IdeasTap research

IdeasTap Photographic Award (23-30)

http://www.ideastap.com/Opportunities/Brief/db612472-ddfb-4d96-9852-9ebc00b16758#Overview

The award is open to UK-based photographers ages 16-30 (two separate age groups). It holds three categories:

• Photojournalism
• Environmental photography
• Conceptual Art

Two overall winners are chosen (one from each age group), winning £5,000. 12 shortlisters are selected, two from each category in each age group. Each shortlisted receives a mentoring session with a Magnum Photographer, £60 of Blurb book vouchers and £150 to have their pictures printed; their photographs will be framed and included in an exhibition at IdeasTap HQ, The Woolyard. 

Each applicant must submit five photographs, no more no less. They're looking for creative and striking photographs that demonstrate photographic skill and understanding. The photos must demonstrate your ability to tell a story with your images. 

I would likely enter the Conceptual Art category, being the area where I hold most creativity. 

Researching winners/finalists:

http://www.ideastap.com/IdeasMag/all-articles/Photographic-Award-Finalists

Max Downer

The Presence of Absence/Aesthetics of Order

Submitted to the conceptual category. Little is written about his work, but the series is of man-made landscapes in an apocalyptic manner/atmosphere. The scenes are uninhabited, vast and eerie. 

Looking over the series and seeing that work such as this was selected above others, leads me to believe IdeasTap is a competition better suited to my area of work. Many of the winners works were documentary based but conceptual work is not overlooked within this competition.

My only question is with the need to follow a story with my images. Much of my work tends not to follow any narrative, more so rather a conception. Max Downer's work, in my opinion, follows little story on its own, however still managed to gain major recognition in the competition.