Photography shows: WHY?

[judestar82]

So i've been thinking about this lately: Why do we participate in shows? think about it. photography isn't like a sport. in sports, you are judged according to what you can do and you are given a measured rate of judgement. with photography, if everyone is on the same level in the show, the judging comes down to personal opinion on part of the judges.

Why do we participate in these shows? does it sate a basic need to be liked? is it purely egotistical need to show of? do we do it to make ourselves feel better? and how do we react to the assumption that one's work is better than another's? i don't know...what's your opinion? i'm looking to delve into psychological reasons behind the participation, but any other thoughts are, of course, welcomed.

[peirceman]

Most of the time there is a need to be validated. Not so much about being "better" than someone else, but in the words of Shirley Maclaine, "You like me!, you really, really like me!!"

[BobF]

I thought that was Sally Field?

[judestar82]

darn. that basically explains it. man, talk about kiling the discussion before it begins! lol.

[StanH]

I find that they help to thicken the skin a bit. I know some photographers (and a bunch of writers) who could stand to do a bunch of these to help them get used to criticism.

[BobF]

It helps add to your bona fides. It beefs up a CV. It gets you exposure to gallery owners/curators. It gets you exposure to people who buy art. Right or wrong, better or worse, people in the art community give these things credence. The more you enter, the more you get in front of these people. Even if you don't make the show, you're getting seen by the jurors. Well run, respected, established shows will have highly qualified people jurying the show - gallery curators, highly regarded artists, and the like. If you do get in the show, there's a chance the piece(s) will sell.

For some it may be about ego or validation; an 'I'm better than you' approach, but for people who are reasonably serious about selling their photography as art it's about beefing up credentials, exposure and, hopefully, income. The more things like this you can put on your CV, the better your chances of getting into galleries, the more galleries you get into, the more you can get into. All of which helps gain exposure and recognition in the art community and with people who buy/collect art which, if you're lucky, means more sales and increasingly higher prices.

No different really from being able to add to a client list for a commercial photographer or wedding photographer.

[Nearly]

Why any type of Show? Show = Amusement? LOL

Or Ehibition, or, or .............................

Who cares why ... .

If one does not like it then why go; then no need for controversy.

[StanH]

I have also participated in them just for the opportunity to go hang out with other photographers. That's more important to me most of the time than what the judges actually think of my work.

[MarkD]

I've only done it twice. I guess it strokes the ego to see ones pictures hanging up somewhere. I don't know if I'll do it again.