim, "A United Family"
First Place (Tie): Richard Sturdevant, M.Photog.Cr., "Wicked"
Third Place: Joe Campanelli, M.Photog.Cr., CPP, "Bathed in Light"

Album
First Place: Jennifer Hillenga, M.Photog.Cr., "Sometimes"
Second Place: Richard Carpenter, M.Photog., CPP, "Cowboy Down"
Third Place (Tie): Jerry Ghionis, "Wayne and Natalia"
Third Place (Tie): Mario Muñoz, M.Photog., "Kori and Patrick"

You can view a gallery of all the award winners on the Imaging USA Facebook page.

Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is excited to let you know that the 2012 PPA Southeast District Photographic Competition judging is coming up (hosted at Athens, GA). Don't forget: This competition also hosts the Master Artist Competition (formerly the Electronic Imaging Competition), which is open to anyone, regardless of their district.

And you know what that means...it's time to get your images ready! You can submit your entries online: March 1-22, 2012 (online entry closes at 5:00pm EST).

This district competition is a great opportunity for photographers like you to learn and grow since your work is judged by international jurors. Get your images ready and go to http://www.ppa.com/competitions/southeast.php to find the forms, rules and entry information for the competition.

Remember that you can now enter either prints or digital files, and image formats are no longer restricted to 16 x 20. Plus, images receiving a score of 80 or above in district competitions (like the one coming up in your area) will automatically earn an exhibition merit when submitted to the 2012 PPA International Photographic Competition. That means you'll be one step (one merit) closer to PPA's Master of Photography degree.

Start or continue your journey today to earn a degree recognized throughout the world. This PPA District Photographic Competition is the first step--get your images ready to submit!

See the full list of PPA District Competition dates and details online.

Want to make your images better? Want to uncover the elements of an image's perfection or potential flaws? At Imaging USA, you have several chances to push for excellence this way. You can browse the International Photographic Exhibit, full of award-winning images from the 2011 International Photographic Competition. Even better, you can get free critiques and advice on your own images from some of the jurors who judge that competition, too--invaluable for fine-tuning your daily work. All you have to do is email Sarah Johnston (with "Mentor Booth" as the subject line) to schedule a mentor appointment! Better sign up fast, though--these free mentoring spots are filling up! 

PPA is excited to let you know that the 2012 PPA Western District Photographic Competition judging is coming up (hosted by Professional Photographers of California). And you know what that means...it's time to get your images ready! You can submit your entries online: February 2 - 23, 2012 (online entry closes at 5:00pm EST).

This district competition is a great opportunity for photographers like you to learn and grow since your work is judged by international jurors. Get your images ready and go to www.ppa.com/competitions/western.php to find the forms, rules and entry information for the competition.

Remember that you can now enter either prints or digital files, and image formats are no longer restricted to 16 x 20. Plus, images receiving a score of 80 or above in district competitions (like the one coming up in your area) will automatically earn an exhibition merit when submitted to the 2012 PPA International Photographic Competition. That means you'll be one step (one merit) closer to PPA's Master of Photography degree.

Start or continue your journey today to earn a degree recognized throughout the world. This PPA District Photographic Competition is the first step--get your images ready to submit!

See the full list of PPA District Competition dates and details online.

PPA is excited to let you know that the 2012 PPA Northcentral District Photographic Competition judging is coming up (hosted at Green Bay, WI). And you know what that means...it's time to get your images ready! You can submit your entries online: January 26 - February 16, 2012 (online entry closes at 5:00pm EST).

This district competition is a great opportunity for photographers like you to learn and grow since your work is judged by international jurors. Get your images ready and go to www.ppa.com/competitions/northcentral.php to find the forms, rules and entry information for the competition.

Remember that you can now enter either prints or digital files, and image formats are no longer restricted to 16 x 20. Plus, images receiving a score of 80 or above in district competitions (like the one coming up in your area) will automatically earn an exhibition merit when submitted to the 2012 PPA International Photographic Competition. That means you'll be one step (one merit) closer to PPA's Master of Photography degree.

Start or continue your journey today to earn a degree recognized throughout the world. This PPA District Photographic Competition is the first step--get your images ready to submit!

See the full list of PPA District Competition dates and details online.

Don't be too distracted with those visions of sugar plums dancing in your head this holiday season--start preparing your competition entries! The dates and deadlines for the 2012 PPA District Photographic Competitions have been announced, and they are creeping up on us:

• Northcentral Entry Deadline: Feb. 16
• Western Entry Deadline: Feb. 23
• Northeast Entry Deadline: March 8
• Southeast Entry Deadline: March 22

 
Want some help getting your images as perfect as possible for those district competitions? Take advantage of the free PPA Photographic Competition Mentor program at Imaging USA. (But you better act fast--these mentor sessions fill up fast.) 

The results of the 2011 Summer Shootout are now in and congratulations go to Peter Lik. His image "Inner Peace" earned this year's Grand Prize award.

View the winners from the Commercial/Advertising, Wedding/Event, Portrait and Open categories here.

Congratulations to all of this year's winners!

Competition is a great way to earn recognition for your work, and it can also be helpful for improving your skills as a photographer. It's a win-win! That's why you should consider entering PPA's annual International Photographic Competition (IPC).

Entries to IPC are judged based on a standard of excellence, not against each other. The guidelines for judging are known as the "12 Elements of a Merit Image." By following these guidelines, you're not only likely to do well in competition, but you'll also find yourself capturing better images more consistently.

"Without a doubt, participating in photographic competitions in an ongoing basis continues to hone my eye, my camera skills and my post-processing skills," adds Sam Gardner, M.Photog.Cr., CPP. "It is one of the most valuable returns on investment I can think of to grow skills as a professional image maker."

In addition to helping refine your skills, IPC can also help you earn a PPA degree. If your entry reaches a certain level, you will earn a merit (a point) toward a PPA degree. These degrees recognize a level of commitment and skill in photography that can help you to stand out from the competition. (Read more about PPA's merits and degrees here.)

Finally, if your image scores high enough at IPC, it could go "loan." Your image will then become part of the PPA Loan Collection, which is included in the International Photographic Exhibit at Imaging USA and is published in a book. It's a great way to earn recognition among your peers and customers alike!

So, start preparing those images for the next International Photographic Competition in 2012. You'll see for yourself how this competition is a true PPA benefit...good for more than just awards to hang on your wall.

Read more about the International Photographic Competition here, and don't miss "The Power of Competition" class at Imaging USA on January 15.