If you’ve ever objected about FPIs, read this!

I’ve entered Portrait of Britain before.

I love getting an FPI. I don’t understand why anyone would turn their nose up at their work being acknowledged as ‘good’.

Bitter tasting Pies....Hmmmmm? 

I used to be a member of a local Camera Club.  There were people who had awards from many local comps, even giving them letters after their name.  But in reality all they had done is learn what is needed to be seen.  Whilst some of the work was great it all followed a similar style.  So by its nature is was not equal.  I had learned a different style but that was the one wanted by people who were willing to pay for my work, ie working as a professional and having paying clients.  Its the same with FPI's you have to just learn what it takes to get one.  There are many images that dont get awarded and also some average and technically bad images that get do.

If it was fair then it would be a great way to give new people something to aim at but its not.  Its quality is too inconsistant for me to be able to give it any credit.

An awards system is a great idea but considering the codos given by some to it then it needs to be far more regulated and monitored.

Kirk Schwarz looking at entering a couple of comps when they come up next.

Personally feel they might be easier to get further than a FPI. :-D

Pay to enter an Award? pfffft. 

I'm not very active and therefore have not had an FPI for several years, so I'm probably not the best test subject...

I think they are a nice feature to have on your port, but other than that mostly meaningless, I have about 20, in the scheme of things that is irrelevant and a mere drop in the ocean compared to some people.

I've had FPIs since their inception when Russ and co just picked a photo that they liked from the recent uploads, it was a nice gesture, there was no nomination and accept/reject process, it obviously quickly outgrew its early form, I suspect it was a far bigger animal than the admin ever thought it would be.

I don't see the point of all the back biting and, also in my opinion, sometimes resentment, over FPIs, after all, they are just a matter of opinion and often somewhat unremarkable, there are some great images in there, and some that aren't really that good, that I would have not a second thought about rejecting.

Anyway, it's a nice feeling, yay a dopamine fix, for a while, when you get one, so that's probably a good thing, but remember, the FPIs are to promote the site, it's a free honour and you are the product on sale! 

I have also competed and club and national levels and won a few trophies and awards, I enjoyed the competition and often the feedback, I didn't really care that much about the trophies, they were just a side effect of competing.

So long and thanks for all the fish! 

Edited by Simon Pole

I’ve had images chosen as FPI’s and I’m extremely grateful for the recognition. That’s it, in a nut shell…

Without straying in to the hostile and convoluted mire of FPI exchanges, I think it’s probably misleading to suggest any link between criticism of the FPI system and the need to enter competitions; they are two very different beasts/things.

It is wrong to assume that those who spend time presenting sedulous and considered concerns about the inequities and flaws in the FPI selection process, only do so because they feel “overlooked.”   I'm sure they feel their opinions are valid and offered with sincerity; which is why I don't think for one minute  that those supposedly "aggrieved" members would (somewhat bizarrely) then feel the urge to enter competitions in attempt to validate their work.   I think to suggest that is to miss the point of their stance altogether. ;)

MidgePhoto said

Orson Carter said

What makes me chuckle is when someone who disagrees with the FPI system or trots out one of the tired old conspiracy theories has an FPI themselves. Do they uphold their principles by deleting the pic so that it's removed from the front page? Erm...  :)

They'd only have to put it in their private album momentarily, to remove the FPI status.

(I've not raised objections about FPIs, so no comment on that, but isn't the equivalent of competitions elsewhere the competitions here?  )

No, not a competition and - full disclosure - I was in the middle of a fever nightmare when I wrote this. I had a point in mind, but I was also convinced the Russians had poisoned me, so, yeah...

I don't enter anything....you don't enter the FPI competition. It happens.

It's nice to get one, but for me it is the taking and processing of the photographs that interests me.

At least, that's what happened when I still did it.