Prix Pictet. How to run an elitist competition properly
Written by duckrabbitThis is just a small glimpse of the nominators of the Prix Pictet.
If you’re decent, and you don’t get nominated by one of them, then you must either run an irreverent blog, be a recluse or have an adverse personality (in my case all three).
And by the way the work chosen by the Prix Pictet has been consistently sublime. I’m sure Ed Kashi would agree, he was on the list. To my knowledge none of them have been kidnapped or bribed. So what’s the problem World Press? Publish the nominators and publish their nominations. Put them online and host the conversation alongside the films. That shouldn’t be a revolution, but it would be.
What are they frightened of?
Author — duckrabbit
duckrabbit is a production company formed by radio producer/journalist Benjamin Chesterton and photographer David White. We specialize in digital storytelling.
Discussion (5 Comments)
Don’t get me started on this Duckrabbit…
The works in this competition are generally superb – I genuinely believe that – but why, for example, is Taryn Simon’s ‘Index’ work in there when the theme is about Growth? Same for Struths? And the links to the “Growth” theme for some of the others are tenuous at best.
This prize smacks of one great big collective masturbation session where ‘proven’ photographers get the ‘industry nod’ for their life achievements and accolades and where the sponsors get all this publicity (and kudos) through being associated with them.
And as far as the jury members go – many of them are excellent, bright minds worthy of their position there. But quite a few of them are thick as two short planks. I know as I’ve met some of them and it’s depressing to see them on there. This may be the same for every competition of course, but it seems more pronounced here.
The worst thing about it though is how Prix Pictet dress it up like they give rats ass about the themes they choose – it’s all so contrived. They’re an elitist Swiss Bank for pete’s sake. They maybe even indirectly profit from some of the heavy subject matter the photographers turn their lens on.
Taken from their website: “From the outset, Pictet & Cie has focused solely on managing the wealth of private and institutional investors.”
When it comes to elitist, TPG prize cannot even be mentioned in the same breath as Prix Pictet. It’s like comparing Londis to the Harrods food court.
I must say that I am fan of Prix Pictet, more then World (Western?) Press Photo. We have covered their events since the beginning and they are consistent in quality. Sojournposse have always received updates from them. The press team always reply personally to our requests. They respect independent, alternative journals like Sojournposse as much as the big, mainstream titles. The winners show great works. So I cannot fault them.
I can easily name big NGOs that organize photo awards that can’t be bothered/motivated to promote/reply to any interests about their so called “humanitarian” efforts. We can’t be bothered with those charlatans that’s why we write about material culture instead. It’s more honest.
I wish all banks can make visible cultural effort like Prix Pictet.
Well organised they may but what about the intellectual robustness of it all? Do we forgive them that because they have cash to run things properly.
I say no – that matters more than the organisation in my book.
Can someone please explain to me how Taryn Simon or Struth’s works come under the category of Growth.
“I can easily name big NGOs that organize photo awards that can’t be bothered/motivated to promote/reply to any interests about their so called “humanitarian” efforts. We can’t be bothered with those charlatans that’s why we write about material culture instead. It’s more honest.”
Think about it. That’s because they (the NGO’s) operate on a budget.
Transparency is more than just the organisational side of these things. It’s also about where the money comes from to fund them.
Having worked and still working in the NGO world, I don’t think budget is the reason for a lack of response (although in my experience most will respond).
I don’t think budget is the reason. We get great feedback from D&AD Awards. Maybe we’re meant to hang around money people 🙂 But seriously, we like to understand what NGOs do. But they seem to talk to NGO people only.