Digital BW, The Print

Usually those that laugh at all the initials following a
photographer's name are those that cannot successfully compete against
other photographers. The objective for most of these competitions is
to challenge photographers to push their craft to a higher level, and
to gain recognition for their work--by their peers. 

If you take a quick look at the Spider Award Website at: 

http://www.thespiderawards.com/ 

you will see some of the most amazing black and white photography that
can be found. Any one can enter the competition and there is a good
selection of judges to make a fair and reasonable assessment of the
work. Who would not want to be like Lance and have won one of these
awards? Even more--how about as many awards as Lance has won? 

I also suggest that you look at the quality of the work shown on the
PPA Website at: 

http://www.ppa.com/ 

Or, you can order a book with the winning prints from many of the
competitions that Lance has awards from by visiting:

http://www.marathonpress.com/default.php/cPath/62_65 

These books offer some of the most outstanding photographs that can be
found in the world. If you are good enough to compete for these awards
and you can win, why not have the initials after your name.  Every
photographer should have at least one of these books just to see what
level photographers are achieving with the new digital technologies. 

Many excellent photographers do not compete and that is okay too. In
the past, I have not entered a single competition. However, after
publishing nine books, doing well-over a dozen workshops, I now wish I
had all the initials after my name like Lance does--it gives you
credibility among your peers--and you will make more money. 

Who would not want initials? 

Gregory Georges
www.gregorygeorges.com 
www.gregorygeorges.com/gallery/gallery20



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, Mark Savoia
<mark@...> wrote:
>
> I am not trying to be a wise ass, but many of the pro photographers  
> we deal with think of these as just just glorified camera clubs that  
> you pay dues to, compete against each other, and when you win enough  
> stuff they let you add letters after your name. I went to a couple of  
> meetings to see what it was all about and the competition rules  
> seemed completely ridiculous, they allowed for no "outside the box"  
> thinking. After seeing that, I kind of agreed with my clients.
> 
> So is it JUST a marketing tool?
> 
> Mark B.M.O.C.
>