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| Bayeux, France, © 2015 Kathryn Page Camp |
No, I’m not running for
public office, but I did enter an online photography competition that is part
popularity contest.
I entered the two
photographs included with this blog in The
Times Destinations Photo Contest. The winners are chosen by viewer voting
that occurs from today (August 8) through Thursday (August 11). I encourage you
to go to www.nwi.com/travel and vote
for your favorites. However, I am not suggesting that you vote for me.
While popularity is nice,
I believe in basing choices primarily on merit. I’ve seen some of the other
entries, and I’m highly unlikely to win based on either criteria. But I don’t
mind. I’d rather the winners were chosen for the photograph’s merit rather than
the photographer’s popularity. And that won’t happen unless a significant
number of people vote for their favorite photos without regard to the
photographer.
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| Wittenberg, Germany, © 2016 Kathryn Page Camp |
Like art, merit is in the
eye of the beholder. I wince every time I see an E.E. Cummings poem. It isn’t
just the lack of capital letters, either, because I am equally bothered when I just
listen. His poetry makes me wonder if he used gimmicks because he was too lazy to
write great lines. But some people think he’s a genius. (And I do have to admit
that I like “maggie and milly and molly and may.”) The merit in poetry is in
the eye (or ear) of the beholder.
Photography works that
way, too. Not everyone likes the same pictures, and that’s okay.
If you really like one of
my entries and want to vote for it, fine. But vote for the photo.
Don’t vote for me.
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The first photo shows the old world charm of Bayeux, France, which is a
small but vibrant town located in Normandy.
In the second photo, the steeples of the Town Church (St. Marien) tower over the
houses lining the town square in Wittenberg, Germany.
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