the aspect of "competition" in the field of photography

[kooblikon]

Hello all, long time reader but very infrequent poster here.... (hope to change that now though).
I just started attending college for photography and I am working on an assignment where we have to survey people. While this is no scientific survey of any sorts, I figured if anyone here would like to chime in their opinions, that'd be super helpful!

We are talking about the competition in the field of photography.
Its a rather broad subject, but we're gathering opinions on how the aspect of competition affects you. Things like, do you feel it hinders you? Or does it make you work harder? Do you think a career in photography is a crazy choice, or does it not matter for those with actual talent? (basically anything having to do with how you feel "competition" does or does not affect you and the pictures you take)

This part of the "survey" doesn't have any specific questions, only commentary from other photographers. Professional or not.

No names will be taken or anything (unless you want?), its just going into a group presentation on the competition of photography.

I personally find this to be an interesting subject, being a photography student and all!

(I hope I'm posting this in the right place....)

Thank you very much!

[tuxcomputers]

The only "competition" I have ever encountered in regards to my photography was during my membership of a camera club. Even then it was not really a competition just feedback on the photos you submitted.

I once took a hobby (computers) and turned it into a business, it sucked all the fun out of it. I never intend to make any money from photography so I avoid the same mistake, so I will never really have any competition, apart from myself.

[kooblikon]

Originally Posted by tuxcomputers

The only "competition" I have ever encountered in regards to my photography was during my membership of a camera club. Even then it was not really a competition just feedback on the photos you submitted.

I once took a hobby (computers) and turned it into a business, it sucked all the fun out of it. I never intend to make any money from photography so I avoid the same mistake, so I will never really have any competition, apart from myself.

Hmmm, that's something we never really discussed, so thank you for mentioning it!
Competition within oneself definitely sounds much more fun than comparing yourself to every photographer out there.

Thank you!

[Jim Bryant]

In the real world of photography, you're surrounded by competition whether you're a newspaper staffer or freelance photographer.

[tuxcomputers]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

In the real world of photography, you're surrounded by competition whether you're a newspaper staffer or freelance photographer.

No matter what you do you will always have competition, even if you are the only person in the entire world doing it, the competition is that the client does not buy from you.

Besides that, the question was not IF you have competition, it was HOW does the competition effect you.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by tuxcomputers

No matter what you do you will always have competition, even if you are the only person in the entire world doing it, the competition is that the client does not buy from you.

Besides that, the question was not IF you have competition, it was HOW does the competition effect you.

Competition is a driving force that makes a photographer better..........to become better than his/her competition. I know for certain that competition has kept me a top of the game.

[rudeboy]

I myself am not very keen on competition my wife loves a challange,but as i have found everyone has a different view on a photo,so what maybe judged the winner in a comp by the judges may not be that popular with alot of photographers,this i have seen at first hand in a local comp here in Menorca for a photo best representing the local town,alot of people weren´t happy with the winner and before anyone says it,yes some may be jealous but if you had gone in for the comp and then seen what won well....

Ok off my soap box now everyone has there own opinion,i get abit put off by competition.