Judging photo contests (Page 2): :sm17:...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

DirtFarmer wrote:

When I got into digital I started to frequent onli... (show quote)

User ID

DirtFarmer wrote:

The only photo I ever submitted that placed near the top was in a contest titled 'Your worst photo ever'.

Look on the bright side: you didnt win !!

anotherview Loc: California

You leave out the four aspects of a successful image: effective composition, proper exposure, interesting subject, and intention or purpose.

JD750 wrote:

This is not meant to be a criticism of human judge... (show quote)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

anotherview wrote:

You leave out the four aspects of a successful image: effective composition, proper exposure, interesting subject, and intention or purpose.

...when perceived by the viewer.

Bill_de Loc: US

I belonged to a photo club years back. They hire 'prpfessional' judges. One month my friend and I, unplanned, entered pictures of fish. I won first place, while my friend was told how when shooting in a fish tank you really to know how to set your lighting. The judge where I shot mine as he and his wife are divers and would like to go there.

My shot was at the local aquarium, while the other was take in deep water. We weren't allowed to speak up during the judging, but when I made it clear at the end of the night, most people thanked me, while the judge made excuses.

I never entered a contest that required an entry fee. I did get a couple of digit cameras and some 'silver coins'.

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Seabastes

User ID wrote:

How has that worked out for you ?

It was a long time ago for me. I started in 1960 and worked my way through 3 years of college
over four years while working 42-45 hours a week on the newspaper in Eureka, California.and carrying 10 hours of classes a semester at Humboldt State

I was lucky and made some images that won me numerous awards including tying for 1st place for the Best General Newspaper award for the State of California in 1962. My biggest winner was of two bull elk fighting in the middle of highway 101which won several awards including the best General News photo in the Associated Press California competitions in 1963. I shot that image when Was going fishing on morning before work.

As a result I was hired as the youngest Associated Press staff photographer in the United States at that time when I submitted my portfolio though an AP photographer in San Francisco who had judged a college news contest that I won three first places out of five categories a couple of years earlier.

Seabastes

User ID wrote:

How has that worked out for you ?

It was a long time ago for me. I started in 1960 and worked my way through 3 years of college
over four years while working 42-45 hours a week on the newspaper in Eureka, California.and carrying 10 hours of classes a semester at Humboldt State

I was lucky and made some images that won me numerous awards including tying for 1st place for the Best General Newspaper award for the State of California in 1962. My biggest winner was of two bull elk fighting in the middle of highway 101which won several awards including the best General News photo in the Associated Press California competitions in 1963. I shot that image when Was going fishing on morning before work.

As a result I was hired as the youngest Associated Press staff photographer in the United States at that time when I submitted my portfolio though an AP photographer in San Francisco who had judged a college news contest that I won three first places out of five categories a couple of years earlier.

jcboy3

JD750 wrote:

Wow I suggest that you never enter a photo contest!

Another reason people might enter a photo contest is to learn and grow artistically. Of course for that to work, the contestant must have a bit of a tough skin, and also must check their ego at the door

A contestant has to respect some other peoples judgment over their own.

Given how often things I like get discontinued, cancelled, and no respect, I have no use for other peoples judgment. Sure, I could be wrong. But my taste is mine, and I'm not willing to change it. So...no photo contests for me. I don't need verification that other people have different taste at my expense.

Real Nikon Lover Loc: Simi Valley, CA

NickGee wrote:

Photo contents are stupid and a waste of time and energy. You don't need (fake) validation like that to enjoy your hobby. Such things appeal largely to praise whores.

How do you really feel? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I always have said " compete against yourself, not others, and you will always win.

Red6

Most photo contests probably fall into the same category as beauty contests, figure skating, or any other contest that outcomes are based solely on the subjective opinion of human judges. The winners are picked by people whose judgments are often clouded by their preferences, emotional state, well-being at the time of judging, and other prejudices. Ask a different group of judges on a different date to judge the same contest and most likely you will get a different outcome.

Yes, in a photo contest those photos out of focus, badly composed, or improperly exposed will be eliminated but when it gets down to judging the artistic quality of the work, it all comes down to the subjective opinions of the judges.

Admit it or not, we all know this is true.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

While attending a photography school, The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, the instructors selected 5 of my prints as excellent. This was usually done on graduation.
I sent the prints to a competition. NONE of them won anything.

Since then I have not and will not participate in any photographic competition. I have never been able to understand how a judge can select one photograph as the best among thousands of them.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

CHG_CANON wrote:

Computers gave us the 2022 NCAA four teams for the football championship, a blow-out a few weeks ago. You want more of that?

Then again, if AI generated the image title and all / most of the image content, why not let them give the awards too?

Sorry Charlie, coaches and a select committee generated the teams.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

JD750 wrote:

This is not meant to be a criticism of human judge... (show quote)

Will never happen.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

JD said, "award more or less for different criteria." I would add, or no criteria at all. I was lucky, The Tampabay Camera Club, had professionals judging and with critiques pointing out why points were given or taken away from the 9+9+9, 27 perfect score was a teaching experience each month... especially since most were not "my" photo being criticized.

Each month we had Special and General... Special was the assigned topic/task. Example white egg shell on white background!!

AI?? ... aaaha... don't look now!, but Topaz Photo AI automatically corrects photos based on AI massive and ever growing larger data based criteria. Your photo is perhaps auto corrected for lens/camera combination used.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

I think the club style contest is the best learning experience you get. Every meeting you bring forward your best work and the judge may say “I like that one” and then in detail tells you how to improve it seemingly ripping it to shreds. That rock is too bright and draws the eye away from… or darken the sky a bit this is not a picture of the sky… or tighten the crop a bit that will … . If you came to have your ego puffed you will be disappointed and angry. But if you came to learn you will see the judge has pushed you away from good toward great. You might appreciate that mean judge.