National Image Salon

Being a photographer can be a solitary endeavour. Creative fields, such as this, can leave you with a need for validation. Sure, my mom likes my photography, but how do I stack up against my peers? "Likes" on Facebook and Instagram are great, but how much weight do they carry? Is it more of a popularity contest than a photography contest?

This is where photography competitions come in. Reputable organizations, like the Professional Photographers of Canada, put on provincial and national competitions for their members each year that they call Image Salons. "Liking" an image has little to do with it. Things like impact, lighting, posing, composition, exposure and storytelling are judged and debated. The panel of judges consists of members who have proven their merit and earned the right to say which images deserve to represent the best work in Canadian photography today. They are held to a high standard and judged down to the last pixel. Even the artist's choice of title could make or break the decision.

This is the arena where photographers love to compete. Being accepted into a Provincial or National Salon means that your mom was right. Your photos are pretty darn good.

Since becoming accredited with the PPOC last year, I have become eligible to compete at the national level. 2016 was the first year I competed, and I was so fortunate to have one image out of four accepted. My portrait of a "Sleeping Giant", hidden in the vista of the Napali Coast in Kauai, managed to squeak into the Salon after receiving a merit at the provincial level.

Sleeping Giant /Pictorial Floral

This Pictorial Floral image entitled, Sleeping Giant, was accepted into the National Image Salon in 2016. Artist: Laurie Brown.

I was pleased.... And driven. 1/4? Let's beat that. So, this year I decided to enter four more images. I carefully selected them, trying to keep emotions at bay and concentrate on the technical merits of my work over the past year. Then, I spent hours upon hours pouring over each pixel to minimize or eliminate any distractions that might draw attention away from my subject. Then, there is the matting, and the titles.... Oh my.... Talk about second-guessing every-little-thing. When you finally hit that button (at the last minute, of course), the feeling of relief is weighed down by the feelings of doubt, uncertainty and dread. We LIVE for this stuff! Why? Because win or lose, you come out ahead. I learn more from the images that were NOT accepted than the ones that scored well. The judges are thoughtful and descriptive in their comments. Listening to them is like seeing through their eyes. You cannot look at images the same way. You suddenly see things you missed before. You are growing and learning to be a better photographer. Next time, you will see those details through the lens instead of on the computer screen. Gold, Jerry. Gold!

Here are my results from the PPOC's 2017 National Image Salon. Three of my images were accepted and are printed in the PPOC's Inspiration Book that showcases the best in Canadian photography this year.

shoot.print.love.laurie

I'll Take Fifty-One Percent /Editorial

This Editorial image entitled, I'll Take Fifty-One Percent, was accepted into the National Image Salon in 2017. Artist: Laurie Brown

Bend It Like Beckham /Conceptual Illustration

This Conceptual Illustration image entitled, Bend It Like Beckham, was accepted into the National Image Salon in 2017. Artist: Laurie Brown.

Leader of the Lost Boys /Editorial

This Editorial image entitled, Leader of the Lostboys, was accepted into the National Image Salon in 2017. Artist: Laurie Brown.

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National Image Salon

Sleeping Giant /Pictorial Floral

I'll Take Fifty-One Percent /Editorial

Bend It Like Beckham /Conceptual Illustration

Leader of the Lost Boys /Editorial

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