“..prizes are just that, they’re not a sign of excellence..”
Every year for the last ten, that I’ve noticed, the deadlines have been extended weeks and months to get the numbers of competitors in for the quota that the competition costs the organizers to run.
The cost of entry to photo competitions for a portfolio of 10 images can exceed $450. This far out weighs many of the prizes as they now stand as many of the prizes offer little more than a master class and a concerted effort to improve ones abilities which has an effect on your exposure.