At the CCP we are always trying to find ways to encourage and support our students into getting their work out there. We know it can be a daunting experience, especially if it’s your first time.

So we thought we’d ask CCP student Jiri Bruderhans a few questions about his process and experience in the world of photography competitions.

Jiri’s work was recently selected to be part of the Praxis Gallery exhibition - The streets, in Minneapolis

Artist Q&A

How long have you been a photographer?

I have been taking photos for 49 years. I started when my grandma gave me a Russian twin lens reflex when I was 10. It used 120 film and was a bugger to operate.

Is this the first time you have entered a Praxis Gallery open call?

This is the first time I have entered this competition. I saw it on the CCP website, and assumed it was the local Praxis Gallery putting on an exhibition, but it turns out it was in Minneapolis!

Do you think entering competitions/open calls is an important part of gaining recognition in the photographic industry?

I have probably entered less than half a dozen competitions and never got anywhere, so I am not the best person to ask. Competitions that offer inexpensive entry and have a high profile like the Hasselblad Masters that I entered for the first time last year would absolutely raise your profile and could launch your career.

When entering a comp do you shoot specifically with the theme in mind or choose images that fit the theme already?

Any competitions that I have entered I have only used images that I had, but would consider the strategy of shooting for a specific category.

What inspires you to continue to create as a photographer?

I love the thrill when a concept comes together and an image works out, especially those happy accidents when you get a surprise result that just works, like winning the jackpot!

Being a camera collector, I love nothing more than rescuing an old film camera from hard rubbish or finding a bargain on Ebay or flea market, and getting it going again. Putting a test roll through it is liberating, you can play around without trying too hard and occasionally get a nice result.

As a CCP student what has been the course you feel you have gained the most from?

I have only studied 3 subjects so far, Exhibition, Camera 2 and Portfolio Development, The biggest takeaway and consistent theme taught at the CCP is the focus on image series that tell a story and the importance of curation so images go together and don’t squabble in an exhibition.

What would be your best advice for photographers that are just starting out?

Photograph what interests you, pay attention to geometry and the rules of composition as this is the language of of image making and enable you to get your point across. Photography is a technical as well as artistic pursuit, cameras and lighting and post processing are the tools, select suitable tools for the job, get to know them and their limitations, as this gives you the confidence to let you focus on the art and storytelling.