Role of the Judge
The camera club judge should provide honest and objective evaluation of images presented providing a critique of the image maker’s craftsmanship, the use of the picture space and most importantly the use of creativity and the images visual design & communication within the time the club has allotted for the competition. It is of the utmost importance that the judge is respectful of the image maker, and provides considerate but an honest evaluation of the image with an emphasis on the educational aspects of the judgment and critique so that the image maker and the camera club audience will benefit from the competition experience. The judge needs to provide an evaluation and ranking consistent with his remarks, they need to be decisive and respectful of time limitations and provide all information in the most positive manor possible. For those clubs who have separate categories for novice entrants, special effort should be made for those images to provide educational comments to help the image makers learn how to improve their images.
Criteria for Judging
I evaluate images for technical merit including color accuracy, depth of field used, exposure, and the overall quality of the presentation (e.g,. print quality and matting for prints). Additionally I evaluate the use of the picture space, including compositional elements such as spacing, separation, placement, balance, sharpness and the appropriateness of the background. The image contrast, lighting and balance also is reviewed. Particular attention is paid to strength of visual design reviewing the use and placement of image elements and their geometry, strength of lines, use and placement of shapes, texture, and rhythm and harmony of the image elements. The applicability and the use of creative techniques is reviewed and commented on as appropriate. I find one of the most compelling presentations of images is a common or mature subject that we’ve seen before, presented in new and imaginative way. Of course I read and apply the rules of the camera club to the best of my ability to judge the competition.
Biography
Photography is a natural extension of my love for travel. While I’ve taken pictures all my life, it wasn’t until I was older and could afford to travel that my passion for photography truly developed. I love the whole process of photography— planning a shoot, getting up early to catch the light, processing the images (nowadays digitally), printing and matting. In the last several years I’ve discovered underwater photography which unfortunately I only get a couple of chances a year to work on, and my wife and I are now experimenting with photography from a kayak.
I am a member of Northern Virginia Photographic Society (NVPS), and am a past and current board member, and will be serving as President for the 2007-2008 season. I received NVPS’s “Versatile Photographer of the Year” award for 2004-2005 & “Color Print Photographer of the Year” for 2006-2007”. My wife Emi and I have published a calendar for the last 6 years and I have had images appear in Northern Virginia newspapers.
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