Don't Get Put in a Box

Author: John Greenwood
July 2007

Did you ever see a Jack-in-a-Box? Like, you have this head on a spring and when you push it down into a box and clip the lid down it stays there till someone else clicks the catch and the head pops out again.

I have a theory about photographic exhibitions, competitions, call them what you like. They are destined, if not deliberately, then certainly by example and practice, into pushing you down into a box like the Jack-in-a-Box, into the same old rut day after day after day.

It works like this. I, alongside everyone else, puts their entry into the Salon, competition or what have you. They are submitted to a "judge", a "panel of judges" a "commentator" or a "critic". These august individuals or groups make judgement calls on your photograph - they like it or not, they comment on it, or pontificate how you might improve it. They may simply comment on how they see it, or they may make judgements such as Highly Commended, Honours or Champion! Or maybe it is simply selecting or rejecting your image from a whole heap of others to be part of the exhibition of images.

Whatever the process, someone is making a form of judgement on the merit or non-merit of your image as they see it.

You, in your turn, hear their comments or simply see that your image was or was not accepted in this exhibition or salon and from that make your own assessment of the relative merits of your own as to the value of the image.

So what? Well, next time it is time to put a photo in an exhibition or competition, you may unwittingly be influenced by what you know was or was not accepted by the last judges or commentators, or simply by what got accepted for the exhibition. This may, and quite possibly will, affect what you decide to put in that exhibition. For instance, you will have a picture that you particularly like but your mind will say in effect: "Yes, but there was one like that or similar to that last year or last month and it didn't do any good", so you leave it at home.

This, in effect, is the start of "putting yourself in a box", a box that says, "Yes, I need to conform to this or that general style, at least if I am to have any chance of success."

This, of course, accumulates when you do follow these thoughts and you get a success. Must be worthwhile doing it, eh!! And lo and behold you may have put yourself in a box.

Well, I have come to the conclusion that there are many boxes in the photographic world. Each has its own idiosyncrasies that influence what I, or you, will put in as entries or submissions. There is a "Waikato Photographic Society Box", which is an offshoot of the "Photographic Society of New Zealand box". There are boxes for overseas salons, boxes for submissions to commercial buyers, and yes, calendar companies each have their own little box.

Judges/selectors at local club or national level, often unknowingly allow themselves to contribute to the mould-makers as they make the selections they think fit the requirements of the particular genera they are working in. This is particularly so in Natural History, but occurs in all genera. Yes I have been guilty of participating in such lotteries too. I use the word "lotteries" deliberately to provoke someone out there to challenge my thesis. I have had to "horse trade" over the relative merits of individual images as a member of a judging/selecting panel, against my better judgement on occasions.

Well my challenge to you as a photographer is to put the idea of conformity out of your head and go for what you like. Forget the boxes!

On two occasions I have submitted sets of images for National Honours and both times having had them rejected in spite of the fact that on the second one I asked for and received advice from a past member of the Honours Board. I was being asked effectively to put my photography into a box called "PSNZ Honours Box". Don't ask me if I will ever submit another set. At the moment I would not even consider it. However, I do know how to make money from my images and I can get acceptances in National as well as club competitions. I just happen to know how to fit into their boxes on occasions.

I take my photos cos I like them, and if I can get an acceptance in a salon or at club level that is great, or if I can sell the rights for an image that is even better. The bottom line is I take them cos I like them.

Why don't you try to do the same. Keep out of the boxes eh! Be a radical Photographer!