PAGB E-News are hoping to produce an e-news special, drawing on the advice and training that Federations offer their judges so that the best ideas can be shared by everyone.
As an example, they have provided this small extract from material from the comprehensive documentation used at judging workshops in the Northern Counties. We decided to share it and we hope you find it interesting.
General Advice
Don’t focus on what’s wrong with a picture.
Analyse – don’t criticise, suggest changes but never dictate.
Don’t merely describe to the audience what the picture contains. They can already see that it’s a tree with a sky and mountains or whatever. It is much better to evaluate on the basis of –
1. Communication of an idea/feeling 50 – 60% of the value.
2. Content 30 – 35% of the value.
3. Construction (technical) 10 – 15% of the value.
1. Communiation
Statement/story, interpretation. Appreciation of all art should not, primarily, be an intellectual exercise but rather an emotional one. It is the buzz or tingle we experience on seeing a good photograph which should be at the heart of judging.
A good photographer brings out the best of what he/she photographs, as a musician interprets a composer’s work. Even the ambiguity of a picture can be its greatest asset in that it provides a canvas on which the observer can place their own imagination and feelings.
2. Content
Lighting, background, sharpness, colour, timing, movement. composition, pattern/texture, format – portrait, landscape, letter box, square etc.
3. Construction (technical)
Handling of tonal range and colour rendition. Exposure, sharpness, printing quality, choice of paper, appropriateness of colour or monochrome, use of a technique to improve the picture rather than to purely demonstrate knowledge of it. Finally does the presentation add to or detract from the quality of the picture.
We look forward to seeing the E-News Special that covers the subject in more detail. If you wish to subscribe to PAGB E-News you can do so here.
