
Do you enter design or photography competitions? Well, I’ve avoided most of them, preferring to stick with friendly competitions and games. While I have entered (and sometimes won) a few smaller competitions, both in photography and design, I usually get a little nervous putting myself out there “against” others. Call it lack of self confidence, or having too frail an ego, it really comes down to motivation. And that has several sources.
So here’s the point of this entry: I’m going to try and change that. I am planning to enter a few contests to try it on for size, see how it feels. The goal is not to win, but to keep sharp. While I am very comfortable with my skills in photography and Photoshop, I rarely find myself pushing beyond my comfort zone these days. I am never nervous sitting down to do client work or build teaching materials. However, I do get nervous thinking about contests!
Part of the reason is that I want to find the perfect concept, then achieve the perfect execution. And that, friends, is a perfect way never to get anything done. To enable an end result, I am going about things in a more commercial way: I’m setting limits and requirements on myself. Like any contract, I’m writing up a brief for these projects as they come up, and just going with it. The challenge will be to submit a final product to each contest, no excuses.
As I go, I’ll be sure to add some articles about the processes and what I’m learning (or relearning). Look for an article next week on selecting concepts from random ideas 🙂

I agree with you, however I have been participating in some contests as you know ;).
The reason is very simple, I love Photoshop and only recently I had a chance to go to college and learn a bit more about it.
I am a nobody in the Photoshop community, and I want to be somebody.
I work really hard and I spend hours and hours trying to learn more and more and more.
Those contests not only challenge me to get better and use different techniques and to show the world that I am here to stay.
Take care.
Miguel campos