by ABoR guest writer, Elspeth Rushbrook

These prey a little on the hopes of every aspirant who’s not yet found a publishing deal.

Surely a £15-25 entry fee is a snip compared with the prize money and the joy of being published at last, and by a real publisher?

Well, I’m going to argue the reverse. Not that there shouldn’t be competitions, for artists of all kinds can gain recognition and attention and some money through these.

It’s the size of the fee and the terms which I object to. And how they’re choosing.

Sorry these are all British, but I hope that international readers will find the points helpful and maybe someone else can review other countries?

The Daily Mail − beloved British tattling and moral majority rag for over a century − recently closed its 9th annual comp. Did it gain a copy of my forthcoming Parallel Spirals? Nope, and I’ll tell you why.

One, being associated with the Mail is not something I wanted for me and my work. I don’t believe in its editorial policies. I doubt too that many of its readers will be mine.

4th Ozone Zone International Photo Competition Open for Entries

The Ozone Zone International Photo Competition which had its beginnings in Canada, this year is run from Dominica as the host country. The jury consisting of local and foreign artists/photographers will select the winners from many international submissions. This is one of most popular international photo competitions due to significant cash awards, very low entry fees, and high quality of entries.

The competition offers four sections, and runs under RPS, IUP, FIAP and PSA patronage. It puts Dominica on the map of international art and photography events. “We hope to see Dominica as a destination for photographers of the world, expanding tourism and engaging many fine local photographers in workshops, tours, and so on” - says Margaret Gajek, competition's chair person. “This competition makes many photographers interested in our island”.

“We had a really hard task last year to select best images” - says Derek Galon, MA, FRPS, FOPS – head of the jury, a Canadian art photographer now living in Dominica. “ This year, due to extra patronage from Royal Photographic Society (UK) and IUP (union of photographers from Asia) we expect many more fine entries.”

£5000 top prize and London exhibition

Enter by February 7 | Click to learn more

You have just two weeks to enter the Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year before the closing date of 7 February, 2016! Enter to be eligible for the top prize of £5,000! As a winner you will walk away with the much-coveted trophy confirming you as the world’s top food photographer. And, you will also enjoy the worldwide PR coverage this accolade brings.

All of the 100 finalists will be invited to the Champagne Taittinger Awards ceremony at the world-renowned Mall Galleries attended by the Who’s Who of the food and photography world. They will also see their fabulous Finalist images showcased at the 5-day exhibition following the big night, which last year was a Time Out Magazine London highlight.

Winning images to go on display at Museum of London Docklands

Great white pelicans, Atlantic Ocean, Walvis Bay, Namibia.
©Marsel van Oosten, 2015 TPOTY overall winner

Marsel van Oosten has been confirmed as the overall winner of the 2015 international Travel Photographer of the Year awards (TPOTY). The Dutch photographer beat entrants from over 110 countries to scoop the top prize and the title of Travel Photographer of the Year 2015. The Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2015 is 18-year-old Chase Guttman from the USA.

Semonkong, Lesotho. ©Chase Guttman, Young Travel Photographer of the Year 2015, tpoty.com