Role of the Judge
Camera clubs are usually are group of amateur photographers who have come together to improve their photographic skills and broaden their enjoyment of photography. The judge is there to teach as well as entertain the members of the club. However, the members must remember that the camera club judge has been invited (usually unpaid) to give “their opinion” of the images.
The judge should have been instructed in writing ahead of time about the competition and the rules of a particular club. They should understand and adhere to the criteria of that club. I believe that a good judge should clearly express themselves as they constructively teach while critiquing each image. A judge should attempt to mention both the positive and negative issues of each image as time allows. Images should be compared to each other and not to those which have previously been taken or seen by the judge. Generally, the best images should be chosen irregardless of whether they are similar subject matter or not. If possible, the judge should state their basic philosophy for critiquing before they begin the process.
Criteria for Judging
I like to think of myself as an even-handed judge. I have no prejudices about different subject matter. Of course, there are always some images which “speak to me” more than others. I do not have to know what an image “is” in order to appreciate it.
Composition holds a lot of weight in my book. Lighting should be appropriate or exciting. Impact may make an initial impression, but a subtle, moody or monotone picture can easily grow on me. Presentation has many ways to take away from your entry. Poor presentation such as sloppy mounting or dirty projected images will take points off. If you think your image was worthy of entering, then take the time to prepare it properly. Details are important. You are in control of the entire image. Check all the corners. With the advent of digital cameras and all the controls that you now have over your own photographs, there is no excuse for poor cropping, poor exposures or dust on your images.
I am not a computer expert and have only recently entered into the digital camera world, but I believe that judging pictures as pictures is what this is all about. I don’t think that I need to understand the process in order to choose the best images. It doesn’t matter how difficult it was to produce – it only matters how the end result is received by the judge. It doesn’t matter how long you waited for the picture if the final result is not interesting.
Biography
I became a camera club member around 1966 when I was invited to join the Lansing Camera Club in Michigan. There were so many photographic experts in this club that it was hard not to pick up the basics of fine black & white printing as well as the competitive itch with slide film. It was here that I became a PSA member and competitor. I eventually became President of the club before moving back to my home state of Maryland.
Even before I got settled, I looked up local camera clubs in my area through the PSA listings. I have been a member of The North Bethesda Camera Club since 1972. There is no better way to enjoy and get involved with a club than to share your time and abilities by becoming a member of the Board or its committees. I believe that I have been on the Board in one position or another, including President, since 1973.
In Michigan, I met Larry West and John Shaw for the first time. They, along with Freeman Paterson and Andre’ Gallant have shaped my love for photography. And, of course, Joe Miller has taught me all the do’s and don’ts of visual design.
Along with my long-time photo partner, Gordie Corbin, we have written articles for national magazines such as Popular Photography and Petersen’s Photographic. Our photographs have been published and exhibited throughout the area. We have both been judges in Camera Club competitions and PSA International Salons. We have both been top winners in Popular Photography and Nature’s Best competitions.
Gordie and I have presented programs throughout Maryland and Virginia as well as in neighboring states. We have presented programs at PSA Regionals, the New England Council of Camera Clubs Conference, the New Jersey Federation of Camera Clubs, the Delaware Valley Council, the “Kodak Teach In” in Rochester, NY, Berks Camera Club Photographic Conference and at the Greater Washington Council of Camera Clubs Seminar.
We still have a passion for blacklight photography which seems to have made a small come-back in the past few years.
While we used to enjoy putting together and sharing slide shows with two projectors and dissolve, we are now converting these shows to digital CDs and DVDs. Now that we are both finally shooting with digital cameras, we are creating new shows using the ProShow Gold program. We are not yet ready to go “on the road” with digital presentations as we used to do with our slide shows. We still have much to learn about this new field of photography.
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