Duck Game

Tonight, the family came with me to drop off my prints for the 2010 Coastal Carolina Fair photography contest. As I was filling out the entry forms, the inevitable question came up that I didn’t want to answer. “Are you a pro or amateur photographer?” Oh boy, that’s a tricky question. Last year it was easy for me to check the amateur box, but this year I feel I’ve grown a lot (especially since I completed my 365 project). If you go by the definition of amateur, I fall right in to that title. As I write this, photography doesn’t support my family, my other career does. I love photography – it’s what keeps me sane as far as being an outlet for creativity. But in my mind that doesn’t make me a professional, because it’s technically not my profession for now.

So, it sounds easy, right? I’m still an amateur by definition of my true profession, so I can check off the amateur box. Unfortunately, there was this clause on the entry form under Division 1, which is the pro division, “This division is open to professional photographers (those who work full or part time in photography) and accomplished amateur entrants who are capable of competing at the Division 1 level”. Ugg. Why the hell did they say that? Division 3 is for students, and it doesn’t have a clause that says amateurs who read a lot of books and photog blogs can compete in the student division, so why allow amateurs in the pro division? I’m not complaining because I think its wrong, I’m complaining because I don’t want to have make that decision! If it’s cut-and-dry, then cool – I don’t have to think about it. Now I have to stress about it, which is silly, I know.

I asked my wife and she said without a doubt “Division 1”. Then she looked at the work of some of the other amateur photogs in line and said, “whoah, they’re really good”. OK, well that makes things difficult all over again. I finally decided to man up and make my own decision. It was not something I should worry about, but here I am venting about it on the web for all to see. In the name of honesty, I’m sharing my insecurities about my own skill and vision.

Speaking of skill and vision, in case you didn’t know, I’m doing a photowalk at this very fair on its opening night, which is Thursday, October 28th. I’ll be trolling around the photography/fine arts building at around 5:30PM so we can get a little pre-sunset action before the big light show in the sky. You can get all of the details right here. It should be a lot of fun, so I hope you can find the time. I found out that the local photography club is also having a photowalk on Saturday, Oct. 30th, so if you can’t make Thursday, you can be sure that a lot of local photogs will be there on Saturday to keep you company.

In conclusion, my wife thinks I ultimately made the wrong decision. Unfortunately for me, she’s usually right. Next year, I know which box I’ll be checking for sure 😉