Continually entering photo competitions is a great way to gauge my progress and skill as a photographer. It allows me to receive feedback from other photographers and judges, who are often experts in the field.

By seeking out critique from others, I learn and improve my craft, rather than relying solely on my own judgment. It is important to remember, however, that winning or losing a competition is not the only measure of success.

The number of likes on a social media post does do wonders but it does not necessarily indicate the quality of my work. Instead, I focus on continually improving my skills and creating work that I am proud of, regardless of external validation.