I printed my favourite B&W shot from my holiday, and a close-up (not macro) of a hedge brown butterfly printed at the camera shop 6x4", mounted them on grey card - and a transparency of a butterfly egg macro (3:1)
Colour print and transparency got 3rd place in their category.
B&W was 4th placed.

That was when I was 15.
I thought that had to be beginners luck.

I haven't entered a competition since.
I have the photos around somewhere, haven't lost the trophies either.


If I was going to enter today, I'd make sure I threw away 90% of the photos I picked.
Being totally brutal, after being simply picky.
Then pass it by my wife, if she doesn't go "ooh" it's probably not got it.
Finally, put them up here for critique.
Only then would I think it was worth entering them.