GA ERA Camera Club - Competition Judging

Updated March 19th, 2021

Vote Before the Meeting

Judges (paid members) need to view the submissions and fill out the scoring sheet prior to the meeting.

Voting structure is intended to evaluate each image in its own right, hence resist ranking them against each other. Also please vote prior to hearing any group discussion.

Images are uploaded to the website, typically at least two full days prior to the group meeting. Scoring sheets will be made available in advance as well. Use your initials in the judge indicator field, same as you would for your photo submissions.

Meeting Format

Typically meetings will be held in a suitable conference room, and officers will do their best to start and end on time. Whenever possible, allowances for remote participation will be provided. Announcements are made first followed by a call for scoring sheets not yet submitted. Then the discussion period opens where each image is displayed and commented on by the group. Praise and constructive criticism of the images is highly encouraged.

Submission of Scoring Sheet

You must be a dues-paid club member to vote and submit a score sheet. Completed score sheets are collected before the discussion portion of the meeting.

You do NOT have to be present at the meeting to judge and submit a score sheet. Absentee score sheets should be submitted to the Vice-President.

Voting deadline is midnight after the competition meeting is adjourned, unless otherwise stated.

Judging Criteria

The list and table below provides some guidance for your judging of the submissions, but ultimately you are the judge and sometimes images can break some of the "rules" if that is what makes their image unique. There are 10 criteria below which could be used to create a total score, if desired.

Impact - What you see first, first impression, holds your eye?

Subject Matter - Does the image fit the theme of this competition? Does the image conform to the category rules?

Creativity - Use of imagination, originality, unusual angle, cropping, lighting, etc.

Composition - Good placement of subject, Rule of Thirds, Golden Spiral, symmetry, harmonious proportions, etc.

Color Balance - Use of color and how that affects the mood of the image the artist is attempting to portray.

Center of Interest - Is there a COI (focal point or points) that contributes to the image? If no COI, does the lack of a COI contribute to the image?

Lighting - How well does the use and control of light enhance the image?

Presentation - Matting, vignette, aspect ratio, etc.

Technical Excellence - Is the image tack sharp, in focus or out of focus? Exposure, retouching, manipulation are other aspects to consider.

Story Telling - Does the image evoke imagination or send a message?

Judging Scale

The below chart and list can be used as a guide to assign a numerical value to the submissions under review by you, the dues-paid member. Also reference the criteria list.