On Entering International Salons
“Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty.”
David Hume, Scottish Philosopher, ‘Of the Standard of Taste’ (1757)
Don’t be discouraged if an image that really pleases you nevertheless receives a disappointing mark in a club competition. Other judges may perceive your image very differently. Why not submit the image to an external competition?
There are many International Salons under the patronage of Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique (FIAP) and / or of the Photographic Society of America (PSA). Entering such salons is becoming more and more popular; for example, entries to the 8th Malmö International Exhibition of Photographic Art were 80% up on the previous year. Normally you enter up to 4 photographs per section to one or more sections (e.g., open, creative, monochrome, nature, photo-travel) with separate sections for prints and for projected images. Increasingly, there are provisions for the online submission of digital images and for paying the entry fee via PayPal. Judging is anonymous with at least three judges. For the German Mega Circuit, which comprises 6 salons, each image is marked by 18 judges! Perceptions of the same image frequently do vary. Certainly performing well in a club competition is neither sufficient nor necessary for an image’s acceptance in an international exhibition. Of particular interest is to compare the success or otherwise of the same image in salons in different countries. You normally receive a DVD or a printed catalogue. Some catalogues, such as Narava 2008 and Bor 2008, are of very high quality. With sufficient numbers of awards and acceptances, you can qualify for ‘letters’ or ‘stars’ from FIAP or PSA. For my own part, I find it satisfying to think that my image is on display in Brazil, in Taiwan or in Italy - and, of course, in the NCPS Awards and Acceptances section designed and maintained by Barry.
At least 12 members of the West Cumbria Photo Group entered the Third French Digital Tour. We in North Cheshire could follow its lead in fostering members’ participation - and success - in external competitions. Individual performance in such salons should not be seen as another vehicle for competition between members. Rather we should look for ways in which we can encourage and support each other.