Monthly Judging Rules

1. 5” x 7” to 11” x 14” only. Panoramic or unusual proportions are OK, smallest dimension 5”/largest dimension 14”. Must be matted or mounted. NO FRAMES. We are now accepting photos via flash drives. 3-5 each meeting.
2. There will be a monthly photo winner with a prize being awarded at the end of the meeting after points are tallied.
3. “B” Classification photos get an easy critique. “AA” Classification photos get a harder technical critique. “A” Classification is not used at this time...
4. Currently, members can chose which Classification to enter, B or AA.
5. Any type of photo or photo-based art can be entered in the Open category. No photo showing the male or female genitals are permitted. No full nudes are permitted.
6. Runs January through November, with a Yearly Judging in December.
7. Open, Monochrome, and Portraits/People categories are open every month.
8. Computer altered images or phone photos using unusual techniques (such as infrared) should be entered in the Open category.
9. Travel/Landscape, Nature/Floral, and Photo Journalism are open on designated months, every three months each.
10. All categories are open in October.
11. Only photos which have been entered in previous months and received a score of 11 or 12 are eligible for the Yearly Judging.
12. Scoring will be done for “B” first, Categories in order, then “AA”.
13. All members at the monthly meeting will be given score sheets. A photo’s score will be the average of all member’s scores. If there is a guest judge, his score will be awarded separately. The higher of the members’ scores or the guest judge’s score will be the official score for the photo.
14. All photos awarded a guest judge score of 12 (≥11.25 or higher members’ average) will be given a 1st place blue ribbon. All photos awarded a score of 11 (≥10.25 members’ average) will be given a 2nd place red ribbon.
15. The highest scoring photo each month or the photo picked as “Best” by the guest judge will get a “Best of Monthly Judging” designation.

Contest Definitions

Photograph
A photograph is a visible image originating from the action of light or other forms of radiant energy upon a photosensitive medium or device. A photograph is a work that retains obvious evidence of one or more photographic images that are predominant in the picture and taken only by the author. A photograph consisting entirely of one's own or another person's art form, not of photographic origin, is inadmissible.

Media
Print (P) - A photograph that is presented on an opaque surface.

Category
Monochrome (M) - Any photograph containing shades of only one color. If toning is carried out, it must be over the total photograph - partial toning and/or the addition of one extra color is not acceptable in a monochrome section.

Color (C) - Any photograph that is not monochrome. It includes a monochrome photograph that has been partially toned or had color added.

If an exhibition does not include the category of "Monochrome" in any media, monochrome photographs shall be eligible to be entered in the color category in that media.

Sections
Open/Pictorial/General (CP, MP, CS, CD) - Any subject that is treated pictorially, embodying the elements of good design, arrangement or composition, which reflects the personal interpretation of the photographer.

Nature (N) - Nature photography depicts living, untamed animals and uncultivated plants in a natural habitat, geology and the wide diversity of natural phenomena, from insects to icebergs. Photographs of animals that are domesticated, caged or under any form of restraint, as well as photographs of cultivated plants are ineligible. Minimal evidence of humans is acceptable for nature subjects, such as barn owls or storks, adapting to an environment modified by humans, or natural forces, like hurricanes or tidal waves, reclaiming it. The original image must have been taken by the photographer, whatever photographic medium is used. Any manipulation or modification to the original image is limited to minor retouching of blemishes and must not alter the content of the original scene. After satisfying the above requirements, every effort should be made to ensure the highest level of artistic skill in all nature photographs. (Also the FIAP definition).

Photojournalism (PJ) - Story telling photographs such as are seen in the news media and periodicals, which may include documentary, contemporary life, illustrative, spot news or human interest. In the interest of credibility, contrived situations or photographic manipulations which alter the truth are not acceptable. The story telling value of the photograph shall be weighed more than the pictorial quality.

