I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed. Scratch that, I’m actually pretty pissed about last night’s showcase event for the 2011 Canberra Photo Marathon. I’m not pissed that I didn’t win anything – there was some great works produced – and I’m not pissed that I did it in the first place – it was a good experience and a good conceptual challenge; I’m pissed because the organisers didn’t respect we participants enough to put on a competent show.

About six weeks ago, I spent a Saturday racing around town taking photos. I had to register in Yarralumla by 8am to collect the first six themes, shoot them, then check in at Cockington Green at lunchtime to collect the last six themes & shoot them before submitting a dozen selections for consideration.

Fast forward to last night. The organisers had booked a hall at Canberra Grammar. As a participant, my entry was included in the $45 registration, but everyone else had to pay around $12! $12! Who charges $12 for people to look at amateur photography and charges for drinks too? Profiteers, that’s who.

Inside, each participant’s images were printed on A3 sheets of paper and stuck to dividers. The prints were really really dark. I suspect they were printed at a low resolution too; some shots that looked stunning on the iMac on stage lost all of the detail in print.

Not that you’d really see the detail if it was there; the hall wasn’t lit right for an exhibition. There weren’t any gallery lights on the dividers. The down lights in the hall were ok to see the inside of the dividers, but the outsides were halls of shadows.

Just after six o’clock, one of the organisers took to the lectern. He started talking. A few minutes later, despite the monotonous whispers, people noticed. It wasn’t too long before the audience was calling out for help. “Can you speak up? We don’t know what’s going on!”. “What’s happening here? Are these the winning photos? Can we see the winning photos?”. “For God’s sake, slow down!”.

When the debacle of the awards ceremony finished, the MC encouraged everyone to hang around, have another drink. The winning images were on display in the foyer & we were invited to file past them on our way out to get a better look. One of of the better images was displayed upside down. Classy, team CPM.

I had a good time on the day of the marathon; considering the challenges & shooting them. The concept was good. The showcase, on the other hand, reeked of ineptitude. It made me feel disrespected and let down because there was no sign of any consideration, preparation or rehearsal on the part of the organisers. The muttering I overheard in the hall, and the speed everyone raced for the exit leads me to think I’m not the only one disappointed by it all.

I won’t be participating again next year. Instead I’ll be encouraging PhotoAccess to run a similar competition, but properly.