Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/07/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]-----Original Message----- From: Slobodan Dimitrov <s.dimitrov@charter.net> Sent: Jul 14, 2004 9:03 AM To: lug@leica-users.org Subject: [Leica] The Barnack Award, or bubble gum photography! Slobodan, Ted, and any others, I would like to relay my opinion about grants and receiving them. Unfortunately, most awards are given on what I would call a very political basis. Receiving a grant is usually based upon who you know more so than the photography itself. You could be the best photographer in the world and never receive a grant mainly because you don't know the right people. So how do you meet the right people? By getting out and meeting them. A very good organization for doing this is called SPE. The Society for Photographic Education. They have a big conference every year and a lot of well known photographers attend. You can't be afraid to go up to them and ask for some time. Sometimes it's better not to show them your work first but try to get to know them on a personal level. Back in the 70's, I attended a couple of conferences that were held in Carmel, CA. I got to become friends with a few people such as Ansel Adams and W. Eugene Smith and other heads of photo depts. at various universities. One more thing you may notice about these grants and who gets them. The word Magnum seems to come up a lot. Lot of people don't like Magnum photographers because of their big egos but they do have an influence. Hope this doesn't stop any of you from trying to get a grant. Persistance sometimes helps also. Good luck. Bruce _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information