Photo Travel (PT) - A photograph that captures the feeling of a time and place, and portrays a land, a people or a culture in its natural state. Photo Travel has no geographical limitations. Ultra close-ups which lose their identity, studio type model pictures or obviously manipulated work do not qualify as Photo Travel and should not be submitted. Photo Travel is not limited to other lands or countries and may include pictures of domestic origin.

Creative/Experimental (E) - Creative or experimental photographs display a novel effect because of an unusual combination of objects and/or unusual viewpoint. Photographs in which the images have been modified during or after exposure by using an experimental technique are also eligible in Creative/Experimental sections. The photograph must always have a basic photographic image. Digital manipulation processes may be employed providing the original photograph was exposed by the entrant.

Landscape/Seascape (L) - A landscape is a photograph of natural scenery. It may include evidence of man, people, animals, even part of the sea provided that none of these elements dominate the photograph. A seascape is a photograph of natural coastal scenery, a wave study, or a picture of the open sea, provided always that the sea is the centre of interest of the photograph. People, boats and man made structures may be present as incidental to the photograph. Large saltwater inlets are eligible but inland waters are excluded.

People/Portrait (P) - A photograph of a person or persons that may range from a head study to full body length. This section includes candid photographs and formal portraits.

Photo Judging/Critique Guidelines

by David E. Price

Emotional Impact - with the following being considered, among others:

Impression - What is your first impression of the photo? Does it grab your attention? Or did you have to look for the subject(s)? Are there too many subjects or details?

Holding attention - Does the photo hold your attention? Does it make you want to explore all the areas of the scene? Does your gaze keep being drawn to the photo? Do you want to go back and view it again after moving on to another photo?

Creativity - with the following being considered, among others:

Unique subject - Is the subject unique?

Unique approach to a common subject - Did the photographer use a unique approach to a common subject?

Unique viewpoint - Did the photographer use a viewpoint that emphasized the strengths of the subject?

Unique medium - Did the photographer use a medium (color, B&W, colorization, etc.) that was unique or complementary to the subject?

Composition - with the following being considered, among others:

Simplicity - Is the photo simple, not too busy? Did the photographer do all he/she should to simplify the composition?

Rule of Thirds - Are main subjects positioned on or near the lines and intersections of lines that divide the photo into thirds when appropriate? Is alternate placement eye-catching or pleasing?

Orientation - Are objects facing, pointing, or leading your eyes in the appropriate direction? (A person facing the center of the photo gives a feeling of balance, a person facing out of the photo gives a feeling of conflict. Either can be appropriate at times.)

Lines - Were parallel, intersecting, and/or diagonal lines used to enhance viewability? Do lines draw the viewers gaze into or out of the photo?

Balance - Does the photo appear pleasantly balanced? Does the placement of objects give a pleasing arrangement? (Note that an asymmetric arrangement may or may not be off-balance.)

Tones - Were colors and/or tones used to focus attention on the desired parts of the photo?

Focus - with the following being considered, among others:

Overall sharpness - Is the sharpness appropriate for the subject? Is it too fuzzy, or too sharp? (Note that not all photos should be tack-sharp.)

Point of focus - Did the photographer focus on the right point in the scene? (Is the background sharp and the subject fuzzy? Is the person's nose sharper than the eyes?)

Depth of field - Is the depth of field appropriate for the subject? Should it have been greater, or less? Is the center of the focal field located at the right distance from the camera?

Exposure - with the following being considered, among others:

Average tonality - Was the overall exposure appropriate for the subject? Is the photo too dark or too light for the subject?

Scale of tonality/contrast - Does the photo contain the appropriate range of tones for the subject? Is the contrast too high or too low for the subject?

Pure white/pure black - Does the photo contain areas of pure white and pure black when appropriate? Does it contain either or both when the subject does not warrant them?

Exposure midpoint - Are the middle tones in the photo appropriate for the subject, or should middle tones/grey have been shifted toward other areas of the scene?

Note to Judges - Even though the technical categories of Composition, Focus, and Exposure are listed after Emotional Impact and Creativity, they are important, and photos with technical flaws should be downgraded appropriately.