Nature Conservation Council competition.

[Ionica]

This may be of interest to some people here.
http://www.nature.org.au/campaigns/forests-and-wildlife/Love-Nature-Photograph-Competition

[I @ M]

I don't want to sound overly harsh about this "competition" but it does seem to be purely a method of harvesting images for use by nature.org and pretty much anyone that they care to give the images to at a later date if you read the terms and conditions.

As for prizes on offer for your donated image it appears that they will print a copy of your image for you at an unspecified "large size" and get you a few likes on facebook.

[Kym]

Regardless of winning or prizes they get your images for free and anyone they want to share with

Reproduction rights The Nature Conservation Council may reproduce entries online, in print or on television for the purposes of the photo competition, the Nature Conservation Council and affiliated environmental groups, and any future campaigns. All photographs will also be uploaded to a photo database which may be accessed by various environmental groups to use for nature advocacy.

[Ionica]

I did read the conditions, and looked at it as assisting the NCC rather than for the ' prizes ' on offer, which imo are meaningless and of minimal appeal. The link was supplied for anyone who may be interested. I do not have any connection with the NCC, apart from supporting some of their work.

[Steve Axford]

I'm not quite sure why there is such an outcry about these competitions. Most people will never make a cent out of their photography so getting the satisfaction of winning a comp and then having your photo posted in various popular Facebook or other pages is hardly a bad thing. The reason that I make a bit of money out of photography and get the odd trip to Moscow is because I allowed my online photos to be posted on various blogs for free.
Be aware of what you are allowing and be aware that the prizes are usually trivial, but if you want to enter then do so. Anyway, it supports nature conservation, which has to be a good thing.

[ameerat42]

I don't think it is an outcry against competitions, Steve (and Ionica), rather a collegiate/avuncular/fatherly/some relative way of saying "be aware there are T&Cs".
Once in the ether...

[bcys1961]

I think the "outcry" comes about because these competitions are used by organisations to harvest images for use , either free of charge or for trivial sums of money , which then denies professional photographers of the ability to sell their images . In n general I don't have a problem with them either and I enter a few comp's but generally make sure the T&C limit use of the photo to purposes of promoting the competition only.

I think professional photographers are fighting a losing battle so some degree. The combination of increasing good camera's available at lower and lower prices and the internet means it is easy to harvest enough images on any topic such that you will get some really good ones off professional quality. I think to make a living going forward professionals need to be really really good and/or differentiate themselves with some specialist skills and knowledge in a niche - like fungi. Steve , you know fungi , where and when it grows , how best to shoot it , no doubt have some specialist equipment and this knowledge , skill and equipment is being rewarded.

[Steve Axford]

I agree with most of what you say, Brad, except I think professional photographers have already lost the battle for this type of image. You can't stop people giving stuff away. We have come to expect it, even demand it. Look at the dilemma of newspapers going online. Do they provide the news for free and pollute it with so many adds that no-one wants to read it, or do they try to charge for it and no one wants to pay?
I think that in order to survive as a professional, you have do a lot more than just take a competent photo. Why would anyone buy your photo when you can get it for free off the internet?
I think Redgum made a post a while back about the need to tell a story. To do that you need more than just the photo. Perhaps you need to sell yourself or the story around your photos. Perhaps you need to get into many different forms of communication, words, video, time-lapse as well as the photos. Perhaps it helps to become an expert in what you are photographing. There are huge opportunities out there and I don't think they are limited by the free stuff on the internet, in many ways they are actually enhanced by it. People love to hear a good story, and one that can keep going.
Nobody makes any money any-more just by taking good photos.

[Mark L]

....... Anyway, it supports nature conservation, which has to be a good thing.

I would view the T&C differently if it was Qantas or Westfield.

[bcys1961]

Yes Steve , I agree with you. That is the point I was hopefully making. You have obviously developed a specific skill for fungi , and it not just the photography , but your entire knowledge of them . I'm sure you have a story behind every photo of the type of fungi , where ti find it , how big it is , how it reproduces ....... The passion comes through in your photo's. Few could match it so it is a skill that others value and would be prepared to pay for .

[Steve Axford]

I would view the T&C differently if it was Qantas or Westfield.
Mmmm, yes. There are organisations that should pay but try to get stuff for free, but this is not one of them. Most profit organisations will pay for images, but some won't. They are worth avoiding.

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Yes Steve , I agree with you. That is the point I was hopefully making. You have obviously developed a specific skill for fungi , and it not just the photography , but your entire knowledge of them . I'm sure you have a story behind every photo of the type of fungi , where ti find it , how big it is , how it reproduces ....... The passion comes through in your photo's. Few could match it so it is a skill that others value and would be prepared to pay for .
Thanks bcys. I try with other stuff as we'll and I have had some success, but they all need a story and preferably, some passion.

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