Points Awarded

Images are judged by three club members with each judge able to award up to 9 points per image. Therefore the maximum total points available are 27 for any image.

In order for an image to win (1st, 2nd, 3rd, HM), in any competition, the entry must receive a minimum score of 18 points. Any submission below 18 cannot receive a win in any place.

If all submissions are given 18 points or greater, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards are given and 25% of all entries in the division must receive awards - therefore Honorable Mentions (HM) are given to the remaining eligible entries.

When the judges look at the image, they consider impact, composition, and technical quality. Each of these items represents 3 of the 9 points awarded by each judge.

 

Judges

The role of a judge is to provide a fair and unbiased assessment of the image being critiqued. The judge strives to asses all the images in a consistent manner regardless of personal preference, subject matter or difficulty of the shot. The scoring should be consistent so that all images given a certain score should be of comparable quality no matter in what class they compete. (That said, with human nature, judging can be somewhat subjective so learn from the experience rather than the absolute score.)

Along with a judge's experience to provide a consistent score comes the ability to give constructive criticism of presented images. The true way for a camera club to excel is for the members to learn and grow within their photographing ability. By listening to critique, members can learn what makes a good image better, and a better image exceptional. As image quality improves, there are just minor tweaks needed to add a point or two to the overall score - which can mean the difference between a 1st place in club vs. a 1st place at council.

 

Impact (0 - 3 points)

Your Attention

• Your first impression. Does the image capture your attention and hold it?
• Do you have an emotional response?

Size of Subject

• Is the subject of the photograph large enough in relation to the size of the photograph?
• If it were larger/smaller would it improve the photograph?

Use of Color or Full Spectrum of White to Black

• Has the photographer been successful utilizing color or shades of gray to add interest to the photograph?

Imagination

• Is this a fresh idea or an imitated one?

Story Telling

• Has the photographer been successful communicating a story, expressing symbolism, or creating a mood?

Composition (0 - 3 points)

Camera Angle

• Does the camera angle add value to the photograph or would another perspective have been preferable?

Mergers

• Is part of the subject cut off in the outside of the frame?  Does this add or subtract from the value of the photograph?
• Are stray objects part of the photograph that would have been better left out?

Vertical/Horizontal

• Would the photograph benefit by having the opposite format?  Is there too much dead space?

Rule of Thirds

• Has the photographer taken advantage of the Rule of Thirds? 
• Is the subject displayed in a power area of the photograph?

Horizon Line

• Is the horizon straight? Does the ocean look like it is flowing downhill?

Foreground/Middle-Ground/Background

• For landscape photographs, has the photographer taken advantage of these principles?
• Is the image sharp in the critical areas?  Should it be?
• Is the image flat or has the photographer successfully communicated a sense of scale?

Backgrounds

• Does the background add value to the photograph?
• Does the background compete with the subject matter?  Is it cluttered?  Does it distract your eye?
• Is the background interesting?

Distracting Elements

• Are there elements in the photograph that should not be there?  Example: a person walking into the photograph or a vehicle passing through.

Symmetry

• If the image is symmetrical, is it properly placed in the frame?  Are the margins around the subject balanced?

Technical Quality (0 - 3 points)

Is the image exposed correctly?

• Are there hot spots?
• Is too much information lost in the shadows?

Is the image focused correctly?

• Is the main subject in sharp focus?
• Is there evidence that this is a hand held image?

Does the choice of F-Stop provide a desirable depth of field?

• Does the background add value to the photograph or does it compete with the subject matter?

Lighting

• Would the photograph benefited from the use of fill flash?
• If the subject is a silhouette are there details that can be seen that shouldn't be there?
• If directional lighting was employed, does it add value to the photograph?  Should it have been softer/stronger?
• Does the lighting communicate as sense of mood or aid the storytelling?

Polarization of Sky

• Has the use of a polarizing filter altered the color of the sky?  Does it show a gray cast?

Image Quality

• Does the image show artifacts, banding, or ink blotches?
• If grain is present, does it add value to the photograph?