The Problem With Awards

The world is awash with Awards, the Oscars, the Baftas, the Nobel Prize, the Turner Prize, the list is endless. Photography is no different, but what do awards tell us? Are they useful, are they a benchmark of quality or merely a marketing ploy?
eychervidal

[@grahammcarthur1794]

Well said. Agree 100%. Also thank you for introducing me to a couple of photographers who are new to me. I will take a closer look at their work.

[@JCarlos.unknown]

Great ideas. Against the tide. I like that.

[@orionfoote2890]

Publications such as this are basically looking for that ‘shotgun’ cover photo that will move copies in large numbers and clearly that is the only criteria. The most annoying part of it all is that people who promote this type of banal eye candy by ‘liking’ or ‘sharing’ it on social media platforms are generally people who know very little about art or even photography for that matter.
The upside is there are many people doing interesting work these days - you just have to dig around a bit.
Loving the channel - I’m hoping you’ll press on with it.

[@shaun_rambaran]

That was a good point about judging panels which I hadn't considered. That maybe by necessity, a judging panel would favour as 'neutral' an image as possible.

[@liveinaweorg]

Terrific desktop screensaver images.

[@pezaloom]

Hear, hear.

[@patrickdowney2778]

Another lovely, thought-provoking and informative video. Thanks. I'll be looking up the photographers whose work appeared towards the end.

[@moilami1]

Those competitions can be put to the trash can. Photography is not a competition.

[@fruhbisspattv5259]

The day Mr. Obama got the Nobel peace prize my blieve in awards died.

[@stilllife-artandthephotogr3494]

Indeed, I think historians will declare Obama one the most disappointing Presidents in history. So much promised, so little delivered, hence we have Trump.

[@GillmanStudio]

Just caught up with this one Justin. I was directed to it as I made something similar on UA-cam. I agree with you though I’m not as articulate in my video.

[@myblueandme]

I too thought about it

[@choongching]

What do you think about those awards like the World Press Photography or the Visa pour l'image?

[@myblueandme]

National Geographic awards are now for technology not for photography

[@clasijuls1]

I agree