How to Judge at EMCC

Reminder; There is a judging class November 20, 5:35 Posted for a preview/reminder are the clubs judging rules and how to use them.

Judging Rules (From EMCC Website)

Here is a description of how we judge images
at our competitions. Scores can number from 3 to 9 with
points from this criteria:

All of these factors are important to think about when composing a winning photograph, as well as when judging images in competition.

1 to 3 points for impact

Impact is what emotional response an image evokes in a viewer:

* Is a strong mood displayed?
* Has an old idea been presented in a new way?
* Has the photographer shown us unusual lighting, color or arrangement?
* Is the image creative?

These factors are important to make a winning photo with the judges.

1 to 3 points for composition

Composition is the word for how the photographer chose to design the image:

* Does the subject arrangement interest the viewer?
* Has the photographer used shape, lines, or color in a way that compliments the photo?
* Is the rule of thirds used appropriately?
* Is the viewers eye lead into the photograph
* Are there any distracting or unnecessary elements in the image.

Composition can have a big effect on impact.

1 to 3 points for technical

Technical means the photographer has used his/her camera correctly:

* Is the image in focus?
* Is the image free of distractions?
* Has the correct exposure been used?
* Has the photographer used the right combination of shutter speed, aperture for the image?
* For digitally optimized photos, has the image been rendered without digital artifacts (over-sharpening, obvious cloning, etc.)?
* In the case of creatively manipulated images in the digital projection format, have changes to sharpness, color, placement, or form of elements in the image been done in a technically competent manner?




All Eastern Maine Camera Club members are invited to take part in judging after they have had a judging class. It is a fun!

In PHOTOGRAPHY FOR THE JOY OF IT Freeman Paterson wrote; “For everybody, photography is an opportunity to discover personal paths and to follow those that promise excitement and pleasure. You can wander at your own pace, pause to appreciate a new discovery, and move on at will. Photography is a way to explore your world and yourself. You may answer the call of your own spirit. You are free. If you learn to see well and to use your tools effectively, your photographs will be unique personal expressions, images that bring you joy in the making – and in the sharing with other people.”

It is very important to remember how important it is to make pictures that satisfy you. In judging there are winners but not losers. Learning to judge might make you see how you can use your tools more effectively. Your photographs will still bring you and others joy.

Judging is split between Impact, composition and technical.

Impact
I look at a picture for a few seconds to ‘feel the impact.’ If I suck my breath in and say “wow” I know it has impact. Questions to ask yourself at this moment are…
* Is a strong mood displayed?
* Has an old idea been presented in a new way?
* Has the photographer shown us unusual lighting, color or arrangement?
* Is the image creative?

Give impact a rate from 1 to 3.

Composition
Composition is the design of the photograph. Freeman Paterson wrote “Good design lies down quietly and behaves itself.” Questions to ask are…

* Does the subject arrangement interest the viewer?
* Has the photographer used shape, lines, or color in a way that compliments the photo?
* Is the rule of thirds used appropriately? (And yes it can be broken.)
* Is the viewers eye lead into the photograph?
* Are there any distracting or unnecessary elements in the image.

Give composition a rate from 1 to 3.

Technical.
To me this is the tough one! I climbed a tree and sat there in the rain for hours to get a picture of, say a rare bird, The bird came out for 1 second – I got the perfectly composed shot, in perfect light, but it is not sharp. What do I do? I have to give the picture a 1 for technical. It is not sharp.
Questions for technical are …

* Is the image in focus?
* Is the image free of of distractions? (Hot spots, distracting elements...)
* Has the correct exposure been used?
* Has the photographer used the right combination of shutter speed, aperture for the image?
* For digitally optimized photos, has the image been rendered without digital artifacts (over-sharpening, obvious cloning, etc.)?
* In the case of creatively manipulated images in the digital projection format, have changes to sharpness, color, placement, or form of elements in the image been done in a technically competent manner?


Give technical a rate from 1 to 3

Now add up the numbers.
1 –3 Impact, 1 –3 composition and 1-3 technical.
The lowest score can be no lower than 3. The highest can be 9.

Lets return to my rare bird. It will get a score of 3 for impact (great light), a 3 for composition (perfect) and a 1 for technical. It is out of focus! Maybe it is only a little out. Is that like being a little pregnant? I sometimes leave a picture on the counter so I can look at it everyday. I am hoping if I look at it enough it will become sharp!

It is not sharp! So for technical it gets a 1. 3+3+1 = 7.
If it is way out of focus the impact goes down so it gets a 1 for impact. 1+3+1=5

See you at 5:45 on Thursday the 20th November 2008 to explain it more