Membership in many camera clubs is increasing. That is good. The number of images entered in monthly competitions is also increasing. That may not be good. The more images entered in competition the less time the judge has to make meaningful comments on each image. There are those who feel that a minute per image is a reasonable guide. Thus, if a competition lasts for two hours (120 minutes) then 120 images can be allowed in the competition. Some feel an average of an image per minute does not allow a judge sufficient time to offer a considered analysis of each image. Any predetermined number is arbitrary and certainly will have detractors as a camera club competition is a tradeoff between members wanting to win ribbons and members wanting to hear thoughtful, helpful comments from judges regarding what is good about each image and where improvement is needed. So what is a sensible number of images to have in a competition? Given the state of photography today, it may be useful for camera clubs to look inward and sincerely ask themselves: what is the real purpose / objective of our competitions and how many images will best accomplish those goals? I opt for fewer images in order to give the judge an adequate opportunity to carefully analyze, examine, and assess every image with sufficient time to convey his/her comments to the competitors and the audience. In a camera club competition a judge should be a teacher providing an educational lecture on photography using the images as notes.
— Joe Miller
