Winning at all costs
“It is always disappointing, and even sad, to discover that an entrant may be motivated to step outside the rules in order to achieve some form of success, and while not everyone who has the intention to mislead will be caught, I believe that ultimately, as an industry, one of the greatest rewards we offer is respect to those who express excellence while also demonstrating integrity and a respect for the rules of the day.” This statement by Tony Hewitt sums up the dilemma that awards currently face. Hewitt is a Fellow and Honorary Fellow of the AIPP, a Grand Master of the AIPP, and past AIPP Australian Professional Photographer of the Year. He is also the current AIPP Awards Committee Chair and the current Chairperson of Jurors at WPPI in the USA.
Everyone likes to win. According to Trinity College psychology professor, Ian Robertson, “Winning’s probably the single most important thing in shaping people’s lives.” The reasons are two-fold. The first is social. Every society, including professional ones, has hierarchies. Robertson says an individual’s position in their hierarchy will determine their health, mental function, and mood. The second is biochemical. Winning increases testosterone, which in turn increases the chemical messenger, dopamine. Dopamine triggers the reward network in the brain, which makes people feel better, more confident, and able to take on larger challenges.
Winning can be addictive. And when it is an addiction, the reward doesn’t follow. The dopamine high no longer kicks in, notes British photographer, Sam Harris, who now lives and works in Western Australia. You can see when that has happened, he adds. You notice a dramatic escalation in the number of awards a photographer enters, chasing a thrill that never satisfies. And
