Canon Poland Organizes Press Photography Competition

Canon Poland together with the Press Photography  Foundation organizes Press Photography Competition
In today’s society, the fastest and most easily translated way of  communicating is the image. From movies to advertisements, people are  constantly bombarded by images. Many newspaper images are more powerful than  the words used to describe them. The Society of Polish Press Photographers is  constantly increasing its membership and more and more freelancers are having  their work published in newspapers. How do we determine the best photograph out  of all news and wire publications? What type of photographer does it take to  capture the problems of Poland and the rest of  the world?  What are the functions of  press photography in Poland?  How do we learn about the conditions of press  photographers’ work and the effort it takes to make a good picture great?

Press Photography Competition
Answers to these questions are found in press photography competitions.  The biggest and most important among them - World Press Photo - is celebrating its  50th anniversary. In Poland, there is no  competition of similar significance — no way to verify the level of our press  photography and to evaluate the work of our photographers.

To change this, Canon Poland became a patron  of the Press Photography competition organized by the Press Photography  Foundation. "We hope that this cooperation can establish a competition,  which in time could turn out to be an event to consolidate all the photographic  trade in Poland and improve  awareness of press photographers’ work among mass audiences. We would like to  run a competition for all persons working with press photography - from photographers  sending in their works, to newspapers, magazines and photographic agencies willing  to popularise the competition’s ideas" says Izabela Rogulska, Junior  Marketing & PR Manager in Canon Poland.

Canon is not only a maker of photographic equipment, but for many years  has supported development of photography as a part of art and journalism. Since  1992, Canon has been the main sponsor of World Press Photo. The experience Canon  has in that area certainly will help in the development of the Polish Press  Photography competition.

"The exhibition aims to show prize winning photographs while improving  the social awareness of press photographers’ work and enhancing the understanding  of press photography. The competition is also meant as a form of thanks to our  photographers: prizes and popularisation of best works will show how important their  work is to us," adds Mrs Rogulska.

Working together for the good of photography
The Press Photography competition has a chance to become a catalyst for  much anticipated change. During the initial talks about establishing this  competition, there was confirmation of participation  from Poland’s leading photo  agencies: PAP Foto, EPA, Reuters, East News, Reporter, Forum and AFP. Media  partners participating are: OZON, PRZEKRÓJ, FOTO magazine, PAP press agency,  Fotopolis and CityBoard Media. Thanks to our partners, information about the competition  became wide-spread and competition entries will be accepted from press  photographers from all over the world. Such an approach to the competition  conforms to Canon`s corporate philosophy kyosei, meaning, "working  together for the common good".

Quality matters
High standards will be kept by a jury of professional editors and  photographers. Results of the competition will be secured by persons from  abroad. At the moment the line-up of the Press Photography competition’s jury  is as follows: Andrzej Wrzeszcz [Polska Agencja Prasowa], Peter Andrews  [Reuters], Krzysztof Wójcik [Forum], Chris Niedenthal, Alik Kęplicz [AP],  Wojtek Łaski [East News], Jacek Domiński [Reporter], Michel Scotto [AFP] and  Yuri Abramochkin.

Competition Rules
The Press Photography competition is directed towards all press  photographers - staff photographers as well as freelancers. For detailed rules  of the competition visit: www.kfp.net.pl.  Closing date for entries is February 10, 2006.

Photos will be judged in five categories: "people and events",  "everyday life," "culture and the arts," "contemporary  cases," and "sports".  Winners  will be announced at a ceremony in April 2006. Winners will have their  photographs published in a book and in a 12-month calendar. CityBoard Media  agency (Warsaw) will be  sponsoring an outdoor exhibition of the winning photographs in large format (6x3m).

Deadlines

• February 10, 2006 - closing date for entries
• April 2006 - announcement of winners and formal ceremony at the opening of the exhibition, presentation of the book with awarded pictures
• July 2006 - exhibition of awarded pictures on billboards [6x3m] in Warsaw

Comments

[Shantanu Das]

Hi, I am a press photographer based in Bombay and working in Times of India organisation. I am interested to perticipate in the photograpahy competition. Kindly send me the details and form through my email.

Regards,
Shantanu
(M)+91-9819942901