Thoughts on Judging Photography Club Competitions

PSA Journal, Feb, 2001 by Burr Preston

Thoughts on Being a Judge for Photography Club Competitions

The term judge as used in the context of local photography club competition is misleading. This person is more meaningfully referred to as the evaluator or commentator.

Responsibilities

The club competition (or judging as it is frequently called) is intended to be an educational experience for everyone present, whether or not a person has entries in the competition. A short critique of each slide or print should identify and explain factors contributing to the success of the picture. For pictures less than perfect, constructive suggestions for improvement should be offered. The evaluator should encourage unique personal statements that do not echo those of other photographers.

This evaluation should always be friendly and positive in tone and accomplished with enthusiasm. An evaluator should emphasize what is successful in the picture, not what is wrong with the picture. The idea is to encourage people with their photography and to help them reach higher levels of proficiency, rather than to discourage them or, worst of all, turn them against their hobby or their photography club or both. Not only does this approach require skill, tact, positive thinking, and articulate speech which explains why in each case, it also requires enthusiasm and passion on the part of the evaluator. Artistic evaluation can never be other than subjective. There are no absolutes in art. Therefore the reasoning in reaching a conclusion is what is meaningful and educational, not the actual conclusion itself. For without the reasoning, the conclusion provides little or no help.

A final and least important job for the evaluator is to select those photographs deserving awards, or as it is more popularly stated, to choose the winners.

Motivations

Why are you or do you want to be an evaluator for local photography clubs?

* Do you enjoy helping others?

* Are you good at teaching, explaining to others?

* Do you enjoy looking at well made slides?

* Do you have a competent knowledge over a broad range of photographic subjects?

* Do you have in-depth knowledge of certain areas of photography?

* Do you have a solid grounding in artistic principles -- composition, design, color, etc. ?

* Do you want to share your artistic and photographic knowledge with others?

* Do you express yourself well verbally; are you articulate?

* Are you somewhat of an actor; do you enjoy entertaining others?

* Are you a social person who enjoys being with others?

If your answers to these questions are yes, you are on the right track.

* Do you feel there are definite rights and wrongs, good and bad in artistic matters?

* Do you have definite opinions on photographs, but can't explain why you hold these opinions?

* Do you think you know the right way to make pictures?

* Do you want to impress others with your knowledge and expertise?

* Do you enjoy having power over others?

* Do you enjoy hearing yourself talk?

* Does judging inflate your ego, improve your self image?

* Do you want to earn points for honorary photographic titles -- APSA, etc.?

If your answers to this group of questions are yes and these questions represent your primary reasons for being an evaluator or wanting to be one, then for the welfare of the local photography clubs and local photographers, it's best you reevaluate your endeavors.

Rewards

Evaluators of camera club competitions are typically given an honorarium at the discretion of the club. Currently the range is $5 to $15. The intention is for the honorarium to compensate them for their travel expenses. It is assumed they donate their time and expertise.

The rewards clearly are not monetary. In some cases the evaluator will actually pay for the privilege. Tolls, gas, and perhaps parking may cost more than the amount of the honorarium. If one is self-employed, or operates a sole proprietorship on the side, it may be possible to generate a tax advantage through activities as an evaluator.

The major reward is the personal enjoyment and satisfaction one receives from the activity. This may come from any or all of helping others, sharing your knowledge, using your teaching expertise, making social contacts or whatever turns you on.

There may be some verbal gratification from people present, but there can also be dissatisfaction registered as well. You can't please all of the people all of the time. On rare occasions you may receive a written thank you or a note of praise.

The rewards are basically what you make them to be for yourself.

Thoughts on How to Present Your Comments as a Photography Club Judge

Your first words about each photograph should be a positive statement about the picture. This may be difficult in some cases, but identify some quality that is good in the picture. If you can find none, then make a relevant, friendly, positive general statement:

   We all have pictures like this, which bring back fond memories of past
   events.

   Isn't it wonderful to take pictures of our travels?

   I certainly enjoy experimenting with photography as this photographer has
   done.